(AUSTIN) — "Judge Dietz's ruling today that Texas' school finance system is unconstitutional is no surprise. The system is broken, and our children deserve a permanent solution to the problem. Now is the time to work swiftly and purposefully to arrive at a school finance solution that is fair and equitable for all Texas children.

"Today's decision also reflects the need to fund our public schools more adequately and fairly. To remedy the situation immediately, legislators should restore the $5 billion cuts from public education in 2011.

"I voted against the appropriations bill last session, largely because it didn't reflect our best effort. This year's budget should be better for education and for health and human services."

SECOND IN SENIORITY IN THE 31-MEMBER TEXAS SENATE, Senator Judith Zaffirini is Chair of the Senate Government Organization Committee and Co-Chair of the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency. She also serves on the Legislative Budget Board and the Senate Committees on Finance, Higher Education, Health and Human Services and Administration.

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