Activists on both sides of the school voucher issue were campaigning at the Capitol on Tuesday, drawing Gov. Rick Perry and other Republican leaders to speak out.

Advocates argue that the proposals foster competition, improving quality of schools and will give all students equal access to a quality education regardless of income and neighborhood.

"The chief mission of public schools is not to receive as much money as possible, but to educate as many children as possible," Perry told a crowd of voucher proponents.

"We must let parents liberate their children from poorly performing schools."

Opponents argue that the voucher pilot proposals would siphon funds away from public schools at a time when public school funding is most in need.

Gary Bledsoe, president of Texas NAACP said there aren't enough private schools to take in all students, the cost would be enormous and that tax money diverted to them would hurt public schools.

"We consider this program to be like fool's gold," Bledsoe said.

He said people are lured into the pro-voucher movement with the idea that their children will get to go where the rich kids go to school.

"The bottom line is, that's not possible."

The House Public Education Committee was considering three pilot voucher bills.

The hearing spurred a number of rallies on the Capitol grounds, both opposing and endorsing the voucher movement.

TEXAS LEGISLATURE

Click Here For Texas House of Representatives Web Site

Click Here For Texas Senate Web Site

Click Here To Find Information About Specific Bills

Click Here For Texas House Speaker’s Web Site

Click Here For Texas Lt. Governor’s Web Site

Click Here For Texas Governor’s Web Site

Click Here For Legislative Budget Board Web Site

CENTRAL TEXAS STATE SENATORS:

Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque*, Coryell*, Ellis, Falls*, Hill*, Hood, Johnson, McLennan*, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Averitt Senate Web Site

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell*, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton*, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas*, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Mills*, San Saba*, Taylor Counties)
Click Here For Fraser Senate Web Site

Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone*, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon*, Limestone*, Madison, Milam*, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
Click Here For Ogden Senate Web Site

CENTRAL TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone*, Limestone*, Navarro Counties)
Click Here For Cook House Web Site

State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill*, Ellis Counties)
Click Here For Pitts House Web Site

State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam*, Williamson-part, Counties)
Click Here For Gattis House Web Site

State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba*, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
Click Here For Hilderbran House Web Site

Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part*, Burnet, Lampasas* Counties)
Click Here For Hupp House Web Site

Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
Click Here For Delisi House Web Site

Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
Click Here For Anderson House Web Site

Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls*, Leon*, McLennan-part*, Madison, Robertson Counties)
Click Here For Dunnam House Web Site

Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque*, Johnson Counties)
Click Here For Orr House Web Site

Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell*, Erath, Hamilton*, Mills*, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Miller House Web Site