House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said in a statement that Abbott’s speech “included many great ideas” to achieve some of the goals of the Legislature, like empowering parents “with the roles they play in the classroom and on social media.”
But Abbott’s focus on education missed a word many were expecting him to say: Uvalde.
Last year, an 18-year-old gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and killed 19 kids and two teachers and injured many more.
Since the shooting, the families of the victims and other advocacy groups have called on Abbott to change the state’s gun laws — including increasing the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle — to help prevent future mass shootings.
But Abbott never mentioned or acknowledged the school shooting or the state’s gun laws. Instead, he named school safety as his priority during this year’s session, although he didn’t provide details.
“We must establish the safest standards, and then use the newly created Chief of School Safety to mandate compliance with those standards, and we must provide more mental health professionals in our schools,” Abbott said.
Democrats respond
Texas Democrats, members of the Uvalde community and others issued a response to Abbott’s speech.
The pre-recorded video, which at times was hard to follow because of sound issues, served as a platform for Democrats to talk about their work and priorities.
Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, said the families of the Uvalde victims have been begging the governor to listen to them.
“It’s too late for these families, but maybe if you show some political courage you can save the next family from having to endure this kind of hardship,” Gutierrez said.
In a statement, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, said Abbott’s speech was “nothing new.”
“But more importantly, not a word from the governor on Uvalde, not a word on healthcare, and not a word on inflation,” Martinez Fischer said.
“This is our … moment to correct thirty years of missed opportunities under Republican control of state government,” Martinez Fischer said. “House Democrats stand ready to get to work, to focus on kitchen table issues, and to work with anyone to deliver for working families.”
Texas Public Radio’s Camille Phillips contributed to this report.
