Patrick Credits Trump for School Choice Win

The Texas legislative session has come to an end, and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) is crediting President Donald Trump (R) for the session's successes, namely the school choice legislation.

One of the most controversial education measures was passed during the legislative session, and Lt. Governor Patrick says it’s all because of President Trump. The president is given credit for helping push school choice legislation across the finish line in the Texas House, where it had repeatedly failed in prior years.

“One major issue that stands out for me is our passage of school choice,” the lt. governor wrote on social media. “It will change education forever for Texas families by giving them a say in their child’s education.”

The school choice measure establishes a $1 billion education savings account (ESA) program that allows up to 100,000 students to use public funds for private school tuition and other educational expenses. The effort represents one of the largest school choice launches in the nation and comes after swift blowback from Texas Democrats.

Lt. Governor Patrick emphasized President Trump’s role in the measure’s success.

“Only YOU got it across the finish line,” he told President Trump in the letter. “Your commitment and passion on this issue, and your phone call to Republican House members the morning of the vote, made all the difference.”

According to the lt. governor, the president’s call resulted in 86 of 88 Republican members voting in favor of the program, which is a level of support the bill had never received before. It’s a level of support that Lt. Governor Patrick called “extraordinary.”

The lt. governor also hailed the broader national implications of President Trump’s advocacy.

“One of your MANY crowning achievements will be that you are the President who changed education in America,” he wrote. “Because of you making this a major national policy issue, every student now has a chance at the American dream through a great education.”

Lt. Governor Patrick faces state Rep. Vicki Goodwin (D) in his re-election race.

State Rep. Goodwin announced her bid last month, vowing “to fight for the things Texans care about most: strong public schools, access to abundant and clean water & power, housing affordability, and comprehensive health care for every Texan.”