The Texas lawmakers voted almost unanimously for the in state tuition bill. Even if Perry had vetoed it they had way beyond the votes for an override.
As far as the border fence goes, it was explained that the border is river, and to put the fence all the way across the state would wall off Texas ranches so they couldn't water their stock. Not to practical in some places.
As a very outspoken border fence advocate, as much as I hate to admit it, this is a salient point. It is a terrible desert, and cows need water (not to mention wildlife). But how do we guarantee ongoing defense without it? electronic surveillance is wiped out by defunding it... the stroke of a pen and it is gone. Boots on the ground - same thing... been there done that.
Maybe I would trust them more if 'boots on the ground' included a few bases - Once installed, there is a certain economy around bases which cause them to be hard to close... Move the desert warfare guys down there permanently... Maybe then there would be lasting boots on the ground.