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State Legislature faces tough session Alabama legislators have had a pretty good time for the past few years: The state's economy has been good and it has been reflected in state coffers. Now the economy and perhaps overspending are catching up: Estimates are the state could have $800 million less to spend in the new fiscal year. The most of that- some $574 million- will come from the Education Trust Fund that funds public schools and colleges in the state. Gov. Bob Riley is persisting that he will propose more money for prekindergarten programs, the Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative. All total, that's over $50 million in new spending. Let's see: A smaller budget and more spending only means one thing- someone or some program is going to be cut and cut dratiscally unless there are increases in revenues. Increases in revenues mean tax increases somewhere and Gov. Riley says that's not going to happen.
The Legislature convenes Feb. 5. It ought to be an interesting session.
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