Montgomery, AL – Legislators seeking funds to balance the state education budget have run into spirited but silent opposition.
The House Ways and Means-Education Committee voted Thursday for a bill that would transfer $30 million from a fund that provides telephone service for the deaf to the education budget. Several dozen deaf Alabama residents crowded into a legislative committee meeting and watched as interpreters used sign language to translate details of the debate.
The committee approved the bill in a divided voice vote. It now goes to the full House.
Committee chairman Jay Love said the transfer would be for one time only and would not prevent the Dual Party Relay Fund from paying for anyone's phone service.
The bill is opposed by the three members of the Alabama Public Service Commission.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)