What does he think?

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.

This article appears in April 13 • 2007.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.