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House Agrees with Senate Funding Plan after standoff.

A disagreement over University funding almost scuttled an on time agreement on the state budget. The House wanted to cut higher Education funding by 200 million. The Senate chose to use four hundred million in cash reserves being held by the universities. Late this afternoon, the House agreed with the Senate plan for Higher Education funding. Senate appropriations Chairman JD Alexander says the Senate was in no mood to cut University funding.

“I don’t believe the Senate would support a two hundred million dollar recurring cut to ongoing University operations. It’s hard enough to ask for some of the cash, excess cash back. We all are struggling with that” Alexander told reporters.
By using the University reserve cash, the Legislature is able to avoid deeper cuts in health and human service needs and other programs. Lawmakers have until midnight next Tuesday to reach an agreement that will send them home on time.