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January 17, 2017      5:15 PM

Updated: Texas House budget is released with a focus on public education; increases spending by less than 1%

Child protection & mental health also get more funding; Speaker Straus said “We keep overall spending low while making investments in children and our future."

In contrast with the Texas Senate’s initial spending plan released earlier in the day that would cut spending 1.5 percent across-the-board, the Texas House rolled out a budget Tuesday afternoon that slightly increases spending by just under 1 percent without raising taxes. Bottom line: the two chambers are about $8 billion apart in their plans.

“We keep overall spending low while making investments in children and our future,” said Speaker Joe Straus as his office unveiled the lower chamber’s version of the budget.

The initial House plan appropriates $108.9 billion in general revenue, Straus’ office said. It would also cut administrative costs and discretionary programs across state agencies and eliminate one-time funding approved last session like capital and information technology projects.

This spending plan includes cost-containment efforts to rein in Medicaid spending by $100 million, the Speaker’s office said.

Unlike Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s list of more than 30 must-pass bills, Speaker Straus is keeping his priority list tight.

By Scott Braddock

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