Tales of the budget conference: It's done!
The budget conferees in the last half hour approved a two-year, $152.5 billion budget by a vote of 9-0.
House Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, walked out shortly before the vote was taken -- presumably to underscore his displeasure over money set aside to pay interest on bonds that might be used to build prisons. Or was it the rider on Texas Southern University, which Mr. Turner also questioned moments earlier? Or the failure to give prison guards any of the bigger pay raises handed to newbie state cops and game wardens?
Well, if you can't have unanimity, you at least can have speed. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said he'd ask for colleagues to suspend rules to bring the budget to the floor tomorrow. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, said he expects the budget on the House floor on Sunday.
Comments
Not sure it's done yet - the conference committee is going back at 5.
Could it have something to do with Turner storming out before the vote was taken the first time?
Posted by: Joe | May 25, 2007 4:36 PM
Yes. Supposedly, budget bigwigs are trying to strike a provision about Texas Southern University that is odious to Rep. Turner.
Posted by: rtgarrett | May 25, 2007 4:57 PM