Strayhorn certifies state's budget as balanced

HoustonChronicle.com - Strayhorn certifies state's budget as balanced: "Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn on Friday certified the state's $139.4 billion budget as balanced, but she did not rule on another bill that contained $3.4 billion in additional spending.

'I am very comfortable that this budget balances,' Strayhorn said.

In certifying the budget, Strayhorn avoided the drama that occurred two years ago when she said the budget did not balance and refused to certify it. That budget was balanced when Strayhorn agreed to allow Gov. Rick Perry to veto more than $200 million in spending at her own agency."