Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Failure of the Texas House and Senate leaders to reach a compromise over education funding means an increased likelihood that a mid-summer legislative session will be needed to settle the issue. The Star-Telegram reports that lawmakers are unsure whether they will be able to reconcile the two versions of the education bill before the end of the regular session in two weeks.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden reaffirmed his belief that the two chambers will be unable to close the gap between the two bills before the adjournment saying that the House and Senate are pretty far apart" at the moment.
The House proposal calls for $4 billion less in spending for public education and about $1 billion less on higher education than the Senate version. Although the House Appropriations committee Chairman Jim Pitts said that he was still optimistic that the deal could be done before May 30th but the lawmakers must reach an agreement in the next couple of days" to make the deadline.
With the exception of education which accounts for about 50 percent of state spending members of a House-Senate conference committee worked Monday night to approve most of the other components of a lean state spending plan to run state government for the 2012-13 biennium.
Texas Governor Rick Perry has previously said that the House and the Senate should be able to conclude their business during the 140-day regular session. His spokesman Mark Miner wouldnt say if the Governor will agree to call the extra session calling such talk premature."
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Failure of the Texas House and Senate leaders to reach a compromise over education funding means an increased likelihood that a mid-summer legislative session will be needed to settle the issue. The Star-Telegram reports that lawmakers are unsure whether they will be able to reconcile the two versions of the education bill before the end of the regular session in two weeks.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden reaffirmed his belief that the two chambers will be unable to close the gap between the two bills before the adjournment saying that the House and Senate are pretty far apart" at the moment.
The House proposal calls for $4 billion less in spending for public education and about $1 billion less on higher education than the Senate version. Although the House Appropriations committee Chairman Jim Pitts said that he was still optimistic that the deal could be done before May 30th but the lawmakers must reach an agreement in the next couple of days" to make the deadline.
With the exception of education which accounts for about 50 percent of state spending members of a House-Senate conference committee worked Monday night to approve most of the other components of a lean state spending plan to run state government for the 2012-13 biennium.
Texas Governor Rick Perry has previously said that the House and the Senate should be able to conclude their business during the 140-day regular session. His spokesman Mark Miner wouldnt say if the Governor will agree to call the extra session calling such talk premature."
