Abbott-Backed Pre-K Education Bill Passes House

After campaign promises to overhaul pre-kindergarten programs in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed a House Republican approach to early education that many specialists are calling inadequate. The bill, which passed the House last week, restores $130 million to school districts that experienced a $300 million pre-K budget cut in 2011. Democrats and activists say the funding pales when compared with the $2 billion sales tax reduction favored by House Republicans. (The Associated Press)