Posted in [News from Mike], [Recent Posts]

State Representative Mike Villarreal

Texas House of Representatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 21, 2012

Contact: Peter Clark

Phone: 512-463-0532 (o), 512-417-9262 (c)

Email: Peter.Clark@house.state.tx.us

Rally Saturday to Oppose Right-Wing Plan to Double Down on Education Cuts

Austin - Following the announcement by right-wing groups that they will push for deeper education cuts during the next legislative session, Representative Mike Villarreal urged Texans to fight back at the Save Texas Schools Rally this Saturday at the Capitol.

"This is yet another sign that the Republican party has been hijacked by extremists who want to defund our children's schools," said Rep. Villarreal. "The right-wing ideology groups that control the Republican Party are now advocating for even more cuts to education. They will get their way unless everyday citizens stand up and demonstrate their opposition in public and at the voting booth."

Yesterday the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and other right-wing groups with close ties to Republican policymakers announced a "Real Texas Budget Solutions" plan that calls for deeper cuts in education and other essential services.

On Saturday, March 24th, thousands of Texans are expected at the Save Texas Schools rally that begins at noon at the State Capitol. The goal of the rally is to restore support in the legislature for public education and call for an end of the overemphasis on standardized tests. More information on the rally is available at savetxschools.org.

During the last legislative session Governor Perry and Republican legislators passed a budget cutting public education by $5 billion. Largely in response to the cuts, districts have increased class sizes in more than 8,000 classrooms and eliminated teachers in Gifted and Talented, Special Education, core academic subjects, and other areas.

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