Highlights Sunday from the Texas Legislature

DentonRC.com | News for Denton, Texas | AP: Texas: "A $139 billion two-year budget plan is on its way to Republican Gov. Rick Perry's desk after the House passed it Sunday.

With a vote of 104-40, House members approved a proposal that would increase state spending by about 10 percent. The Senate approved the same plan Saturday.

Perry has the authority to veto specific items both in the budget plan and the supplemental budget plan both chambers also approved Sunday. The supplemental budget provides $2.8 billion to cover gaps in the current budget and for future public education reform.

'He's going to go through the budget very carefully, and he's going to get out his red pen and make appropriate and fiscally responsible decisions on that budget,' said Perry's spokeswoman, Kathy Walt.

Perry also could veto the budget plan, but Walt said it is too early to speculate on whether that would happen, essentially necessitating a special legislative session.

Passing a balanced budget is the only task legislators are constitutionally required to accomplish during their 140-day session that ends Monday."