Appointed as chairman of the Public Education Committee, one lawmaker may think he has received a big promotion, but he’s actually being set-up to take the fall for killing school choice.
A former school board trustee, State Rep. Dan Huberty (R–Kingwood) was elected in the Tea Party wave with the instrumental support of then-State Sen. Dan Patrick. Now that Patrick is lieutenant governor, he has made passage of legislation improving parental choice in education a top priority.
Though handed a great deal of power over the issue, Huberty has also been placed in a perilous position.
As part of the bargain for getting his current position, Huberty is expected to kill school choice reform this session. However, doing so will put him at odds with his former benefactor and their shared political consultant Allen Blakemore.
And it appears House Speaker Joe Straus (R–San Antonio) is intending to hang Huberty out to dry.
Straus already seems to be preparing for Huberty to go down in a primary battle; though he was promoted to the chairmanship of Public Education, Huberty was also yanked from the more powerful Calendars and State Affairs Committees.
Waiting in the wings to take over Public Education when Huberty fails to return next session is State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R–Texarkana), a former school administrator who received a safe and comfortable spot as the Vice Chairman of the House Administration Committee.
In light of such events, Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans and Jim Graham of Texas Right to Life held an “intervention” for Huberty on this past Sunday’s “Jim & Michael Show.”
That show may be viewed here, further episodes of the show may be seen on Facebook every Sunday evening at 8pm.
