HENDERSON (KLAS) — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Henderson on Tuesday morning, touring an award-winning charter school.
Johnson, R-Louisiana, used his appearance at Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon to not only talk about Republicans’ education wins in Congress, but also to stump for GOP State Senator Carrie Buck, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus.Â
Democrats hope to flip the U.S. House in the midterm elections. Johnson said Nevada, which has three Democrats in Congress, is a toss-up.
“I think this is in that category, and one that we should win. I believe we will,” Johnson said.Â
Dina Titus’ campaign issued a statement to 8 News Now on Johnson’s visit.
“Carrie Buck brought to town one of the architects of the [One Big, Beautiful Bill], which is depriving Nevadans of medical care, food assistance, housing and energy help,” Titus’ campaign spokesman Dick Cooper said. “Children are going to school hungry, and seniors are faced with the prospect of being thrown out of nursing homes. Speaker Johnson is not welcome here in District One.”
Still, a classroom in Henderson is far from the halls of power in Washington, D.C. Johnson, who is second in line to the presidency, became a student on Tuesday. He visited five different classrooms, including one teaching high school students to be EMTs.Â
“So, they graduate high school but also have an EMT license and never have to work like at Dutch Bros or McDonald’s. They just immediately go in the workforce,” Allen Cisneros, a teacher at Pinecrest Sloan Canyon, said.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Johnson interjected.
Johnson held a press conference after his tour and touted the educational benefits tucked in the tax bill Congress passed last year.
“This was the largest expansion of school choice in the history of the federal government. It’s a big landmark achievement. It will allow people to have a tax credit for investing in education, in students,” Johnson said.
Starting next year, taxpayers can earmark up to $1,700 to a private or public school of their choice and receive a credit on their federal income taxes. The credit matches dollar for dollar.
States, however, have to enroll in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit. Nevada is one of 30 states that has opted to participate, according to the Internal Revenue Service’s website.
“Those funds would be helpful. For example, scholarships for extra tutoring, materials and equipment they need,” Johnson said.
President Donald Trump welcomed parents, students, and education advocates at the White House on Monday. He mentioned the executive order he signed barring biological boys from girls’ sports and private spaces.
“We have fought for it at the federal level, but it does come down to local districts and state level as well,” Speaker Johnson said. “The ideology that pushed the idea of men in women’s sports and boys in girls’ locker rooms is not something that the American people are on board with.”
Source: 8newsnow.com
