Lawmakers debate funding governor's pre-K program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Future funding for Tennessee's pre-kindergarten program is becoming a sticking point among Democrats and Republicans as the legislative session ends.

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has proposed shifting about $25 million currently drawn from the state's lottery proceeds to the state's general fund budget. But Republicans say they instead want to take the money out of lottery reserves.

Republicans say tapping the reserves would prevent the need to make cuts in other areas, such as the state's mental health agencies.

But Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis warn that funding parts of the program with dwindling reserves could endanger the future of the program aimed at 4-year-olds from poor families.

Kyle says Democrats "are not going to back off" on the source of the pre-K budget.