Perry: No promises to restore '11 budget cuts

Gov. Rick Perry is making no promises that Texas will roll back any of the deep state spending cuts imposed during past economic doldrums — not even $5.4 billion sliced from public schools.

The governor says the state has no obligation to restore funding levels reduced in 2011, even as a stronger economy has given the state Legislature more money to work with as it reconvenes this week.

"In the last decade, Texas has done a very good job of funding public school education and we're seeing some pretty good results out of that as well," Perry said at a news conference.

Perry had breakfast Wednesday with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus. All three spoke of unity, promising to make cutting taxes a priority.

But Dewhurst then broke ranks somewhat and promised that more funding would go to public education.

Straus has already promised to increase funding to schools enough to cover enrollment growth — requiring an extra $2 billion.