Texas House Committee Adopts Budget Proposal

Pitts, R-Waxahachie, said most of the difference between his proposal and the one adopted last week by the Senate is in bond debt.

"They did more bonding," Pitts said, referring to about $2 billion in bonds for building new roads in the Senate budget.

The Texas Transportation Department has already "announced over $2 billion worth of roads projects" from the stimulus package, Pitts said.

"They're going to have their hands full building roads," he said.

The House budget also authorizes $300 million in bonds for cancer research and prevention, compared to $600 million in the Senate version, and used lower caseload projections for Medicaid that amounted to about $1 billion less.

Once the House approves its budget, the two chambers will work out their differences in a conference committee.

Public education and health care take up the biggest percentage of the spending plan for 2010-2011. The budget proposal also gives a $1,000 bonus to retired and active state employees and retired teachers.