(SWOOSH)
(MUSIC)
JOSH: A SOCIAL MEDIA POST
STIRS NEW CONTROVERSY - CLAIMING
BETO O'ROURKE BACKS PEOPLE WHO
BURN AMERICAN FLAGS.
O'ROURKE: "I THINK THAT THERE
IS SOMETHING INHERENTLY AMERICAN
ABOUT THAT..."
JOSH: IS THE CLAIM FROM THE
CRUZ CAMPAIGN TRUE?
WE'LL SEE HOW IT SCORES ON THE
TEXAS TRUTH-O-METER...
(SWOOSH)
JOSH: AN "IMPOSTER" CAMPAIGN
VOLUNTEER STARTS TEXTING TEXAS
VOTERS.
RAMSEY: "AND IF YOU'RE IN THE
MISIMPRESSION BUSINESS, WHICH
APPARENTLY SOMEBODY HERE IS,
THAT'S A SUCCESS."
JOSH: HOW THE MESSAGE IS
RAISING NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHICH CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS
YOU CAN TRUST.
(SWOOSH)
JOSH: THE STATE PLANS TO PAY
LESS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE'LL LOOK CLOSER AT THE SHIFT
IN FUNDING - AND WHO'S PICKING
UP THE BILL.
(MUSIC)
JOSH: HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US FOR STATE OF TEXAS.
I'M JOSH HINKLE.
ACCUSATIONS OF SABOTAGE ADD A
NEW TWIST WE START WITH NEW
ACCUSATIONS OF SABOTAGE IN THE
BATTLE FOR THE US SENATE SEAT
CURRENTLY HELD BY TED CRUZ.
SOMEONE APPARENTLY INFILTRATED A
VOLUNTEER CENTER FOR BETO
O'ROURKE -- ACCESSED A DATABASE
OF THE DEMOCRAT'S SUPPORTERS,
THEN SENT OUT SOME MISLEADING
MESSAGES.
PHIL PRAZAN TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.
PHIL: STAFF FOR THE BETO
O'ROURKE CAMPAIGN TOLD ME
SOMEONE POSING AS A VOLUNTEER
SENT THIS TEXT AROUND TEXAS. IT
ASKS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP GET
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO VOTE
IN NOVEMBER, WHICH IS OF COURSE
AGAINST THE LAW. ONE MESSAGE
WENT TO FRANK FREEMAN IN
HOUSTON.
FRANK FREEMAN, HOUSTON: "I
THOUGHT THEY JUST SPOOFED IT AND
IT WAS SOMEBODY GOOFING OFF."
PHIL: KNOWING MORE TODAY,
HE'S MORE CONCERNED SOMEONE
WOULD SEND MISLEADING TEXTS TO
REINFORCE WHAT HE CONSIDERS
RACIALLY BASED CONSPIRACY
THEORIES.
FRANK FREEMAN, HOUSTON VOTER:
"THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN LOOKING FOR
EVIDENCE FOR THAT, SO IT PLAYS
INTO THAT NARRATIVE."
PHIL: I CALLED THE NUMBER
THAT TEXTED FRANK FREEMAN AND IT
WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE MASS
TEXTING SYSTEM.. WITH NO ANSWER.
ROSS RAMSEY, TEXAS TRIBUNE:
"POLITICS IS FULL OF TOMFOOLERY.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL. WHAT CHANGES
IS TECHNOLOGY AND THE METHOD OF
THE TOMFOOLERY."
PHIL: EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE
TEXAS TRIBUNE, ROSS RAMSEY, SAYS
WE'LL BE SEEING MORE OF THIS.
FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS
SUPPORTERS OF OPPOSING
CANDIDATES WILL TRY TO DILLUTE
THE OTHER'S MESSAGE.
ROSS RAMSEY, TEXAS TRIBUNE:
"A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING
TO HEAR PIECES OF THIS. AND
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME KIND OF
MISIMPRESSION LEFT. AND IF
YOU'RE IN THE MISIMPRESSION
BUSINESS - WHICH APPARENTLY
SOMEBODY HERE IS - THAT'S A
SUCCESS."
PHILPRAZAN: I REACHED OUT TO
BOTH THE CRUZ AND BETO
CAMPAIGNS.
A CRUZ SPOKESWOMAN TOLD ME THEY
HAD NO INVOLVEMENT AND THEY
DON'T CONDONE THE PERSON WHO DID
IT.
A BETO SPOKESMAN TOLD ME THEY'RE
CONTINUING TO LOOK INTO WHAT
HAPPENED AND WILL LET ME KNOW
WHEN THEY HAVE MORE DETAILS...
