House Caucus Chair Gene Wu wants Texas Democrats prepared for battle

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Rep. Gene Wu, the new chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, appeared hopeful that Democrats can make an impact this legislative session by working with center-right Republicans.

“We don't care what the extremists want, we want to work on things that move the state forward,” Wu said during a Tuesday Texas Tribune event with reporter Jasper Scherer.

As the new leader of the caucus, which lost two seats in the last election, Wu said his focus is on making sure Democrats can win.

“I filed no bills and I don't intend to,” said Wu, who typically files dozens of bills. “My only objective in this session is to make sure that Democrats are prepared for battle.”

Wu, of Houston, and a coalition of other Democrats voted alongside Republicans in January to make Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, the speaker of the Texas House. Burrows promised to work with Democrats, which set him apart from his opponent, hardline Republican Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield.

“I think the amount of trust has been built up,” Wu said.

A bipartisan House rules package passed last week banned members of the minority party, currently Democrats, from chairing committees but guaranteed the vice chairs for the minority party.

“Some people will say it's a loss, but look, we as a group guaranteed our ability to have a role in a process, guaranteed our ability to have some input,” Wu said.

One issue Wu is particularly passionate about is preventing school voucher programs – which would devote state funds to help parents pay their child’s private school tuition – or similar programs benefiting private schools.

School vouchers have been pushed by leading Republicans in the state, including Gov. Greg Abbott, but Wu said he doesn’t believe vouchers have to pass.

“I still have not had anyone come explain to me in a rational way,” Wu said, “why it's OK when times are already this tough for us to take money from hard working Texans and give it to the wealthy who already have kids in private school.”