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.
Alex Jones shares health update after her son Kit, four, was hospitalised to undergo surgery
Does Donald Trump have presidential immunity?
US Treasury Secretary Yellen visits China for high
VOX POPULI: Scent of snow fills the air after Tokyo receives a wet, wintry mix
Arizona Republican drops reelection effort after accusation he forged signatures
Politics updates: Follow updates for the latest on government targets
Man almost loses leg to sepsis after cut to back of head with barber’s clippers
Princess of Wales: Data watchdog 'assessing' Kate privacy breach claims
Seager's RBI groundout and Taveras RBI single lead the Rangers over the Tigers 9
Judge rejects Trump free speech challenge to Georgia 2020 election case
US deports about 50 Haitians to nation hit with gang violence, ending monthslong pause in flights
Chinese hackers breached US ambassador to China's email account