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Priorities for 2013 Legislature

Ben Philpott/KUT News

The state’s top three political leaders met with reporters today as a sign of unity heading into the legislative session.

Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus say strengthening the state’s economy by improving its infrastructure and its skilled workforce are the top priorities, all while controlling state spending - even as the state is flush with cash.

The three were asked if the additional funds meant reversing last session’s public education cuts. Dewhurst said the state would increase funding to schools but doesn’t expect a debate over a new funding system.

“There’s no reason for us to get into a dialogue back-and-forth what that number should be, because we’ve got 400 -- 40 percent of our school districts have sued us,” he said. “So we’re going to have one or more courts tell us what is the right number to put in and we’ll fund it.”

Perry quickly added, “Maybe.”

Ben Philpott is the Managing Editor for KUT. Got a tip? Email him at bphilpott@kut.org. Follow him on Twitter @BenPhilpottKUT.
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