May 25, 2013
Alabama's state Senate has approved an education budget that could restore partial state funding for dozens of non-state programs and private schools that Gov. Bob Riley tried to eliminate.
The Senate voted 20-14 for the $4.2 billion budget.
The governor had proposed wiping out all state funding for non-state programs and private schools after his tax plan failed Sept. 9.
The Senate's budget would restore 25-percent of the funding for non-state programs, such as museums, arts programs, and children's hospitals.
It would also restore half of the money for private schools and colleges.
But that money won't be official until the Senate passes separate appropriation bills for the non-state programs and private schools.
The budget now goes to the House for consideration.