(SWOOSH)
JOSH: A SOCIAL MEDIA POST
FROM THE CRUZ CAMPAIGN ALSO
STIRRED UP SOME CONTROVERSY. IT
CLAIMED THAT O'ROURKE TOLD A
PERSON AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT THAT
HE'S "GRATEFUL" FOR PEOPLE WHO
BURN OR DESECRATE THE AMERICAN
FLAG. HERE'S THE VIDEO IN
QUESTION.
VOTER: "I DON'T KNOW HOW I
WOULD FEEL TO HAVE MY OWN
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE BEING
OPEN TO KNEELING ON THE SENATE
FLOOR OR ENCOURAGING AND
SUPPORTING ACTS THAT DESECRATE
OUR AMERICAN FLAG."
O'ROURKE: "...I THINK THERE
IS SOMETHING INHERENTLY AMERICAN
ABOUT THAT. AND SO I'M GRATEFUL
THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DO
THAT."
JOSH: DID BETO O'ROURKE
REALLY SAY HE'S GRATEFUL FOR
PEOPLE WHO BURN THE FLAG? HERE
WITH THE FACTS OF THE MATTER,
GARDNER SELBY OF THE AUSTIN
AMERICAN-STATESMAN, WHICH SINCE
2010 HAS BEEN HEADQUARTERS FOR
THE NON-PARTISAN FACT-CHECKING
POLITIFACT TEXAS PROJECT.
WELCOME.
GARDNER: GOOD TO BE HERE.
JOSH: WE SAW THE EDITED CLIP.
WHERE DID THIS VIDEO COME FROM?
GARDNER: IT CAME FROM A BETO
O'ROURKE APPEARANCE JUST BEFORE
LABOR DAY IN EL PASO FROM A TOWN
HALL. ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE
CAMPAIGN WILL KNOW THAT O'ROURKE
POSTS VIDEOS OF ALL HIS EVENTS.
YOU CAN WATCH THEM ENDLESSLY IF
YOU WANT TO ON FACEBOOK.
JOSH: YOU REACHED OUT TO THE
O'ROURKE CAMPAIGN. WHAT DID THEY
SAY ABOUT THIS?
GARDNER: WELL EVEN BEFORE WE
REACHED OUT TO THE O'ROURKE
CAMPAIGN WE WERE ABLE TO VIEW
THE VIDEO IN CONTEXT AND GET A
FEEL FOR WHAT O'ROURKE WAS
SAYING. HE-, LET ME CUT TO THE
CHASE A LITTLE BIT. HE DID NOT
SAY-, DIRECTLY ANSWER THE
QUESTION WHICH WAS ABOUT FLAG
BURNING OR FLAG DESECRATION. SO
HIS STATEMENT ABOUT SOMETHING
INHERENTLY AMERICAN ABOUT THAT
WAS A VAGUE KIND OF STATEMENT.
HOW VAGUE? WELL HE SPENT THE
BULK OF HIS ANSWER TALKING ABOUT
VARIOUS THINGS INCLUDING HIS
SUPPORT FOR NON-VIOLENT
PROTESTORS, EVEN PEOPLE KNEELING
IN PROTEST. AND I THINK YOU
MIGHT HAVE SOME OF THAT.
JOSH: YES WE HAVE A LONGER
CLIP OF HIS FULL RESPONSE.
O'ROURKE: "BUT WHEN THERE IS
USE OF FORCE, WHEN THERE IS A
LIFE TAKEN AND THERE IS NOT
ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE IS NOT
JUSTICE DONE, THERE'S NOT THE
ABILITY TO PREVENT THAT FROM
CONTINUING TO HAPPEN IN THE
FUTURE, AND SOMEONE IS WILLING
TO CALL ATTENTION TO THAT, TO
TRY TO AWAKEN OUR CONSCIENCE, TO
FORCE US TO DO THE RIGHT THING,
IN THE FACE OF THAT INJUSTICE
AND VIOLENCE AND TO DO SO
PEACEFULLY AND NON-VIOLENTLY, I
THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
INHERENTLY AMERICAN ABOUT THAT
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT PEOPLE
ARE WILLING TO DO THAT."
JOSH: HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT
FLAG BURNING - HE'S NOT REALLY
ANSWERING THAT QUESTION AT ALL.
DID O'ROURKE EVER GIVE HIS
POSITION ON THAT?
