April 17, 2025      5:15 PM

Trump bails out Abbott in last minute brute force attack to put school vouchers over the finish line in the Texas House

Some Republicans and all Democrats got steamrolled. Even after $10 million from Yass, and nonstop threats Abbott still needed to call in reinforcements to deliver the same number of votes for vouchers that Burrows got for Speaker. Meantime, a future fiscal crisis for Texas public schools would be more like a drought than a hurricane. They can both kill everything in their destruction path. One just moves slower than the other.

“It is done,” said one Republican legislator walking out of the Texas House GOP Caucus meeting Wednesday morning featuring surprise guest speaker President Donald Trump. “No Republican is going to carry that amendment now.”

That lawmaker was, of course, referring to the last-minute flurry of activity to send the question of school vouchers to Texans in a statewide referendum. The idea had originated with former Gov. Rick Perry, a former Trump cabinet member now branded by the far-right as a “liberal,” and had been discussed for months by education groups. They were hopeful enough House Republicans would agree that after years of a pressure campaign by Gov. Greg Abbott, the fairest outcome would be for Texas voters to have the final say.

As of Tuesday, those groups were saying “We’re still in business,” based on assurances from some House Republicans. But during the Wednesday caucus meeting, Republicans were told by Abbott to follow Public Education Committee Chairman Brad Buckley and reject all attempts to change the legislation on the floor. Then “Abbott picked up his cell phone and it was Trump on the loudspeaker,” said someone in the room.

Shortly after that, Quorum Report published video of members listening to Trump give a pep talk ahead of the vote. At that moment, the eventual outcome came into clear focus. Any genuine House deliberations had concluded. “These guys are scared of their own shadow,” said a frustrated Republican, shaking his head. All the starch came out of any remaining GOP dissent about the details.

Republicans would have to trust leadership.

By Scott Braddock

Copyright April 17, 2025, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved