In the 2013-15 operating budgets, both the House and the Senate increase spending over 2011–13. The Senate increases near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending by 6.72 percent, and the House increases NGFS+ spending by 10.44 percent.

In the Senate budget, spending on the department of early learning (which includes pre-school and is part of the “other education” budget area), public schools, and higher education increases by $1.852 billion (11.22%) over 2011-13. Spending on everything else increases by $247.4 million (1.68%) over 2011-13.

In the House budget, spending on the department of early learning, public schools, and higher education increases by $2.251 billion (13.63%) over 2011-13. Spending on everything else increases by $1.012 billion (6.87%) over 2011-13.

So, in terms of the spending change over 2011-13, the House increases education spending by $399.4 million more than the Senate, and the House increases spending by $764.6 million more than the Senate on everything else. While the House increases spending in every budget area except transportation, the Senate would reduce spending over 2011-13 in the legislative, judicial, governmental operations, natural resources, transportation, and other appropriations budget areas.

The Senate and House make almost exactly opposite net funding choices in judicial, governmental operations, and natural resources: The Senate reduces judicial spending by 3.77 percent; the House increases it by 3.18 percent. The Senate reduces governmental operations spending by 12.08 percent; the House increases it by 11.82 percent. The Senate reduces natural resources spending by 6.17 percent; the House increases it by 7.86 percent.

Update: I should note that the education numbers in this post do not include the effects of the tuition increases in the House budget and tuition reductions in the Senate budget. As we discussed in this policy brief, tuition is outside of the NGFS+ budget, but if considered along with the rest of higher ed spending, the House budget provides higher total revenues to the institutions than the Senate.