Can Cook Bridge The Divide Or Is It All Talk?

Rep. David Cook has responded to Trey Martinez Fischer’s call for Democratic unity with a proposal aimed at addressing shared concerns about public education.

In a letter to Martinez Fischer, Cook sought to engage Democratic holdouts by initiating a conversation on transitioning Texas’ public school funding model from attendance-based to enrollment-based, as first reported by the Quorum Report. 

“Over 90% of students in Texas are part of the public education system,” Cook wrote. “Thus, it is essential for the House to address other critical educational reforms, such as a significant overhaul or phasing out of the STAAR test and a much-needed pay raise for our teachers. It is also crucial for the House to carefully examine how we fund our public schools—specifically, transitioning to enrollment-based funding versus attendance-based funding.”

While mindful of the potential long-term cost implications of enrollment growth, Cook emphasized that this issue deserves thoughtful consideration and could serve as a point of common ground in the upcoming legislative session.

Cook’s outreach comes amidst the ongoing Republican battle for the next Speaker of the House, a contest that has exposed deep divisions within the GOP. Former Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) faced criticism from Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton despite delivering a conservative legislative agenda in 2023. Phelan’s perceived failure to pass school vouchers and his role in Paxton’s impeachment led to his removal, creating a leadership vacuum.

The race to replace Phelan has narrowed to two candidates: Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) and David Cook (R-Fort Worth). Cook, viewed as the more conservative choice, claimed a majority in the GOP caucus vote but has yet to secure the 60 votes required for consensus. Burrows remains a contender, reportedly buoyed by some Democratic support.

In an open letter to Texas Democrats, Martinez Fischer urged his party to capitalize on the current Republican discord by presenting a united front. “I have listened to friends and colleagues who tell us that Democratic unity never works and there is the quick reference to failed efforts in 2019 to do that,” Martinez Fischer wrote. “Yes, they have a point; however, context matters. Republicans were united in 2019 and in 2021, and that unity gave an incentive for 30ish Democrats to join the winning side. That is not present today. I have never seen this much Republican division in my 12 terms.”

Governor Abbott’s renewed push for school vouchers, backed by significant financial support from far-right donors, looms over the upcoming session. Rural House Republicans, who opposed vouchers in 2023 alongside Democrats, remain a critical factor in the debate. Meanwhile, Cook’s willingness to address public school funding reform could open the door for bipartisan collaboration.