Gov. Rick Perry's veto this summer of nearly $154 million in health insurance payments for community college employees generated enough heat to cause Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to search for ways around that budget cut.

For those wondering whether Dewhurst's search has been successful, his staff has one word - maybe.

"He's very committed to finding a solution to the problem," added Rich Parsons, a spokesman for Dewhurst.

In a letter sent to Texas legislators on July 25, Dewhurst wrote, "I want this issue addressed now, in Fiscal Year 2008, before the impact of these funding cuts are felt in Fiscal Year 2009 by our community colleges."

It seems that Texas lawmakers are listening.

On Aug 14, a delegation from the Dallas County Community College District was in Austin to testify before the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee.

Justin Lonon, executive director of legislative affairs for the DCCCD, said that after meeting with senators in Austin, he and Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr., the district's chancellor, were "cautiously optimistic" that a solution could be found to restore the funds cut by Perry's June veto.

One possible solution that Dewhurst is considering, said Parsons, is having the Legislative Budget Board borrow the $154 million from elsewhere in the budget to fund community college health insurance for the 2009 fiscal year. Those funds could then be restored through a supplemental budget when the Legislature reconvenes.

According to a recent article in The Austin American-Statesman, even Perry has decided to partially reverse his previous position and propose a program which would make nearly $200 million in funding available to community colleges.

However, Perry's proposed plan would only allow about $92 million to be spent on healthcare, still leaving the 50 community colleges in Texas nearly $62 million short of funding for employee health benefi ts in the 2009 fiscal year.

Dewhurst has asked community colleges to refrain from raising taxes or increasing tuition while legislators work toward a way around Perry's veto.

Lassiter, the DCCCD's chancellor, said Dallas County officials will comply with Dewhurst's request for the time being.

"We are very much appreciative that the lieutenant governor is working . to resolve the problem," Lassiter said. "We're taking the lieutenant governor's advice and working behind the scenes."