The Legislative Budget Board, a.k.a., Governor, Lt. Governor and House Speaker, have forged an agreement to restore more than $150 million - previously vetoed - to community colleges for health care expenses.  The debate during the last session, called proportionality, hinges on whether the state should pay faculty benefit expenses relative to the percent of salaries that are funded by non-state revenues.

To a lesser extent, the issue had the potential to spill over to four-year universities.

State Representative Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) has been named by the TACT State Board as the organization's "Legislator of the Year" for her accomplishments and leadership during the 80th Legislative Session.

The final version of the state budget for the next two years is currently in the hands of five senators and five house members.

Last Monday's First Alert outlined components of Representative Morrison's HB 3828 on institutional performance incentive funding.  It includes a matrix for additional funding to reward legislative priorities, such as degrees by at-risk students and high-demand professions including nursing and technical degrees.  This morning, the companion bill, SB 1029 by Senate Education Committee Chair Florence Shapiro, was heard in the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education.

Please review TACT President Elizabeth Lewandowski's letter to the editor in response to allegations regarding the cost of higher education published in the Times Records News on April 13, 2007.