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Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 02:50 PM CST
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| It's a sadder day than usual for public school students in Texas, as State Representative Scott Hochberg announced that he's not seeking re-election to the Legislature. Hochberg has been a champion of public school children, and used his arcane knowledge of school finance to fight for equality in school funding. In addition to his tireless work on school finance, he also passed important legislation to enable schools to use digital textbooks.
The Texas Observer has an excellent article about his lingering legacy as the Legislature's resident school funding nerd. In the article, they discuss how Republican leadership in the 83rd Legislature blocked Hochberg from using his considerable talent from helping Texas schoolchildren:
Hochberg was kept out of the closed door meetings on school finance and ultimately had almost no say in the plan the House backed - a plan that cut the same percentage from all school districts, despite vast funding inequalities. He had little say on the Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers ultimately decided to cut $5.4 billion from public schools. Then, adding insult to injury, the Legislature passed redistricting maps that put Hochberg in a district with fellow Democrat Hubert Vo. While those maps have now been redrawn by federal courts, it's hardly shocking to think Hochberg's downtrodden.
Hochberg has been a great public servant and hero to the children of Texas. We wish him all the best in whatever he chooses to pursue next.
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State Representative Mike Villareal released the following statement on Hochberg's retirement:
"Scott's announcement that he won't seek reelection is a major loss to the legislature and the schoolchildren of Texas. His knowledge of school finance and other education issues is unmatched in the legislature. Scott has combined his deep knowledge with a relentless commitment to giving all kids a chance at a good education, making him one of the state's most effective champions for better schools. Whether he was fighting against the Republicans' proposed cuts to public education, or exposing problems with the state's school ratings system, Scott has been a leading voice for Texas schoolchildren. I will miss working alongside him in the legislature. I wish him the best of luck in the next chapter of his life." |
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