evidence: ATTN: Christine Tarrago 900 Clopper Road, Suite 300 [...] The Democratic Party also looks to blame GOP lawmakers for teacher shortages and school closures. Lawmakers last year, in the Republican-led state House and Senate, failed to tap into the state’s $33 billion budget surplus to help boost school funding. Read more [...] On Thursday, a House bill on school vouchers finally received a hearing in the lower chamber, a crucial step that will decide whether the proposal gets a full vote after remaining stagnant in the previous special session.