REP. SCHUBERT TO ADDRESS EDUCATION ISSUES IN 85TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION

  

One local lawmaker will head to Austin today (Tuesday) ready to kick off the 85th legislative session by taking on a myriad of issues, including education in Texas.

State Representative Leighton Schubert, who represents District 13 (which includes Austin, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Lavaca and Washington Counties), says he plans on continuing his focus on education and funding for public schools.

Rep. Schubert says last session he fought legislation aimed at fundamentally harming the Blinn College system, and he will continue to do so this session:

Schubert says he also filed two bills aimed at protecting public school education funding in District 13.

House Bill 856 addresses Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR) funding, which Schubert says will be going away if legislators do nothing this session. The bill would extend ASATR funding for two years, which would help local schools that rely heavily on the funding for everyday operations.

Schubert also filed House Bill 875 which aims at protecting smaller, rural school districts:

Schubert says he’s been meeting with local officials and constituents to figure out what is important to the people of District 13, since his sole job is “to be the voice of the people”.

“My philosophy is we are all in this together. We are not going to be successful unless we all work together for the issues that are important to the people of District 13” said Schubert.

The Texas Legislature gathers in Austin every two years for 140 days. Lawmakers will be sworn in at noon today.