Lubbock Chamber, YMCA urge Texas lawmakers to pass $100 million investment in child care
According to the policy advocacy group, Texans Care for Children, several Lubbock-area groups — Lubbock Area United Way, The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, and YWCA of Lubbock — are among the 127 organizations urging lawmakers to pass House Bill 500.
Others are reading: Looking into Texas school vouchers? Here's how much these area private schools cost
'The Legislature is on the verge of making a vital investment to help working parents secure high-quality child care,' said David Feigen, director of early learning policy at TCC. "Texans from across the state are calling on lawmakers to get this funding across the finish line."
According to TCC, the bill's funding would allow the Texas Workforce Commission to serve more working Texas families through the Child Care Services program, which provides scholarships to pay for child care, with around 95,000 Texas families on the waitlist for a scholarship.
The bill has already passed out of the House thanks to House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, Appropriations Chair Greg Bonnen, R-League City, and Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Armando Walle, R-Houston.
The Senate is currently considering the bill.
'These child care scholarships are a game-changer for Texas families,' said Feigen. 'They have been really effective helping Texas parents go to work and provide safe, high-quality child care for their kids. The challenge is that so many families are stuck on the waiting list for months or even years.'
Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock groups urge Texas lawmaker to pass $100M child care bill
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Johnson on talk of Maxell pardon: '20 years was a pittance'
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) weighed in on talk of a possible pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, saying the 20-year sentence she received for conspiring with the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors was not harsh enough. Johnson said during an interview on NBC News's 'Meet the Press' that it's up to President Trump to determine whether the former Epstein associate's cooperation is worthy of a pardon or commutation. 'If you're asking my opinion, I think 20 years was a pittance. I think she should have a life sentence at least,' Johnson told NBC News's Kristen Welker. 'Think of all these unspeakable crimes, and, as you noted earlier, probably 1,000 victims,' Johnson continued. 'It's hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing.' 'So again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would.' Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwel l for two days late last week amid calls for greater transparency surrounding the Epstein case. While some have suggested her testimony is invaluable, others have expressed concern about the reliability of her testimony, noting she is accused of making multiple false statements under oath during her 2021 trial. Trump did not rule out the possibility of pardoning Maxwell, when asked about it last week, but said he has not given it much thought. 'It's something I haven't thought about it. I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about,' Trump told reporters when asked about a possible pardon or clemency for Maxwell. 'I certainly can't talk about pardons,' he later added, while leaving the White House for a trip to Scotland. When first asked in the NBC interview about a possible pardon, Johnson deferred to the president. 'Well, I mean, obviously that's a decision of the president. He said he had not adequately considered that. I won't get in front of him. That's not my lane. My lane is to help direct and control the House of Representatives and to use every tool within our arsenal to get to the truth,' Johnson said. Johnson also stressed House Republicans' desire for transparency and said he hopes Maxwell is telling the truth. 'I hope so. I hope that she would want to come clean,' Johnson said, when asked whether Maxwell can be trusted. 'We certainly are interested in knowing everything that she knows. And as you'll note, in our House Republican majority, we're working towards that.' He noted that House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has issued a subpoena for Maxwell's testimony and hopes to bring in the former Epstein associate to speak before the committee. 'I hope she's telling the truth. She is convicted. She is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking, and so her character is in some question,' Johnson said. 'But if she wants to come clean now, that would be a great service to the country, and we'd like to know every single bit of information that she has. I certainly hope she's telling the truth.'
