The latest campaign finance reports reveal that the Texas Democrats who broke quorum collected $491,000 between their July 12 departure and the end of the first special session. Over 25 percent of that money came from out-of-state donors.

When Texas’ last legislative session gaveled to a close in late May, conservatives from across the state were not shy about expressing their disappointment with the results. Leaders of large and powerful grassroots organizations like Julie McCarty of True Texas Project, JoAnn Fleming of Grassroots America We The People, Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans and Elizabeth Graham of Texas Right to Life described the results of the session as “purple,” “loser,” and “nothing,” making ominous, albeit veiled, threats to withhold funding.