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.
Chinese FM Wang Yi's visit to Spain highlights bright prospects for open cooperation: spokesperson
Xi Inspects Nanning in South China's Guangxi
UK announces fresh measures to support jobs, spur recovery amid coronavirus crisis
Tom Schwartz rates Las Vegas kiss with Scheana Shay a FIVE as he brands it 'weird': 'So platonic'
Dutch PM meets with Spanish counterpart in the Netherlands
Xi Inspects Community in Nanning in China's Guangxi
Rap artist GloRilla has been charged with drunken driving in Georgia
Chinese home appliance firms expand global market with great vigor
A reset at running back might look different for the Cowboys 8 years after drafting Ezekiel Elliott
Top of Eiffel Tower reopens to public