Posted on 04/30/2003 10:34:28 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Senate passes $117.7 billion budget
BY CONNIE MABIN Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN - The Texas Senate on Tuesday approved a $117.7 billion budget bill that trims spending to education, public safety and other areas, while slightly increasing funding to health and human services.
The 2004-05 proposed spending plan provoked passionate discussion in the the 31-member Senate, but the bill passed 26-5 without the days-long, divisive debate the House engaged in when it OK'd its budget two weeks ago.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said he was proud of the bipartisan effort.
"We've focused on maintaining our core, essential services," he said.
Five Democrats voted against the bill and some supporters had reservations about how lawmakers dealt with a $9.9 billion shortfall.
Republican Bill Ratliff, an influential senator from Mount Pleasant and a former lieutenant governor, said he voted for the bill "with a very heavy heart because I don't think it's worthy of the great state of Texas."
He said he was prepared to stay in session until the end of this fiscal year Aug. 31 to force the House to pass a tax bill to fund what he called critical needs. The regular session ends June 2.
"I think we could have done better if the Senate had been willing to stand shoulder to shoulder and say we will not accept this," said Ratliff, the former lieutenant governor. "I wish I could say I'm proud of this product. I can't say that."
Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, argued against tax increases, saying, "Just like Texas families, we must learn to do more with less."
He was backed by Dewhurst, who said a tax bill is "DOA."
The Senate appropriated $59.9 billion in state money. The House spent $58.6 billion in state general revenue. When federal and other funds are added, both budgets total about $117.7 billion.
Now, the House and Senate must work out significant spending differences before sending a compromise budget to Gov. Rick Perry.
Senate Finance Chairman Teel Bivins called drafting the budget an "excruciating process," but said he believed it cuts unnecessary spending and funds needs such as prisons, schools and health care for needy children.
Unlike the testy rhetoric that dominated the House debate, the senators showered each other with praise even when disagreeing over cuts during the nearly five-hour debate.
"Our governor, the head of the Senate, made a priority and that priority was people," said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh. "I'd like to thank him for making that clear."
But Shapleigh, D-El Paso, said he could not support cuts to social programs and pointed out the tens of thousands of Texans who will no longer receive state services such as 17,280 elderly and disabled people who will lose in-home care.
Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, defended the budget which is $2.2 billion more than what's now being spent on Medicaid and other social services.
She highlighted a pared-down Children's Health Insurance Program that would continue to serve every child now enrolled, though they would lose dental and other non-basic benefits. New enrollees would have to wait 90 days before getting coverage.
The House would also fund a stripped-down CHIP program but with more restrictions, meaning some 200,000 children now covered would lose benefits.
Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who was critical of prison budget cuts proposed earlier this session, said he could live with the final $340 million in cuts at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
"I would suggest that public safety has been maintained," he said.
GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick said Tuesday he'll appoint a conference committee to work with senators on a compromise after his chamber formally rejects the Senate bill, likely later this week.
Last week, Craddick said the Senate's budget was "robbing Peter to pay Paul" because it relies on payment delays and fund borrowing. That disagreement over how to fund government over the next two years is the main issue between the two bodies.
Perry and Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, both Republicans, also disagree with delaying $2.3 billion in state payments to schools, pensions and other programs and using money from some state funds.
Bivins defended the moves, saying they've been used in the past and are legitimate ways to save money. The one-time costs that are put off would be paid when Texas could afford it, he said.
There are other differences.
For example, the House would cut $309 million in textbook funding while the Senate would trim $172 million. And teachers would pay more for health insurance under the House plan than in the Senate's.
In all, the House spent about $827 million more in state money on public education, $24.4 billion, than the Senate, which spent $23.6 billion.
04/30/03
What has happened to the Texas Palestine? Palestine was once a Democrat sronghold. Let's hope the Senate and House versions of the bill follow Senator Staples' advice.
For non-Texans, this $117.7 billion is for TWO YEARS. The old budget was about $114 billion; so there is still more spending.
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