After bracing for a possible protracted debate over school funding, the Texas House unanimously passed an emergency supplemental bill Thursday in just 30 minutes.

House Bill 10 will spend $4.8 billion of the state’s general revenue, nearly all of it to address a shortfall in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program in the current budget. Lawmakers had purposely underfunded the programs last session with plans to make up the difference in 2013. The House passed the measure 148-0. Lawmakers then stood and applauded.

The bill is one of a package of supplemental measures state Rep. Jim ...

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