Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a cease and desist letter to State Representative Drew Darby. The letter accuses Darby of falsely claiming he has Abbott’s endorsement in his reelection campaign.
“A True Conservative”
Governor Abbott’s camp dispatched this letter on Friday, asserting that the governor has, in fact, endorsed Darby’s rival, Stormy Bradley, a candidate they describe as “a true conservative.”
Governor’s Stance Misrepresented
The correspondence from Abbott’s campaign manager, Kim Snyder, criticizes Darby’s alleged misrepresentation of the governor’s stance.
Confusing Voters
“It is unfortunate that you would misrepresent Governor Abbott’s position on your race on your website, which serves only to confuse voters about who the conservative candidate in the race actually is,” Snyder stated in the letter.
The camping manager also raised questions about other potential misrepresentations by Darby.
Internal Conflict
This dispute marks the latest episode in Governor Abbott’s ongoing disagreements with certain Texas Republicans who remain unwilling to endorse his school vouchers initiative.
Failed Legislation
Last year, the governor lost a yearlong battle in his attempt to pass the school vouchers legislation, which aimed to establish a program enabling parents to use educational tax dollars to enroll their children in private or religious schools as an alternative to public institutions.
$10,000 Tuition fee
The proposal aimed to grant eligible students the opportunity to receive a maximum of $10,000 annually for private school tuition.
Joint Opposition
Despite strenuous efforts, including convening four special legislative sessions, Abbott’s proposal was rejected because of staunch opposition from a coalition of Democrats and rural Republicans.
Proposed Bill Amount
The bill was set to include an initial $500 million in the state’s biennial budget, along with an ongoing annual expense of $250 million.
Unsustainable Program
Darby has voiced his apprehension regarding the initial $250 million annual budget allocation for FY 2024 and FY 2025, citing concerns that it might establish a foundation for an unsustainable program in the long run.
Fiscal Conservatism
Darby has presented a conservative fiscal perspective, arguing against vouchers as effective public policy.
Strategic Endorsements
Governor Abbott is strategically endorsing candidates who support his school voucher proposal, aiming to reshape the Texas House of Representatives. This strategy includes backing candidates opposing rural Republicans like Darby, who are against his bill.
Bradley Endorsement
Abbott publicly endorsed Bradley on December 7, praising her as the candidate to support school choice in House District 72.
Upcoming Election
Darby and Bradley are set to compete against each other in the Republican primary scheduled for March 5.
Rural Republicans’ Concerns
Rural Republican legislators, once allies of Abbott, have voiced concerns that the voucher program could drain resources from public schools, vital in many rural areas.
Difficult Legislation
House Speaker Dade Phelan, also a rural Republican, has expressed skepticism about the voucher program stating, “the most difficult piece of legislation in the history of the state of Texas.”
Failure Reason
The Texas Tribune reports that Abbott’s insistence on a universal voucher program, as opposed to a more targeted approach for disadvantaged students, contributed greatly to his failure to pass the bill.
Uncompromising Stance
This uncompromising stance that would have restricted the use of educational tax dollars to disadvantaged students has been a stumbling block in negotiations with legislators.
Endorsement Removal
Following the cease and desist letter, Darby affirmed that all references to Abbott’s endorsement were removed from his campaign website.
Positive Remarks
However, Governor Abbott’s own website reportedly still features positive remarks about Representative Darby, as discovered by San Angelo LIVE! in a search.
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