By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Debate will resume Tuesday on a bill that would make it illegal for the state Legislature to spend money that's set aside for education on non-education purposes. The legislation stalled in the House Thursday after Democrats unsuccessfully tried to cut off debate on the measure. Bill sponsor Democratic Representative Ken Guin calls it the Student Protection Act. Republican lawmakers complained the Democrats were attacking Governor Riley's proposed budgets. The Governor wants to use money from the education budget to finance about $70 million worth of programs previously funded by the General Fund. Republicans say many of those programs are education-related, and they say there will still be enough money left to fully fund all levels of education.