(AP) — Leaders in the House Democratic Caucus say they stand with senators who want to tap into the state’s “rainy day” fund to help shrink cuts in next year’s budget.
The Senate unanimously backed legislation to use $86 million from the fund in the budget for the year that begins July 1. That idea has languished in the House, amid opposition from Republican House Speaker Jim Tucker and Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Fannin.
Tucker said Thursday he might be willing to negotiate about the money.
A group of House Democratic Caucus members issued a statement saying they support using the fund to restore some dollars to colleges and health services. A spokesman for the caucus said that statement was from 16 caucus leaders, not all 51 Democrats in the chamber.—-Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at [email protected]