re: Texas has more top 100 public schools than any other state.

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Texas didn't really intentionally do this. If I remember correctly the legislature wanted valuable land in east Texas which they took from the university system. In exchange, they gave them millions of (at the time) worthless acres out in West Texas. This was put in the state Constitution back in the late 1800's. Some 50 years later oil was discovered on the land and the university system ended up with one huge arse endowment fund.

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From what I understand legislature took some land for the railroad but also returned a significant amount. The key is when they did find the oil rather than dip their hands in the piggy bank and getting a sweetheart deal on some valuble oil land-they made it to where they couldnt sell off the land AND made sure the funds received from mineral rights went into the PUF so they didnt spend it all right away.

OTOH Louisiana made it to where the only parts of the budget that can be cut are higher education and healthcare can be cut.