Legislative Update from Rep. Tommy Pope

Tommy Pope discusses the most pressing issues the House is working on this week before their furlough. First is the School Choice bill. He describes it as beneficial as it will give parents more choice in what is best for their children, but his mother, sister, and brother all taught in public schools, so he understands the importance of the funding of public education as well. The budget this year is giving 150 million new dollars to the public school system. He plans to sign this bill if it remains the same as it stands now. He feels that the most important thing is to eliminate bickering between school choice and public education folks, and to get the focus back on the children. Secondly, he discusses his disappointment with the tax reforms that are making their way out of subcommittees, he feels that we needed a true comprehensive tax reform but only bits and pieces of the changes are being made.