House may reject further use of Rainy Day Fund for education

Education took another blow during debate Thursday on a matter involving additional funds for public education.

The House, in appointing conferees to SB 2 (one of the major fiscal bills), considered a motion instructing the conferees to remove provisions in the bill that would allow the use of more Rainy Day funds. This motion targets an amendment added to the bill last week by Rep. Donna Howard. The Howard amendment provides that up to $2.2 billion of additional Rainy Day Funds could have been sent to public schools, if the fund were to rise above current levels.

The House approved the motion 87-59. Although the instruction is not binding, the vote sent a message to SB 2 negotiators that a majority of House members prefer to remove the Howard amendment from the final version of the bill.