The hot-button issues at the convention were gambling and school vouchers. Both pitted the Republican elected leadership and their financial backers squarely against much of the grass-roots. Instituting a voucher program that will be a model for the nation has been a burning priority for certain Texans.

In particular, during the 2002 election cycle, a San Antonio hospital bed magnate named James Leininger invested $624,774 mostly in GOP candidates, according to campaign watchdog Texans for Public Justice, apparently with the goal of establishing a voucher program in Texas. From 2000 to 2004, Leininger's entire family gave $2,497,250 to state candidates, which does not include the contributions of numerous companies in which he owns sizable interests. This past February, Leininger and his wife joined Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his wife along with anti-tax guru and Washington lobbyist Grover Norquist, among others, on a private cruise in the Bahamas to "talk about school finance."

A month later, the governor called the Legislature into an unscheduled special session on the subject, which fizzled because of Republican bickering. Vouchers could soon become a policy reality. Perry has declared himself open to a voucher program as part of any eventual school finance package. But many of the faithful seem to be having second thoughts -- because they see vouchers as a Trojan horse for the federal government.

Members of the convention's platform committee said they heard more heated testimony on "school choice" than on any other issue. At the meeting, numerous participants testified to their fear that if public funding in the form of vouchers finds its way into private schools, government regulation is sure to follow. "It's time to reverse the idea that Republicans are for vouchers," said one delegate, echoing many others. "Vouchers lead to more control." In the end, the sop in the platform to these complaints involved a call for a state constitutional amendment to accompany any voucher law that would ensure the government stays out of private schools.

The issue of gambling will not likely be resolved quite as easily. Signature takers wielding anti-gambling petitions greeted delegates at the entrance to the convention hall. "Please sign below and let Republican legislators know that we want them to uphold the GOP platform," the petition read. It came in response to a proposal by the governor and legislative leaders to allow 40,000 slot machines into the state as a gambit to pay for a cut in property taxes.

Gaming interests are big supporters of the Republican campaign machine in Texas, contributing $572,175 to Perry since 2000. But the party platform, as always, is unequivocal on the matter. "We oppose any further legalization, government facilitation, or financial guarantees relating to any type of gambling including casino, riverboat, slot machine, video keno, eight-liners, and other games of chance."

When Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison spoke on Saturday, the final day of the convention, some of the loudest applause came when she said, after a pause and a stern glare, "Governor Bush fought gambling in this state, and I will too." The delegates roared in approval.

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