Senate approves $3 billion package of university construction bonds
The Texas Senate voted 26-5 Tuesday to authorize $3 billion in bonds for construction and renovation projects at 64 campuses of public universities, health-related schools and technical colleges.
The measure, House Bill 100, now goes back to the lower chamber, which previously passed a somewhat different version, for $3.1 billion in bonds. The House could go along with the Senate’s changes, or it could call for formation of a House-Senate conference committee to strike a compromise.
The Senate’s debate on HB 100 didn’t focus much on the need for the funding and instead turned to such matters as whether it would be better to pay with cash or bonds. Several senators also bemoaned the Legislature’s decision in 2003 to cede tuition-setting control to public university governing boards. In the end, amendments dealing with tuition and cash funding were withdrawn without a vote.
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/senate-approves-3-billion-package-of-university-co/nmKL3/
