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,

The legislation approved $10,000 annual funding for Texas families to allocate toward private education while homeschoolers could access up to $2,000.

After hours of debate — and years of pushing from Gov. Greg Abbott — the Texas House approved to a bill to create an Education Savings Account plan. The school voucher program would allow parents to use public funds toward private school costs.