The Texas House of Representatives approved its version of the state budget late last night after nearly 12 hours of debate on roughly 250 amendments. Perhaps the most significant of those amendments called for prohibiting the use of public funds for school voucher programs. The amendment, added by Rep. Abel Herrero (D–Robstown), says that public funding flowing through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) must not go to private institutions. During the debate, Herrero made it clear that he considers the type of tax credits being pushed by Senate Education Committee Chairman Sen. Dan Patrick (R–Houston) to also be covered by his amendment. The amendment was approved 107–39, sending a clear message that creating a voucher program this session lacks the support it needs in the House. The final vote on the budget was 135-12. The budget will next head to a conference committee made up of House and Senate members where differences in the two chambers’ budgets will be worked out. View a breakdown of the budget.