Too Much or Too Little?

For those wondering about those five nay votes against Senate Bill 1, the Senate finance bill, last week, they've now all put out policy statements. Here's the quick skinny on who said what and why:

- Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said the bill underfunded the Texas Grants tuition and fee assistance program and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

- Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, said the bill underfunded UT-Arlington, the only four-year college in Tarrant County.

- Sen. Mike Jackson, R-League City, said that, while the bill spent too much money in some areas, it underfunded certain (but he didn't name them) higher-education institutions in his district.

- Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, just thought it was too big and said he could save $3 billion, mainly by slashing dedicated educational programs like Student Success Initiatives, state watchdogs like the Travis County Public Integrity Unit, and programs for illegal migrants like the Colonias Initiative.

- Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, opposed the bill because it prioritized the 2011 tax cut over desperately needed CHIP and education funding.