Probably so in TExas also - but a large part of them are HIspanic. Now the corporate welfare doesn't buy votes as such but it gets campiagn contributions and in exchange we taxpayers have to support big agribusiness workers.
Idaho state budget is grossly slanted in the direction of education. It is an "untouchable". It is also a big time white collar entitlement program. Every county as a separate school district with a full complement of administration... no matter how big or small the population of students. The school system needs a MAJOR overhaul to be more efficient.
Texas seems to be top heavy in education with 60% of the state budget going for education, according to a speech by the Governor. So that means a lot of people are interested in educational aid - and not just teachers or school employees. Think of all the people who do business with the schools - it is quite large.
Also we have 254 counties in TExas, but few, I am guessing but maybe 10 would have only one school district. Some have many, many districts. All with a full complement of administrators - no school funding is not a small thing. It carries a lot of votes.