Texas GOP lawmaker refuses to say school vouchers should be off limits to richest families

The Texas House Committee on Public Education’s hearing on school vouchers got off to a rocky start Tuesday after its chairman refused to rule out state tax dollars being used to fund private school tuitions for the state’s wealthiest families.

Sparks flew between voucher skeptic Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, and committee chair Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, after Talarico asked Buckley if families earning more than $500,000 annually should be eligible for private-school tuition assistance under House Bill 3. Buckley authored the bill, one of two Republican-backed voucher proposals the Texas Legislature is considering this session.

“If this bill was limited to low-income people or even middle-class people, then we can have that conversation,” Talarico said before addressing Buckley directly. “But do you think that our taxpayer funds should go to a family making over $500,000 a year who is already sending their kids to private school?”

Buckley hesitated, then responded, “I think parents deserve the right to make that decision.”

Arguing that Buckley didn’t directly answer, Talarico posed the question again. Buckley repeated the same statement in response.

Under HB 3, families participating in its voucher program would get an amount equal to 85% of the state funding public schools get for each student, also known as per-pupil funding, to subsidize their kids’ private school tuitions.

While the bill would also prioritize families making under $160,000 annually and those with special-needs students, its current language doesn’t prohibit the state’s most-elite families from participating.

For that reason, Talarico argues the proposal — as written — favors the rich, since many of their kids are already enrolled in private schools.

“It’s much easier to get these funds if you already have your kids in private school, because you’ve cleared the biggest hurdle,” Talarico said. “Again, that’s why the majority of states have seen the majority of funding go to wealthier parents who already have their kids in private schools.”

The melee between Talarico and Buckley comes a day after Texas public school teachers rallied at the State Capitol against HB 3, which they called “welfare for the rich.” The same educators warn the legislation will defund public schools, especially those in rural areas.

A poll released Monday by Washington D.C.-based Z to A Research found the majority of Texas Republicans and Democrats either “strongly” or “somewhat” oppose such programs whether they’re labeled “school vouchers” or “school choice.” Republican voucher proponents have used the term “school choice” to refer to the proposals currently under debate in the Texas Lege.

Some Texas Republicans disputed the poll’s findings in recent social media posts. However, at least one recent encounter between pro-voucher lawmakers and their constituents suggests many in the public remain skeptical.

Earlier this month, Buckley and Republican House member Cody Harris of Palestine were booed off the stage during a voucher town hall in Harris’ rural East Texas district. The event was forced to conclude an hour earlier than scheduled.

“Thank you for your time; you’ll never get it again,” Harris said to the room of PTA members as he walked off stage.

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This article appears in Mar 5-18, 2025.