HOUSTON – The debate over bathroom policies in public schools shows no sign of slowing down.
The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance to schools on how to make sure transgender students are not discriminated against when it comes to using the restroom, and some Texas lawmakers aren’t happy.
Gov. Greg Abbott spoke sharply on the federal government’s directive, arguing that policy decisions should be made on the state and local levels in an appearance on CNBC Monday morning.
"The president himself has decided, well, he's going to go ahead and oppose it,” Abbott said. “That is ruling as a king, (which) is contrary to the design of the United States government."
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has a similar message, and has threatened to forgo federal funding for Texas schools if the federal government forces schools to adopt its policy.
But Monday, other Texas lawmakers spoke out in opposition of Patrick’s stance, arguing that it is not only an issue of discrimination -- but of already depleted school funds.
"Now our lieutenant governor is acting as the state's bully in chief,” said State Rep. Gene Wu at a news conference Monday.
“He is threatening the safety and well-being of our LGBT children, our students," Wu said.
Texas has already been in a longstanding fight about how schools are funded, and whether monies are dispersed evenly across counties.
Last week the Texas Supreme Court ruled the current funding system to be constitutional, while admitting it to be seriously flawed.
This further concerns some local leaders, who spoke out against the governor and lieutenant governor’s stance Sunday, including HISD board member Jolanda Jones.
"It does not make any sense to me that the lieutenant governor is willing to send back $10 billion because he doesn't like kids who are born into the wrong body," Jones said.