State Representative Poncho Nevarez criticizes Attorney General Gregg Abbott for poor leadership
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Texas State Representative Poncho Nevarez (D-Eagle Pass) lashed out at Republican Party candidate for Governor Greg Abbott at a press conference on Thursday, October 2, 2014, in Eagle Pass, Texas, declaring Abbott’s political position on repealing the DREAM ACT, Texas Enterprise Fund lapses, acceptance of campaign donations from Texas Enterprise Fund recipients, support for School Vouchers and Charter Schools, and testing of four year old pre-school students violates Texans liberty and freedom while demonstrating poor leadership.
Nevarez stated that recent comments by Abbott during the second gubernatorial debate with Democratic Party candidate State Senator Wendy Davis that he would favor doing away with the Dream Act were appalling and denying immigrants their opportunity to legalize their path to citizenship. Nevarez stated he felt there is something inherently wrong for Gregg Abbott to say that he would literally shut the door of opportunity for hundreds of thousand immigrants who registered pursuant to the Dream Act.
“For Gregg Abbott, who is our Attorney General and who wants to be Governor of Texas, to say that he would repeal the Dream Act and not allow for these children to take advantage of those opportunities that any other child in Texas can take advantage of is just terrible. What does that say about what he thinks of our school children, communities, and what does that say about what he thinks of the future of our education.”
Nevarez discussed his public service as a former Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustee and the importance of providing educational opportunities for all children residing in Texas. “It is our moral, Christian, and Texan duty to educate these children and if we don’t do that, then what are we saying?” said Nevarez.
Nevarez criticized Attorney General Greg Abbott for his evasive and less than candid answers regarding his negligent handling and supervision of taxpayers monies in the Texas Enterprise Fund, which granted millions of funds to companies or groups whom did not submit an application for funding, and receiving campaign donations from recipients of the state-funded economic development program. Nevarez cited Abbott’s refusal to provide the names and applications of Texas Enterprise Fund recipients as a serious ethical issue and a lack of open and transparent government. Nevarez suggested Abbott’s lack of truthfulness regarding the questionable Texas Enterprise Fund grants and subsequent campaign donations to Abbott’s campaign by recipients raises serious ethical and trust concerns regarding Abbott’s leadership.
“The same companies getting those monies were turning around and giving money to Abbott and Rick Perry for their campaigns. What does that say about these two guys? When you are talking about the leadership they provide for the state, what that tells me is that the Republican Party has been in power too long. As they allow these things to go on and on and no one is checking. While the fox is in the henhouse and he is doing everything he can and we need to stop that,” said Nevarez.
Nevarez also discussed Abbott’s denial of favoring testing four year old pre-kindergarten students as another example of his lack of trust and leadership to become Governor. “Greg Abbott’s plan although he denied it during this last debate is that he doesn’t want to test four year olds, the truth is that he does. There is no need to spend money on that. We need to get out of the way of the teachers and let them teach in the classroom. The idea of testing by standardized testing is getting in the way of teaching and learning. We need to stop that,” said Nevarez. Standardized testing of four year old students will also place great stress on young children still developing and selectively promote only a few chosen students without giving them time to fully grow and develop their maximum intellectual capabilities. Since Texas does not provide equal education funding to students, students from property rich school districts will have distinct advantages than property poor school districts, perpetuating discrimination in Texas.
“Abbott says that he has a great plan for education and how to make Texas No.1. Let’s start with funding for people. How in the world are you going to be No.1 in education if you are No. 46 in funding for people, at least tell me that your goal is to get us in the top 20…. The truth is if you are going to be No.1 in education then you cannot be No.46 in spending on the people and that is a fact,” said Nevarez.
“How in the world do you expect a child to learn when they are under this constant pressure that they have to perform, more importantly the teachers are under this pressure to perform as well. You have this tension in the classroom where there really is no learning or teaching going on, just prepping. Prepping is not learning or teaching,” said Nevarez.
Nevarez stated that Texas’ educational system needs to get back to teaching.
Nevarez also pointed Abbott supports school vouchers and charter schools through the use of Texas public education funds while hurting public schools and systems. “He never addressed the fact that he is a big proponent of vouchers of school choice, charter schools. What they really want to do and they aren’t telling you, and Dan Patrick to a greater extent who is running for lieutenant Governor, they want to dismantle brick and mortar public schools and that’s the last thing that is left,” said Nevarez.
Nevarez noted the rapidly demographic and socio-economic changes facing Texas as the principal reason for the need to elect a new governor in Texas who will include all Texans in its government and decision-making instead of continuing the failed policies of conservative, extreme public servants such as Attorney General Greg Abbott and his Republican Party.
“For those of you who are interested in public education, for those of you who are interested in the future of our children, for those of you interested in a governor who is actually going to tell the truth and not syphon millions of dollars for his campaign by giving out millions of dollars to these companies, that did not provide jobs in Texas and have not done one thing for Texans, then vote for Wendy Davis and not Gregg Abbott,” concluded Nevarez.
