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Taking Baseball Back to its Roots: The Alpine Cowboys 5/25/13
House Approves $4B Bill to Close Medicaid Deficit 2/21/13
Associated Press
2/21/13
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas House approved a supplemental spending bill
to close a $4 billion budget deficit for Medicaid.
Texas lawmakers in 2011 passed a budget that did not set aside enough money
to pay for the health care program for the poor and disabled. That's left a hole
in the current budget that must be filled by next month. The measure now goes to
the Senate for consideration.
House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts introduced the emergency bill on
Thursday urging fellow lawmakers to pass it without any significant changes. The
bill provides enough money to solve the Medicaid shortfall and a small amount
for education.
Democrats had pushed to add additional money to help offset $5.4 billion in
education cuts made in 2011, but withdrew their amendments.