A Harris Precinct 4 Constable blocks off an entrance to the Lone Star College North Harris campus after a shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 in Houston. The shooting on campus wounded three people and sent students fleeing for safety as officials placed the campus on lockdown, officials said. Harris County Sheriff's Maj. Armando Tello said authorities had detained a person of interest. Police did not provide any details about the people who were wounded. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Texas House budget writers act on $4.8B bill
Published: 03:56:50 PM, Mon 11 February 2013 UTC
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Budget writers in the Texas House have taken the first step toward passing one of the first priorities of the new legislative session.
The House Appropriations Committee on Monday unanimously approved a $4.8 billion supplemental spending bill. The majority of that covers a Medicaid tab that lawmakers didn't pay two years ago.
Republican chairman Jim Pitts told the committee that the spending bill must be on Gov. Rick Perry's desk by March. He says failing to do so will mean that doctors and hospitals won't get paid.
Democrats have indicated they'll make Republicans vote on restoring $5.4 billion in education cuts in the supplemental bill, which must be addressed before lawmakers begin fine-tuning the next budget.
The supplemental bill now moves to the Texas House.
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