By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – A House committee approved a six billion dollar education budget yesterday. It includes a five percent pay raise for teachers and increases funding for computers and other technology. It also would make room to place more nurses in state schools. However, it does not include funding for Governor Bob Riley's plan to spend 500 million dollars on school improvements. A spokesman for the governor accused lawmakers of protecting special interests instead of Alabama's children. Some lawmakers, however, say the education budget is fiscally responsible.