Dem White hits Perry on budget cuts

AUSTIN (AP) - Democrat Bill White is criticizing Republican Gov. Rick Perry for pressing state agencies to cut their budgets by five percent, calling the approach "Soviet-style" budget management.

With Texas facing a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion, White said he would insist on "fiscal discipline" but refuses to rule out possible tax increases to close the gap. He said he would first have to "look under the hood" of state government to identify possible savings and inefficiencies.

White, who faces Perry in the November elections, spoke Tuesday at a conference hosted by the Texas Tribune online news site.