"Rainy day fund" said to be a last resort

Austin — The Associated Press is reporting; the multi-billion state revenue shortfall is in the Senate's hands now.

The Senate budget-writing committee is expected to take a vote on the chamber's budget proposal on Thursday, including an expected request to use $3 billion from the Rainy Day Fund.

The plan would still short public schools by about $4 billion. But the cuts aren't as severe as those approved by the House.

Republican Sen. Steve Ogden, who chairs the committee, said he would ask the committee to approve using the Rainy Day Fund as a last resort to balance the two-year budget.