GARDNER: WELL NOT AT THAT
EVENT. WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING
EXPLICIT AT ALL. NOW, EARLIER WE
LEARNED FROM O'ROURKE'S CAMPAIGN
THEY POINTED AT A CORPUS CHRISTI
CALLER STORY, QUOTING O'ROURKE
SAYING A FEW DAYS EARLIER, I
DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD BURN
AN AMERICAN FLAG. THAT AGAIN,
MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN IN POINT TO
THE PERSON'S QUESTION IN EL
PASO. BUT AT LEAST IT'S AN
INDICATION OF ONE COMMENT ON
POINT TO THE IDEA OF BURNING
FLAGS.
JOSH: NOT WHAT DID THE CRUZ
CAMPAIGN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THESE
COMPLAINTS?
GARDNER: THEY INSISTED THAT
BECAUSE THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT
BURNING OR DESECRATING FLAGS
THAT SOMETHING IN THE ANSWER HAD
TO BE ABOUT THAT. I THINK THAT'S
A GOOD WAY OF SUMMARIZING THEIR
RESPONSE.
JOSH: SO WHAT IS THE RATING
ON THE POLITIFACT TRUTH-O-METER?
GARDNER: OUR EDITORS HUDDLED
ON THIS AND REACHED THE RATING
OF FALSE, IT'S JUST AN INCORRECT
STATEMENT.
JOSH: WAS THERE ANY
CONSIDERATION FROM YOU GUYS THAT
THIS COULD'VE BEEN A PANTS ON
FIRE RATING INSTEAD?
GARDNER: AND PANTS ON FIRE
MEANING INCORRECT AND
RIDICULOUS. THERE WAS SOME
DISCUSSION OF THAT. THE FACT
THAT THE QUESTION CENTERED ON
THE BURNING OF THE FLAG, AT
LEAST LEFT IN PLACE THE
POSSIBILITY OF O'ROURKE
SUPPORTING THAT IDEA. AND ALSO,
THE FACT THAT O'ROURKE DIDN'T
DIRECTLY ANSWER IT LEAVES IT IN
THE ARROWS TO WHERE HE IS ON
THAT PARTICULAR PRACTICE.
JOSH: ALRIGHT YOU CAN FOLLOW
THE POLITIFACT
PROJECT ON TWITTER
UNDER @POLITIFACTTEXAS. THANK
YOU, GARDNER.
GARDNER: YOU BET.
(SWOOSH)
(MUSIC)
JOSH: QUESTIONS OF FREE
SPEECH AND PATRIOTISM GET NEW
ATTENTION IN THE RACE FOR
SENATE... BUT THE ANSWERS ARE
NOT AS SIMPLE AS THEY MAY HAVE
BEEN IN PAST CAMPAIGNS.
MORITZ: "THERE WAS A TIME NOT
VERY LONG AGO WHERE IF YOU COULD
UNDERMINE SOMEBODY'S PATRIOTISM,
THAT WAS A KILL SHOT..."
JOSH: WE'LL TURN TO OUR PANEL
TO LOOK CLOSER AT THE PUSH TO
SWAY YOUR OPINION - AND HOW
CANDIDATES AND VOTERS ARE
RESPONDING TO THE TACTICS THIS
TIME AROUND. BIG BUCKS IN SPORTS
BETTING, OKAYED BY THE FEDS. BUT
WHAT ARE THE ODDS THE STATE WILL
CASH IN? WE'LL LOOK AT WHO'S
BEHIND EFFORTS TO KEEP SPORTS
BETTING BANNED IN TEXAS.
(MUSIC)
JOSH: WE'RE SIX WEEKS AWAY
FROM THE START OF EARLY VOTING,
AND THE RACE FOR SENATE IS
GETTING HEATED - WITH THE TED
CRUZ CAMPAIGN ATTACKING BETO
O'ROURKE ON AIR AND ONLINE.
FOR PERSPECTIVE, WE TURN TO OUR
REPORTER ROUNDTABLE, JOHNATHAN
SILVER JOINS US FROM THE AUSTIN
AMERICAN-STATESMAN AND JOHN
MORITZ IS WITH THE USA TODAY
NETWORK. WELCOME.
GOOD TO BE HERE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
JOSH: "WE'VE THE CRUZ
CAMPAIGN USE NEGATIVE ADS EVEN
THOUGH HE'S LEADING IN THE POLLS
- IS THE TONE OF THE CAMPAIGN
CHANGING?"
MORITZ: IT IS A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE CRUZ DOES NOT WANT
O'ROURKE TO GET PASS THE CEILING
WHERE HE'S AT. MAYBE IT'S 45, 46
PERCENT OF THE VOTE. HE DOES NOT
WANT THOSE MODERATE UH,
INDEPENDENT VOTERS, UNDECIDED
VOTERS TO FIND O'ROURKE IN ANY
WAY ACCEPTABLE.
