MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- The Alabama Senate passed a bill that would provide every classroom teacher with $300 to buy classroom supplies such as paper, pencils, chalk and hand soap.

The bill by Republican Sen. Greg Reed of Jasper passed the Senate on a 31-1 vote Thursday, although Democratic senators argued the amount should be higher than $300.

When the bill first came up for debate on Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Tammy Irons of Florence offered an amendment that would have raised the amount to $1,000.

Reed said he had studied the state's finances and determined the education budget could afford $300 for each classroom.

Democrats complained that Republicans called for a voice vote to defeat Irons' amendment to keep from being on the record as opposed to providing $1,000 per teacher.