One of the men who controls the state鈥檚 checkbook is leaving the door open to restoring some of the $5.4 billion in public education cuts enacted two years ago.
House Appropriations chair took questions from lawmakers on the House floor today, including one from Austin Democrat .
鈥淲hat can we do now to restore some of those funds?鈥� Howard asked.
鈥淲e have about $8 billion additional revenue that was anticipated," Pitts responded. "We will probably be bringing you legislation and you will be discussing in the supplemental bill how we would use those funds.鈥� The supplemental bill is legislation to cover the remaining bills of the current two-year budgeting period.
Today, State Representative filed that would require lawmakers to consider a bill addressing school funding within the first 60 days of the legislative session.
Last week, a state district judge the school finance system is unconstitutional, in part because it inadequately funds education. The state is expected to appeal that ruling to the Texas Supreme Court.