JOSH: YA KNOW, WE'VE SEEN
POSTS ABOUT THE NFL PLAYERS
KNEELING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
AND A POST ABOUT FLAG BURNING.
IS IT A SURPRISE THAT THESE
ISSUES OF FREE SPEECH ARE
GETTING SO MUCH PLAY RIGHT NOW?
SILVER: I DON'T THINK SO
BECAUSE OF THE AGE WE'RE IN
RIGHT NOW, POST THE TRUMP
ELECTION, EVERYTHING'S
NATIONALIZED. SO I'M NOT
SURPRISED THAT THAT KIND OF
ISSUES TAKING A BIG, A BIG PLACE
IN THIS ELECTION EVEN THOUGH
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT
SPECIFICALLY PERTAINS TO TEXAS
IN OF ITSELF.
MORITZ: INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
CRUZ LAST YEAR MADE A VERY
IMPASSION DEFENSE OF UNPOPULAR
SPEECH IN A REMARKS BEFORE THE
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. YOU
MIGHT EVEN THINK THAT IT WOULD
BE HIM AND NOT O'ROURKE COMING
TO KAEPERNICK'S DEFENSE IN THE
TAKE A KNEE MOVEMENT BECAUSE HE
SAYS WE MUST ACCEPT AND DEFEND
UNPOPULAR SPEECH.
JOSH: HOW DO THESE KIND OF
THINGS REALLY RESONATE WITH
VOTERS THOUGH?
MORITZ: THAT'S GONNA BE THE
BIG QUESTION. UM, THERE WAS A
TIME NOT VERY LONG AGO WHERE IF
YOU COULD UNDERMINE SOMEONE'S
PATRIOTISM, THAT WAS A KILL
SHOT. THE OTHER CANDIDATE IS
FLAILING AROUND TRYING TO DEFEND
HIMSELF. AND OFTENTIMES, IN THE
PROCESS MAKING IT WORSE. IT
REMAINS TO BE SEEN IN THIS ERA
HOW THAT'S GONNA PLAY OUT.
JOSH: YEAH, HOW ARE THE OTHER
CANDIDATES REALLY RESPONDING?
ARE THESE TACTICS KIND OF
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN
IN THE PAST?
SILVER: I THINK MOST-, I
DON'T THINK THE TACTICS ARE NEW.
I THINK WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS THIS
RACE IN PARTICULAR, THIS SENATE
RACE, IS VERY HIGH PROFILE,
WHICH IS WHY YOU'RE SEEING THE
INCUMBENT SENATOR CRUZ USING
ANYTHING HE CAN TO TRY TO DEFINE
HIS OPPONENT BEFORE HE'S ABLE
TO.
JOSH: YA KNOW, WE'VE GOT
THINGS LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA AND
TEXT MESSAGING THESE DAYS. HOW
IS THAT CHANGING CAMPAIGNS HERE
IN TEXAS?
MORITZ: TECHNOLOGY AS IT
MARCHES ALONG, IT WAS ONLY 2008
WHEN THEN CANDIDATE OBAMA USED
FACEBOOK. AND IT WAS LIKE, OH MY
GOODNESS. LOOK AT THIS NEW
TACTIC. SO IT ONLY STANDS TO
REASON THAT IT'S-, YA KNOW, AS
OUR DEVICES BECOME MORE
UBIQUITOUS AND OUR MEANS OF
COMMUNICATION MORE EFFICIENT
THAT THE POLITICIANS ARE GONNA
REALIZE THAT'S AN ON RAMP THAT
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PASS.
JOSH: YOU KNOW WE'VE TALKED
SO MUCH ABOUT CRUZ AND O'ROURKE,
WHAT'S THE OTHER BIG RACE THAT
YOU WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO?
MORITZ: I THINK THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL RACE MIGHT BE A SLEEPER.
UM, THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER,
JUSTIN NELSON, HE'S TRYING TO
USE THE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
PART OF OBAMA CARE AS A WAY TO
KIND OF GET A LITTLE TRACTION AS
WE KNOW ATTORNEY GENERAL PAXTON
IS TRYING TO UNDERMINE OBAMA
CARE IN THE COURTS. NELSON AND
OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE CERTAINLY
CLAW HIM ON BECAUSE WHO AMONG US
DOES NOT HAVE SOMEONE IN OUR
FAMILY, OR OUR CIRCLE THAT HAS A
PRE-EXISTING CONDITION SO WE
COULD RELATE TO ANY CHALLENGE TO
THAT COVERAGE.
JOSH: DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE
THAT YOU'RE WATCHING? WHAT RACE?
SILVER: I AGREE WITH HIM.
