By Bobby J. Rigues

Sometimes the simplest statement – a string of words – can paint a picture of reality. For better or worse, complicated issues become clearer. Our elected representatives in Austin can choose words to enlighten us or display the political play within our state Capitol. In either case, the public statements chosen are reflections of reality.   

The perfect example of a statement hitting a “reality” home run during the 82nd Legislative Session came from Senate Finance Chair Steve Ogden, R-Bryan. Expressing his frustration with the Legislature’s lack of political will to address the tax structure that continues to underfund public education he said, “We cannot kick the can down the road on everything.” Pushing the broken system of financing schools into the lap of the 83rd Legislative Session in 2013 is now a reality.

Other statements can catch you so off guard, you have to read them twice before their message sinks in. One such statement came from Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford. Republicans and Democrats worked together and extended a rare hand across the political aisle to support an amendment by Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, friendly to education. The purpose of the amendment would have made future surplus dollars in the state’s rainy day fund available for public schools with growing enrollments.  

King waged a campaign to strip the amendment from legislation. When asked why erase the bipartisan agreement made previously in the House, King, referring to the amendment, replied, “It just slipped by, a lot of us didn’t realize what it did until it was too late.” His pursuit to keep future surplus dollars in the rainy day fund and out of public schools eventually mustered enough partisan support to kill the amendment.

It is hard to believe it has been one year since the Make Education a Priority initiative started under a 10-by-10 tent on a farm-to-market road in Aledo. The objectives of creating public awareness about school finance and uniting school districts across Texas proved successful.

As this grassroots movement gained statewide attention, a number of Texas legislators provided statements of support upon request. Of the letters received, there was one that stood above all others. While under the tent in the sweltering heat last summer, an aide from the office of Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, hand delivered her personal letter. Senator Davis’ letter was unsolicited and the first from any legislator.

She wrote about her commitment and passion for public education. Her letter included one highlighted sentence – a seven word statement. In bold letters, Davis said: “I promise to Make Education a Priority.” The letter was dated July 1, 2010, 11 months before the unexpected ending to the regular 82nd Legislative Session.

There are statements that stand the test of time. This is one of them. In the waning hours of the regular session, Senator Davis’ seven-word statement in bold letters written 11 months earlier and hand delivered to a small tent in Aledo held true as she stood firm and filibustered a flawed budget bill. Her promise to make education a priority was kept when she brought public attention to the fact that for the first time, a state budget would not fund its legal commitment to public schools and instead, changed the language to alter the state’s funding obligations in the future.

In reality, the simplest statements made by legislators can be powerful.

Certain statements are so profound; the issue at hand becomes clearer. Other statements can catch you so off guard, it requires you to read twice in disbelief. And then, there are statements that stand the test of time.

Ultimately, actions speak louder than words. Looking back on the 82nd Legislative Session and the pursuit to protect quality education, no one can argue the difficulties shared by all involved – a reality now much clearer.

Bobby J. Rigues is an Aledo ISD Trustee, Leadership TASB 09 Master Trustee and creator of the Make Education a Priority Initiative (www.schoolpriority.com).