Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to cut property taxes will starve public schools while he sends state money to private schools.

Gov. Greg Abbott won his campaign to give taxpayer money to private schools. Now he’s promising to starve public schools of the funds they need to compete.

The governor promised to push through laws to make it almost impossible for school districts to raise taxes. In announcing his run for a record fourth term, he also said voters should have the power to reduce or eliminate school funding entirely.

Abbott is aligning himself with the most reactionary members of his Republican Party. For decades, fringe conservatives have wanted to end government-run schools and send every child to private institutions run by clerics or ideologues under the banner of parental choice.