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
How Texas redistricting could prove risky for Republicans
Texas Republicans' move to redraw congressional district boundaries in the middle of the decade could backfire on them. Why it matters: Everything starts with Texas. The push to add up to five GOP House seats here is sparking a chain reaction as the parties fight tooth-and-nail over the majority. Redistricting is usually done after the census, next scheduled for 2030. State of play: Midterm elections are typically a tougher playing field for the party in power. Democrats are eyeing taking back the House in 2026. If safe Republican districts in Texas are diluted with Democratic voters to build Republican districts elsewhere, then reliable seats could turn competitive for Republicans, Jon Taylor, department chair and political science professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, tells Axios. Between the lines: Gov. Greg Abbott and other state Republicans were at first hesitant to take up the issue, the Texas Tribune reported. After President Trump called Abbott, it appeared on the agenda of the special session that started a week ago. What they're saying:"Given the kind of election that's taking place, given the issues that may be in play, they may be in for an unpleasant surprise," Taylor says of the Republican Party. "They are putting everything at risk in this special session by putting this on the agenda." Zoom in: The Cook Political Report says the most obvious targets are the 28th and 34th congressional districts in South Texas, represented by Democratic U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, respectively. Taylor also thinks Republicans could "radically" redraw the 35th Congressional District, represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, which runs from East Austin to San Antonio along Interstate 35. Other potential targets: the 32nd and 37th districts, represented by Democratic U.S. Reps. Julie Johnson of the Dallas area and Lloyd Doggett of Austin. Republicans who could gain Democratic voters include U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales, whose sprawling district extends from San Antonio to El Paso, and Chip Roy, whose district encompasses much of the conservative Hill Country but includes portions of Austin and San Antonio. What we're watching: Republicans are looking to South Texas after Trump performed well with Latino voters there. But Taylor says it isn't a given that they will continue to prefer Republicans. Hispanic adults give Trump's handling of immigration a lower approval rating (21%) than the national rating (35%), per a Gallup poll conducted in June. Zoom out: Republicans in other states, including Ohio and Missouri, are now looking to redraw their maps to gain an advantage. Democrats, led by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have vowed to punch back by drawing roughly as many new Democratic seats. The bottom line: There's already a warning sign for Republicans as they weigh redistricting.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Mike Johnson Pushes Back on Trump's Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon Talk
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has pushed back against the possibility of pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after President Donald Trump refused to rule it out. "Not my decision, but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would," Johnson told Kristen Welker when asked about the possibility of a pardon during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday. Newsweek has contacted Johnson's office and the White House for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, right, is seen with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 22, 2025. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, right, is seen with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 22, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison after being convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. She has appealed her case before the Supreme Court, which has not decided whether it will take up the case. Maxwell was questioned by the Department of Justice last week as the Trump administration continues to face pressure to release the government's files on the investigation into Epstein, after the Justice Department and FBI said in a July 7 memo that Epstein did not have a list of clients and that no additional records would be released to the public. Questioned by reporters on Friday, Trump did not rule out the possibility of pardoning Maxwell and noted that he was "allowed to do it." Epstein died by suicide behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. What To Know Asked if Johnson would support a pardon or commutation for Maxwell, he deferred to Trump. "Well, I mean, obviously that's a decision of the president," Johnson said. "He said he had not adequately considered that. I won't get it in front of him. That's not my lane. My lane is to help direct and control the House of Representatives and to use every tool within our arsenal to get to the truth." Asked again if he was open to a pardon or a commutation, he said: "If you're asking my opinion, I think 20 years was a pittance. I think she should have a life sentence at least. "I mean, think of all these unspeakable crimes…It's hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing. So again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that as any reasonable person would." What People Are Saying Asked if he would consider pardoning Maxwell, Trump told reporters on Friday: "I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about." Maxwell's lawyer David Markus said she has endured "terrible, awful conditions for five years." He added: "We just ask that folks look at what she has to say with an open mind, and that's what Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has promised us, and everything she says can be corroborated, and she's telling the truth." Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X on Thursday: "Today, I met with Ghislaine Maxwell, and I will continue my interview of her tomorrow. The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time." Asked if he would support a pardon or commutation for Maxwell, Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who is pushing for the Epstein files to be released, said on Meet the Press on Sunday: "You know, that would be up to the president. But if she has information that could help us, then I think she should testify. Let's get that out there. And whatever they need to do to compel that testimony, as long as it's truthful, I would be in favor of." What's Next Johnson sent lawmakers home early for a month-long break on July 22 before a vote on releasing the files related to Epstein could take place. The House will reconvene in September. Meanwhile, Trump is likely to continue facing questions about Epstein and whether he is considering a pardon or commutation for Maxwell.