NELSON WILL NOT LET A MOMENT
PASS WHEN HE USES THE NAME KEN
PAXTON WITHOUT SAYING THE WORD
INDICTED. AND I THINK THAT HE
THINKS THAT THAT'S RESONATING
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN RESPONDING TO THAT.
JOSH: ALRIGHT,
JOHNATHAN, JOHN, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
MORITZ: THANKS FOR HAVING US.
(SWOOSH)
(MUSIC)
JOSH: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OPENED UP SPORTS BETTING
NATIONWIDE. BUT SO FAR TEXAS IS
NOT GETTING IN THE GAME.
LOBBYIST: "SPORTS BETTING
WILL BE NOT UNLIKE THE OTHER
"GOOD IDEAS," WINK WINK, NOD NOD
THAT HAVE COME INTO THE STATE."
JOSH: WE'LL LOOK AT THE
EFFORT TO KEEP SPORTS BETTING
OUT OF TEXAS - AND WHO'S PUSHING
TO EXPAND GAMBLING IN THE STATE.
YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE ON THE
RISE - AND A LOT OF THAT MONEY
GOES TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NOW THE STATE COULD BE CUTTING
ITS SHARE OF THAT BILL. WHAT'S
BEHIND THE CHANGE - AND HOW
LAWMAKERS COULD SOON HAVE NEW
IDEAS TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
(MUSIC)
(MUSIC)
JOSH: THE TEXAS EDUCATION
AGENCY IS ASKING LAWMAKERS FOR
LESS MONEY IN THE MAIN WAY IT
PAYS FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
SCHOOL. ONE AND A HALF BILLION
DOLLARS LESS! THE REASON? TEXAS
EXPECTS YOUR PROPERTY TAXES WILL
GO UP - AND ASSUMES LAWMAKERS
WON'T HAVE TO PONY UP AS MUCH.
POLITICS REPORTER PHIL PRAZAN
WENT DIGGING INTO THE DOCUMENTS
TO FIND ANSWERS.
PHIL: IT'S 425 PAGES... AND
IT'S HOW THE TEXAS EDUCATION
AGENCY OFFICIALLY ASKS FOR MONEY
FROM LAWMAKERS.
A FEW LINES ARE BAD NEWS FOR
PROPERTY TAX PAYERS.
THE STATE ESTIMATES OUR PROPERTY
VALUES WILL GO UP BY MORE THAN
SIX PERCENT... SO THE TEXAS
EDUCATION AGENCY IS ASKING
LAWMAKERS FOR MORE THAN A
BILLION DOLLARS LESS.
JULIE COWAN, AISD SCHOOL
BOARD TRUSTEE: "IT DOES IMPACT
CLASSROOMS."
PHIL: AISD SCHOOL BOARD
TRUSUTEE, JULIE COWAN SAYS THIS
SYSTEM STOPS MANY DISTRICTS FROM
DOING NEW OR DIFFERENT THINGS.
JULIE COWAN, AISD SCHOOL
BOARD TRUSTEE: "WE WANT TO PAY
OUR TEACHERS MORE AND THOSE THAT
TOUCH OUR CHILDREN MORE. WE JUST
DON'T HAVE THOSE DOLLARS TO
RAISE THE SALARIES IN AISD."
PHIL PRAZAN, @PHILPRAZAN:
"STATE LAWMAKERS ARE ALLOWING
MORE MONEY TO GO INTO THE SYSTEM
FOR POPULATION GROWTH. MORE AND
MORE KIDS ARE JUST GOING TO
TEXAS SCHOOLS. BUT MOST OF THAT
MONEY STILL COMES FROM LOCAL
PROPERTY TAXES."
PHIL: IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS
PROPERTY TAXPAYERS WILL FUND 70
PERCENT OF SCHOOL NEEDS.
LAWMAKERS TRIED TO CHANGE THAT
LAST YEAR... BUT COULDN'T AGREE
ON HOW.
JULIE COWAN, AISD SCHOOL
BOARD TRUSTEE: "THIS WAS FRONT
AND CENTER. WAS THE NEED FOR THE
STATE TO, I GUESS TAKE UP MORE
OF IT'S SHARE."
PHIL: THERE IS A SPECIAL
STATE COMMISSION LOOKING INTO A
SOLUTION. BUT WILL THAT LOWER
YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL? OR
FUNNEL MORE MONEY INTO
EDUCATION? WE'LL FIND OUT AFTER
THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WHEN
LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE CAPITOL.
