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.
Protesting Spanish professor 'warned university' over Confucius Institutes — Radio Free Asia
Body of missing Alabama mother found; boyfriend in custody
Brentford beats Sheffield United to halt 9
Female lawmakers, political advisors shine at China's ongoing two sessions
Anne Hathaway addresses claims Harry Styles inspired her age
Xictionary: Chinese modernization
Kyle Larson is on the pole for the 3rd NASCAR Cup race in a row, this time in Texas
Missouri lawmakers back big expansion of low
Top legislature to review bills on patriotic education, safeguarding national secrets
Does a photo show US troops stationed in Taiwan’s Kinmen islands? — Radio Free Asia
Kyle Larson is on the pole for the 3rd NASCAR Cup race in a row, this time in Texas