Pearland Republican Jeff Barry has long been skeptical of school vouchers, but on Thursday morning he voted to create what could become the largest voucher program in the nation. Barry, a freshman House lawmaker,

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with House Republicans for a pep talk hours before the vote on a school choice bill that would spend $1 billion in taxpayer money to send students to private schools. After the meeting,

The House approved a school voucher plan, clearing a hurdle that had stood in the way of a Gov. Greg Abbott priority. One last hurdle remains.