Ernesto Bernal cites federal initiatives as a large influence towards passing bilingual education legislation in Texas. Under the Johnson administration in 1969, federal funding for bilingual education became available, thus creating an incentive to create bilingual education programs to receive federal money. However, federal court cases had less of an impact. Bernal argues that state government responds to federal cases only when it's convenient to do so. Otherwise, state government and agencies will do the minimum necessary short of being held in contempt of court. Bernal also points out that an increase in Mexican American legislators as well as the exchanging of votes for legislation helped to pass bilingual education in 1973.