Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

Dear Terry:

You wrote to ask what will happen during the special session. You wanted us to fight for your children. As long as I am in office, we will do just that.

Nothing is more important that educating our children so they can grow, prosper and live the American dream. Since the days of Thomas Jefferson, America has valued great public schools where each and every one of us can reach our full potential.

In Texas, we must continue to make the American dream a reality. In recent elections, people told lawmakers to meet the challenge and educate our children. When Texas ranks 48th in the nation on the SAT and 50th in high schools graduation rates, our very future is at risk. More of our state leaders must gather the courage to do the right thing and make educating our children the top priority.

Sadly, over the last seven sessions, state leaders have valued tax cuts for wealthy donors over educating our children. Basic education reforms have taken a back seat to tax bills where nine in ten Texas families get tax hikes, while the wealthy get a tax cut. What’s worse, is that none of these bills raised any new money for certified and motivated teachers, smaller classes, or state of the art technology. Even now, the Governor plans to make tax cuts, not educating children, the only legislative issue in April.

As citizens who want our children and country to prosper, what do we do? First, get involved, now! Let Rick Perry, David Dewhurst and Tom Craddick know that educating our children, not tax cuts for the wealthy, must be our priority. Ask the Governor to make children part of his calling too!

Second, let him know that reducing property taxes is important, but never at the expense of children. During past sessions, we watched as a mean spirited majority cut 300,000 children out of CHIP and Medicaid, just because they refused to raise taxes on cigarettes. Right now, this same group wants to take the $4.2 billion surplus to lower property taxes a few cents, end the session, and get out of town. If we let them do that, then two years from now, lawmakers will face the same challenge in the schools, along with a $4.2 billion deficit. Let them know that you want responsible leaders who will make the choice to do the right thing, not politicians who pledge to cut taxes to run for office, then run from educating Texas children once in office.

Finally, let’s talk honestly about Texas taxes. Right now, Texas has one of the most regressive tax systems in the country and those with the most pay the least. Texans want fair taxes where everyone pays a fair share. Radicals in Austin talk boldly about ‘tax relief’ but once you read the fine print, what really happens is the "Great Texas Tax Shift.” Taxes for the wealthy go down, while taxes for nine in ten of us go up!

What’s worse is that the tax system is just plain inadequate to pay for certified teachers in math, reading and science together with the small classes that we now know truly improve schools. The fact is that Texas teachers now rank close to last in the country in pay, retirement and health care.

Rick Perry, David Dewhurst and Tom Craddick should do what we elected them to do: lead us to a better future. For the first time in Texas history, Texas families face a less prosperous tomorrow if these three do not put our children on a path to better education today. Let’s create a fair tax system that Texans trust, where everyone pays a fair share. Cut property taxes so Texans can own homes. Raise the revenues we need to pay for good schools. And most importantly, remind these three that they were elected to educate our children so that Texas can grow, prosper and compete for 21st Century jobs!