PHIL PRAZAN FOR STATE OF TEXAS
(SWOOSH)
JOSH: TEXAS LAWMAKERS ARE
SUPPOSED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WAYS
TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM THE STATE
USES TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BUT IT WON'T BE EASY. JOINING US
FOR PERSPECTIVE IS JOSH
SANDERSON FROM THE EQUITY CENTER
- A NON-PROFIT FOCUSED ON SCHOOL
FINANCE ISSUES. WELCOME.
SANDERSON: THANK YOU.
JOSH: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR
NONPROFIT. REALLY, WHAT DO YOU
GUYS DO?
SANDERSON: WE REPRESENT ABOUT
650 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE
STATE. LARGELY LOW AND
MID-WEALTH DISTRICTS. AND WE DO
CONSULTING AND ADVOCACY IN
HELPING THEM TO BETTER UTILIZE
STATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC
EDUCATION PURPOSES. AND WE ALSO
PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE
LEGISLATURE TO HELP INFORM THEIR
DECISIONS, THEIR POLICY
DECISIONS ON SCHOOL FINANCE
ISSUES.
JOSH: NOW YOU PUT OUT A PLAN
THAT AIMS TO BALANCE THE NEEDS
OF TAXPAYERS AND SCHOOL
CHILDREN. HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT
FROM THE CURRENT SYSTEM?
SANDERSON: THE CURRENT SYSTEM
IS LARGELY INEQUITABLE AS IT
PERTAINS TO BOTH TAXPAYERS AND
SCHOOL CHILDREN FUNDING AND WHAT
I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT IF YOU
LOOK AT WHAT ONE TAXPAYER IN ONE
DISTRICT CAN GENERATE PER-, FOR
THEIR TAX EFFORT, WITH THEIR TAX
EFFORT FOR THEIR SCHOOL
CHILDREN, COMPARE THAT TO A
DIFFERENT DISTRICT, IT VARIES
WILDLY. YOU HAVE SOME DISTRICTS
IN THE STATE TAXING AT THE STATE
CAP, WHICH IS $1.17. AND
GENERATING $6,000 DOLLARS A KID.
YOU HAVE OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE
STATE THAT CAN TAX AT 70 CENTS
AND GENERATE 9, 10,000 DOLLARS A
KID. AND SO THEIR DISPARITIES
BOTH IN TAX BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS
AND ON STUDENTS AS IT PERTAINS
TO THEIR FUNDING LEVELS.
JOSH: NOW, RIGHT NOW THE
TEXAS COMMISSION ON PUBLIC
SCHOOL FINANCE IS WORKING ON A
SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
LAWMAKERS. YOU'RE FOLLOWING THAT
CLOSELY. ARE YOU SEEING ANY
PROGRESS THERE?
SANDERSON: WE'RE SEEING A LOT
OF PROGRESS IN THAT THERE ARE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLICY
CHANGES TAKING PLACE THAT HAVE
NOT OCCURRED IN THE PAST. THIS
IS THE VERY BEGINNING OF THAT
PROCESS IN THAT THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
COMMISSION WILL BE DELIVERED TO
THE LEGISLATURE IN JANUARY. AND
AT THAT TIME WE'LL SEE REALLY
THE-, WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE
ROAD IF YOU WILL, WHERE THE
DEBATES WILL OCCUR AS TO WHAT
THE PROPER REFORM SHOULD BE. AND
THEN WHETHER OR NOT THERE THE
POLITICAL WILL EXISTS TO DO IT.
JOSH: THEY TALK ABOUT SCHOOL
FINANCE EVERY SESSION. SO,
WHAT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT ABOUT
THIS ONE.
SANDERSON: UH, MAKING A BET
ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL DO
IS A LOSING PROPOSITION. I'M
HOPING THAT THIS TIME AROUND WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT
DRIVES THE LEGISLATURE TO
ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION. UM, THE
MOST IMPORTANT BEING THAT IF NO
ACTION'S TAKEN, IT'S THE
LEGISLATURE SAYING THE CURRENT
SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE TODAY'S
ACCEPTABLE. AND I DON'T THINK
THAT THAT SENTIMENT EXISTS
EITHER WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE
BODIES OR WITHIN THE PUBLIC AT
LARGE. AND SO THERE IS AN
APPETITE FOR CHANGE. AN APPETITE
FOR REFORM IN THE WAY THAT WE
FUND OUR SCHOOLS BOTH ON OUR
OVER RELIANCE SOME WOULD ARGUE
ON PROPERTY TAXES. AND THE
AMOUNT WE'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING
ON STUDENTS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
PURPOSES.
JOSH: DO YOU FEEL LIKE RURAL
LAWMAKERS OR THE URBAN LAWMAKERS
ARE MORE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT YOUR
GROUP IS PUSHING?
