Hoping to bring a fresh perspective to school choice debate, GOP megadonor Doug Deason launches effort with former Republican lawmakers
Saying he wants to bring every idea to the table, Dallas GOP megadonor Doug Deason shared with Quorum Report on Tuesday that he’s entering the “school choice” debate with an eye toward giving parents “a much stronger voice and say in the educational choices for their children.” Using his 501(c)4 Texans for Free Enterprise , which was first launched when Deason and megadonor Bob Rowling wanted to push the legislature toward reforms in title insurance, Deason is now bringing in former GOP lawmakers and other experts to tackle the school choice debate. Following the release of committees last week and the State of the State Address this week, Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas House leadership are perhaps on a collision course over Education Savings Accounts/school vouchers, which Deason supports.
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Saying he wants to bring every idea to the table, Dallas GOP megadonor Doug Deason shared with Quorum Report on Tuesday that he’s entering the “school choice” debate with an eye toward giving parents “a much stronger voice and say in the educational choices for their children.”
Using his 501(c)4 Texans for Free Enterprise , which was first launched when Deason and megadonor
Bob Rowling wanted to push the legislature toward reforms in title insurance, Deason is now bringing in former GOP lawmakers and other experts to tackle the school choice debate.
Following the release of committees last week and the State of the State Address this week, Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas House leadership are perhaps on a collision course over Education Savings Accounts/school vouchers, which Deason supports.
But the self-described “conservative activist donor” said he wants to bring to the “school choice” debate the same kind of collaborative approach he’s taken on criminal justice, for example. On that issue, Deason has often found common ground with Democrats and others he rarely agrees with.
“We agree with Gov. Abbott that nobody loves a child more than their parents, and parents deserve more options to best educate their kids,” Deason said. “While most parents will choose to keep their kids at their great public school, others need alternatives to best serve their children's needs.” Recently added to the board of the group is Dallas businessman Joe Popolo , who said “We cannot leave to chance that the next generation of entrepreneurs, scientists or skilled technicians will miraculously appear.”
The group is also getting help from some veterans of the Capitol including former Senate Education Committee Chairman Larry Taylor , who's serving as a senior adviser.
Former Rep. Ron Simmons is "guiding TFE’s work with stakeholders outside the capitol, working to build alliances with advocates and organizations seeking to improve options for parents and their children," per an announcement. Lobby veteran Justin Keener , who’s worked with Deason for 5 sessions now, is heading the group as President.
“Texas parents deserve a seat at the table during this legislative session, and we intend to work with advocates and legislators to thoughtfully consider how best to give parents more options to best educate their children,” Keener said. “Our team brings decades of experience fighting for Texas schoolchildren, and we look forward to bringing their voice to the debate.”