Tennessee lawmakers approve $52.8B spending plan as hopes of school voucher agreement flounder
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s Republican-dominant Statehouse approved a $52.8 billion spending plan Thursday for the upcoming fiscal year that includes an eye-popping $1.95 billion tax break and refund for businesses, but little new tax relief for most Tennessee families.
Even with the budget approved in the House and Senate, lawmakers still remained largely divided on whether they’ll advance any proposal to spend vastly more public money to send students to private schools throughout the state. In a budget crafted during slowing state revenues, it sets aside $144 million for a universal school voucher bill that has not passed, in case the deadlock breaks in the final days of the annual session.
Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has made universal school vouchers his top legislative priority. However, even with a GOP supermajority, the massive change faced an uphill battle as many rural lawmakers have remained hesitant about funneling their limited public dollars away from local schools.
Related articles
Federal investigation of former Ohio House speaker ends with no charges filed
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Federal officials have notified Ohio’s former House speaker that they have clo2024-05-29People visit Inner Mongolia Science and Technology Center
People visit Inner Mongolia Science and Technology Center in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Au2024-05-29China launches new Earth observation satellite for environmental monitoring
Photo taken on May 9, 2018 shows the Gaofen-5 satellite being launched off the back of a Long March2024-05-29Hong Kong police hold open day for national security education, police force anniversary
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) held an open day on Saturday to tie in with the National Security2024-05-29Dakota Johnson puts on a leggy display in a miniskirt and boots as she films new romantic
She has been busy filming scenes for A24's upcoming romantic comedy The Materialists in recent weeks2024-05-29UC Berkeley to host conference on gene
The University of California, Berkeley, said Tuesday it will host a two-day conference to discuss p2024-05-29
atest comment