SANDERSON: I DON'T THINK THAT
YOU CAN SIMPLIFY IT DOWN INTO
THOSE FACTIONS NECESSARILY. I
THINK YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT
UNDERSTAND THE INTRICACIES OF
THE SCHOOL FINANCE FORMULAS. HOW
COMPLICATED IT IS, AND HOW
REALLY IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE
THAT COMPLICATED. ABOUT HOW WE
ARE OVER-RELIANT ON THINGS THAT
WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST 20 AND
30 YEARS AGO THAT WE STILL DO
TODAY. THAT WE STILL UTILIZE
TODAY SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN
THE EASIEST WAY TO DO IT. NOT
NECESSARILY BECAUSE IT'S THE
RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. I THINK YOU
HAVE MEMBERS WHO ARE IN TUNE
WITH THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT
UNDERSTAND THINGS NEED TO CHANGE
FOR THE BETTER AND WE HAVE THOSE
ANSWERS. THEY JUST HAVE TO TAKE
ACTION TO PUT THEM INTO PLACE.
JOSH: JOSH SANDERSON, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.
SANDERSON: THANK YOU.
(SWOOSH)
(MUSIC)
JOSH: THE SUPREME COURT
CLEARED THE WAY FOR STATES TO
LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING. NOW,
SOME STATE LAWMAKERS WANT TEXAS
TO GET IN THE GAME...
REP. RAYMOND: "...AND IN MY
OPINION GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T
COME IN AND SAY, 'YOU CAN'T PLAY
FANTASY FOOTBALL.' IT'S JUST
DUMB."
JOSH: BUT THERE'S ALSO A
POWERFUL PUSH AGAINST GAMBLING -
WE'LL LOOK AT WHO HAS THE UPPER
HAND, NEXT ON STATE OF TEXAS.
(MUSIC)
H-E-B.
JOSH: THIS IS THE FIRST
SUNDAY OF THE NFL SEASON - A BIG
DAY FOR FOOTBALL FANS AND FOR
GAMBLERS.
PEOPLE IN EVERY STATE PLACE BETS
ON THE GAMES - MOST OF THEM DO
IT ILLEGALLY.
BUT THAT COULD SOON CHANGE -
THANKS TO A SUPREME COURT RULING
EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT
OVERTURNED THE FEDERAL BAN ON
SPORTS BETTING OUTSIDE OF
NEVADA.
NOW STATES ARE SCRAMBLING TO
CASH IN - BUT JOHN DABKOVICH
SHOWS US WHY TEXAS IS NOT LIKELY
TO GET IN THE GAME.
JOHN: JOSH, IT STARTS WITH
THE STATE CONSTITUTION..
IT VERY CLEARLY BANS GAMES OF
CHANCE.
BUT WE HAVE A LOTTERY IN
TEXAS... THAT ONLY CAME ABOUT
AFTER AN AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
AND IT HAS PUMPED BILLIONS INTO
TEXAS SCHOOLS.
IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER AMENDMENT
TO ALLOW SPORTS BETTING IN
TEXAS, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A
LONG SHOT.
(CHEERS)
ANNOUNCER: IT IS GOOD.
TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN
PAXTON HAS GONE ON THE RECORD
SAYING HE OPPOSES LEGALIZED
GAMBLING IN TEXAS.
SO HAVE GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAN PATRICK.
STEVE: YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE
FROM $100 UP TO $500 A GAME.
JOHN: THIS MAN, WHO WE'LL
CALL "STEVE," HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY
BETTING ON SPORTS IN TEXAS FOR
20 YEARS.
JOHN Q: WHAT DO YOU ENJOY
ABOUT IT?
STEVE: A: YOU KNOW THAT'S AN
INTERESTING QUESTION. I THINK
SOME OF IT JUST HAS TO DO WITH
THE ABILITY TO PREDICT AND BE
RIGHT.
JOHN: HE SHOWED US THE
WEBSITE HE USES TO PLACE BETS
WITH HIS BOOKIE WHO IS ALSO IN
TEXAS.
STEVE: THE FACT OF THE MATTER
IS IS THIS IS HAPPENING. I DON'T
THINK IT'S SLOWING. IF THE STATE
WERE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
REGULATION, THEY WOULD RECOGNIZE
SOME BENEFITS FROM IT AS WELL.
JOHN: BENEFITS LIKE CASH.
THE TEXAS LOTTERY SAYS IT
CONTRIBUTED 1-POINT-3 BILLION
DOLLARS TO TEXAS SCHOOLS LAST
YEAR.
