Texas Political Parlor: House Budget Time
The House Chamber will be abuzz with budgetary activity starting Friday. Photo by Nathan Bernier for KUT NewsAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
On Friday, the Texas House will take up the one bill they are required to pass in a regular legislative session: the state budget. The proposal, initially put forth in January by House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie), doesn’t differ that much from the bill House members will debate.
But that may not be biggest logjam over a 2012-2013 budget at the Capitol. The Senate is crafting their own version of a budget, which does differ from the House version, mainly in the search for “non-tax revenue” sources to close the spending gap and restore some funding to education and other programs.
It may not be the beginning of a Great Schism, but the dueling proposals could put House and Senate Republicans at odds when it comes time to come up with a final budget. KUT’s Ian Crawford and Kate Alexander of the Austin American-Statesman look at the upcoming debate between House members and, potentially, between members of the GOP in this week’s “Texas Political Parlor.”
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