Texans for Parental Choice in Education

At 11:30 PM on May 31, 2009, Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Ft. Worth) single-handedly killed the charter school expansion bill (HB 3220) on a point of order.

When asked by the Quorum Report, Burnam said that his intent was simple.

“This is a massive charter school expansion bill,” Burnam said. “I hate charter schools. I’m going to kill this bill.”

This is the kind of arrogance that causes us to “hate” politicians.

I’m wondering what the 17,000 kids on waiting lists to enter charter schools think about Rep. Burnam and his hatred of charter schools.  Does Burnam hate these kids?  Or maybe he is proud of himself for saving them from making, what he in his omniscience knows is, a “bad choice.”

Two charter schools in Texas made the U.S. News and World Report’s list of “America’s Best 100 Public High Schools” – IDEA Public Schools in the Rio Grande Valley (#19) and YES Prep Public Schools in Houston (#52).  I guess Burnam hates them also because they make his ISD schools look bad.

What is it that Burnam calls a “massive charter school expansion“?  That would be 12 new charters per year.  So, Mr. Burnam, how many would be a “non-massive” expansion? 2, 1, or just 0.  Yes, zero new charter schools is definitely “non-massive”.

Rep. Lon Burnam’s phone number is 512-463-0740 and email link.

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