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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