By Ben Philpott, KUT Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-829270.mp3
Dallas, TX –
The most recent and vocal budget debate concerned a recently inserted provision that will most likely block embryonic stem cell research at the state's public universities. One of the biggest complaints has been that the provision was inserted without any public input. Lead budget writer, Bryan Republican Steve Ogden, says that will be remedied in coming days.
Ogden: "My committee and the Senators feel like we ought to go ahead and have a hearing on it and allow people who are interested in this subject to come and testify. So let's see what the House does. Let's see how that hearing goes. And then I'll get back to you."
Another worry: That the slowing state economy will not generate enough money to pay the 182-billion dollar price tag. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst.
Dewhurst: "And as of my last conversations with the comptroller even though we see a softening today, and it could change tomorrow, but today I still have my fingers crossed that our revenue estimates will hold."
One other concern of note: The Senate spends nearly 11-billion dollars in federal stimulus money to help balance the budget. There are worries that at least part of that money can't be spent as a substitute dipping into the state's so called rainy day fund. If that's true, it would throw the budget out of balance, unless cuts were made.
Reporting from the Texas Capitol - I'm Ben Philpott.