It was President Harry S. Truman who popularized the phrase, “The buck stops here”—his point that the ultimate responsibility for decisions at the federal level rests with the commander-in-chief.  

Fearing leaders appointed by the Reconstruction-era federal government, the framers of the post-Civil War state constitution made “where the buck stops” in Texas a little less clear. This can be a source of confusion around election season, when statewide officials claim credit for the work of others while dodging responsibility for their own faults and foibles.  

To get a better picture heading into the next election season, it’s worth taking a look at what roles our statewide officials played during the 2021 regular legislative session.  

Gov. Greg Abbott began the session by declaring five emergency items: expanding broadband access, preventing municipalities from reducing police spending, changing bail bond practices, making election laws stricter, and providing businesses immunity from pandemic-related lawsuits filed by employees or customers. Following the deadly February winter storm, Abbott added power system winterization.  

The governor’s main authority lies in appointments, including the commissioner of education. Abbott’s pick, Commissioner Mike Morath, is the driving force behind the governor’s education agenda. Not only does he influence legislation during session, but Morath also makes rules that determine how legislation is applied year-round.  

Recently, the commissioner used his power to decide whether and how schools may offer remote instruction during the pandemic, how much federal aid money they may receive, and whether to allow new charter schools to open. This session, the Legislature continued its trend of handing over more authority to this unelected official.  

Over in the Legislature, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is the Texas Senate. Nothing in the upper chamber happens without his consent, and the lieutenant governor’s agenda is the only one that matters. Patrick declared 31 priority items this session; the top of the list included bills dealing with abortion and requiring sports teams to play the national anthem. Three bills at the bottom of the list affected public education: expanding virtual education, easing charter school regulations, and regulating participation of transgender students in athletics.  

Patrick wielded his absolute power over the Senate to force through several bills opposed by ATPE, including legislation gutting “no pass, no play” by allowing home-schooled students to participate in UIL activities and legislation that will restrict how educators teach social studies. Without Patrick, these bills would have likely died due to lack of support.  

Attorney General Ken Paxton has been under criminal indictment since taking office and is being investigated by the FBI over his staff’s allegations that he abused his office to benefit a donor. Ironically, the attorney general’s duties include investigating potential crimes and issuing “opinions”—basically nonbinding legal advice in response to questions posed by legislators and other officials.  

Although these opinions don’t carry the force of law, they can be influential. Paxton has marked his term by issuing opinions opposing the rights and interests of educators and has wielded his agency’s investigatory power to bully school districts over get-out-the-vote initiatives and made multiple attempts to intimidate and silence educators who dare to teach the importance of civic engagement.  

There are other important statewide officials who don’t make as many headlines. The comptroller is responsible for watching the state’s bank account and letting the Legislature know how much it can spend. The land commissioner controls a portion of the state’s investments that fund public schools. The agriculture commissioner manages programs that provide meals to low-income families.  

Each of these statewide officials is capable of helping or harming public education, and choosing the right person for each job is key to making sure Texas adopts public education policies that put students and classrooms first.  

As a voter, you have the ultimate responsibility to decide who those people are. And when you think about it that way, the buck stops with you.