AND THE MOST CONSERVATIVE
ESTIMATES SAY THE SPORTS BETTING
INDUSTRY IS AT LEAST AS BIG.
KOHLER: SPORTS BETTING WILL
BE NOT UNLIKE THE OTHER "GOOD
IDEAS," WINK WINK, NOD NOD THAT
HAVE COME INTO THE STATE.
JOHN: ROB KOHLER IS A
LOBBYIST REPRESENTING THE 3
MILLION MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL
BAPTIST CONVENTION OF TEXAS A
POWERFUL VOTING BLOC THAT NOT
ONLY OPPOSES LEGALIZED GAMBLING,
BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
LOTTERY REPEALED.
THEIR ARGUMENT?
GAMBLING, IN ANY FORM, IS A
REGRESSIVE TAX, HITTING POOR
PEOPLE THE HARDEST... PEOPLE,
WHO IN SOME CASES, ARE ALREADY
GETTING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
KOHLER: IT'D MAKE A SALES TAX
BLUSH WITH ITS REGRESSIVITY. SO,
IS IT SMART FOR US TO FUND OUR
GOVERNMENT WITH THE FOLKS THAT
WE'RE GIVING MONEY TO TO HELP?
NO.
JOHN: AND RESEARCH DOES SHOW
LOW INCOME PEOPLE ARE MORE
LIKELY TO GAMBLE THAN WEALTHIER
PEOPLE.
BUT ATTITUDES TOWARD SPORTS
BETTING HAVE CHANGED...
EVIDENCED BY THE N-B-A'S RECENT
PARTNERSHIP WITH CASINO GIANT
M-G-M.
BUT AT THE STATE CAPITOL,
GAMBLING HAS BEEN A LOSING BET.
PENA-RAYMOND: "THERE IS JUST
DO, AND IN MY OPINION GOVERNMENT
SHOULDN'T COME IN AND SAY, 'YOU
CAN'T PLAY FANTASY FOOTBALL.'
IT'S JUST DUMB."
JOHN: LAREDO DEMOCRAT RICHARD
PENA RAYMOND IS THE CLOSEST
THING TO A GAMBLING SUPPORTER AT
THE CAPITOL.
HE AUTHORED A BILL THAT WOULD
HAVE MADE FANTASY FOOTBALL SITES
LIKE DRAFTKINGS LEGAL IN TEXAS.
BUT EVEN HE IS QUICK TO DRAW A
LINE BETWEEN PLAYING FANTASY
FOOTBALL AND BETTING ON GAMES.
PENA-RAYMOND: "IT'S A
RELATIVELY NUANCED DIFFERENCE
BUT IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. I
DON'T INTEND TO BE THE PERSON
WHO INTRODUCES LEGISLATION WITH
RESPECT TO SPORTS BETTING, BUT I
HAVE TO IMAGINE SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES WILL AND WE'LL SEE
HOW IT GOES. Q: WOULD YOU
SUPPORT THAT? A: YOU KNOW IT
WOULD HAVE TO DEPEND. I DON'T
BET ON SPORTS. I DON'T BET ON
GAMES. PEOPLE WILL FIND THE
AVENUES, WHETHER ITS A BOOKIE OR
OFFSHORE ACCOUNT."
JOHN: RAYMOND SAYS HE PLANS
TO RE-INTRODUCE HIS FANTASY
FOOTBALL BILL NEXT YEAR.
AS FOR SPORTS BETTING, THERE MAY
BE SOME SOFTENING.
IN 2010, TEXAS REPUBLICANS SAID
IN THEIR PLATFORM THEY WANTED TO
REPEAL THE LOTTERY... AND DIDN'T
WANT ANY LOTTERY MONEY TO BE
USED TO EXPAND STATE PROGRAMS.
NOW, IT SIMPLY SAYS THEY OPPOSE
THE EXPANSION OF LEGALIZED
GAMBLING.
JOSH...
JOSH: THANKS, JOHN.
ONE STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS
PUSHING A PLAN TO EXPAND SPORTS
GAMBLING - BEYOND FANTASY GAMES.
DEMOCRAT EDDIE LUCIO THE THIRD
TELLS US HE'S DRAFTED A BILL TO
LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING IN
TEXAS.
HE SAYS IT COULD HELP SCHOOLS
AND OTHER STATE PROGRAMS - BY
BRINGING IN MONEY THAT'S GOING
TO OTHER STATES.
LUCIO SAYS, "IT'S TIME TO KEEP
THAT REVENUE HERE AT HOME."
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US
FOR STATE OF TEXAS.
I'M JOSH HINKLE.
WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK TO BRING
YOU AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT TEXAS
POLITICS.
