House Appropriations Chair Jim Pitts addressed the House members minutes ago speaking on progress made in regards to HB 1, the appropriations bill for 2012-2013.
In regards to Article III (education), Pitts stated, the House and Senate version are $3.8 billion apart in funding public education and $1 billion apart in funding higher education. Lawmakers must “find additional revenue without raising taxes and without using additional Rainy Day funds,” said Pitts. He noted that the fiscal matters bills are critical to the final budget bill.
Pitts also stated that there are no tax accelerators proposed in SB 1811 and, furthermore, a perfecting amendment will be offered to strike the language suspending the sales tax holiday. Elimination of these options will cost the bill $1 billion leaving approximately $2.5 billion in expected revenue from SB 1811.
Three fiscal matters bills are on the House Calendar for tomorrow: SB 1811, SB 1581 and SB 23 with close to 400 amendments that have been pre-filed on the legislation. Pitts has said in regards to the amendments – amendments offered that are bills which have passed out of committee and died he will leave to the will of the House, those that were not considered in committee or passed out, he will move to table.
One of the amendments that will be discussed tomorrow will be an amendment by Rep. Scott Hochberg. He will offer a modified version of his school finance bill (HB 2485) to SB 1581 (education fiscal matters bill).
Members on the back mic raised concern over not further utilizing the rainy day fund. They argued that even with SB 1811 there will be a $4-6 billion reduction in funding to the Foundation School Program (FSP), and that Article II (health and human services) is underfunded in the budget, as voted on last night in conference committee, by approximately $4.8 billion.