Yesterday (Thursday), the House failed to approve a floor amendment by Rep. Armando Walle (D-Houston) that would have restored funding cuts to community colleges for the remainder of the current biennium, by using a portion of the Rainy Day Fund and other sources. The proposal was the subject of this previous post.
Today the focus shifts to the budget for the forthcoming biennium (2012-13), as the House debates floor amendments to HB 1 and other supplemental revenue bills designed to fund state agencies for the next two years.
Of particular interest to TCCTA and the Texas Association of Community Colleges is an amendment designed to place all proposed cuts to institutions into one line item, so they are more apparent to lawmakers. As it stands right now, the 82 percent cut to health insurance benefits is listed separately from cuts in formula funding. If the budget reductions are consolidated, they may stand a better chance of being restored as the appropriations process continues. Also, the shift in revenue would help affirm the priority of health benefits.
The amendment is sponsored by Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (R-Killeen), and was the subject of a previous post urging support. Please read this post if you have not already done so.
TCCTA president Fred Newbury, lobbyist Beaman Floyd, and executive director Richard Moore have spent a great deal of time at the Capitol in recent days, visiting with lawmakers and their staffs about the House budget, with particular emphasis on the cuts in health benefits that are currently in HB 1, the appropriations bill.
The floor debate and votes will be broadcast online from the House chamber, starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday. Here's the link.
The Texas Tribune provides live blogging here.
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