By KRWG News
Texas – Texas leaders say they'll ask state agencies for more cuts in their current spending to use as savings to help handle the upcoming state budget crisis.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus say they're working to craft a letter to go to state agencies by the end of the month.
Agencies have already cut spending after leaders asked them in January to propose areas that can be reduced by 5 percent. But after exemptions, including some to courts and prisons, the cuts amounted to less than 3 percent, or about $1.2 billion.
Lawmakers will write the next two-year state budget when they meet in January and will face a shortfall of more than $20 billion.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.