By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – A Senate committee approved a four-point-five billion dollar education budget Wednesday, and Governor Bob Riley says he's especially disappointed about one of several changes. The Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee passed a budget that would reduce funding to the Alabama Reading Initiative. Riley spokesperson Jeff Emerson says the governor is disappointed 15 million dollars were cut from the amount he recommended for the program. Emerson says Riley wanted to expand the Reading Initiative to grades K-through-three statewide, but he says the budget the Senate committee approve won't allow that. The education budget now goes to the state Senate for discussion.