House committee passes 2012-13 budget

AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) - The Texas House Appropriations Committee passed a bare-bones budget Wednesday morning that makes deep cuts to state services throughout the next two years.

The panel sent HB 1 to the full House on a 18-7, with all of the Democrats present registering opposition.

The plan would spend $77.6 billion in state money but underfund public schools by almost $8 billion and leave a $4 billion hole in the state health and human services budget. That's after an agreement to use the state's rainy day fund that gave legislators an extra $4 billion to lessen cuts.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry as well as GOP legislative leaders have vowed to close an estimated $27 billion shortfall without resorting to a tax increase for the 2012-13 budget cycle..

Outnumbered Democrats on the committee spoke out against the proposal to cut funding for neighborhood schools, make college more expensive and eliminate services for children, seniors and the disabled.

"This budget is unacceptable to our constituencies who have sent us to ensure a first-class education for our children, protect our citizens, care for those who no longer can care for themselves and provide services to those who have nowhere else to turn," said Dukes.

Dukes said House Democrats have called on state leaders to fix the $10 billion permanent budget hole created by the Republicans' 2006 tax plan and use a portion of the $9.4 billion rainy day fund to address 2012-2013. However, Dukes said the leadership has refused.

The initial plan, which is being written with a revenue shortfall of more than $14 billion, underfunded schools by almost $10 billion and made massive cuts to health and human services.

"In many cases the cuts in health and human services are making life-and-death decisions," said Dukes. "Texas children, senior citizens and disabled Texans deserve better. With inadequate resources, our school children are destined to a second-class education and unable to compete in today's global economy."

An agreement to dip into the state's reserve fund allows lawmakers to lessen those cuts, though not by much.

The partisan vote sends the budget to the House scheduling committee, where it will be set for consideration by the full House.