Gov. Rick Perry has vetoed 37 bills from the recently concluded legislative session, including legislation allowing for the early release of rehabilitated prisoners, an expansion of full-day pre-kindergarten, and a slightly scaled-back state budget.
Perry's office said he signed the $182 billion spending plan Friday after making $289 million in line-item veto cuts.
Most of the cuts were aimed at spending for legislation that was not adopted, including an expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program.
He said lawmakers did a "commendable job" of crafting a two-year state budget that reduces state spending for the second time since World War II.
Perry said it was noteworthy that lawmakers balanced the budget without using the state's Rainy Day Fund and provided a tax cut to 40,000 small businesses.
Perry's office announced the vetoes Friday, against a Sunday deadline to sign or veto legislation passed during the session.
Perry has used a lighter hand with his veto pen this year. Shortly after his first session as governor in 2001, he set the known record for vetoes by a Texas governor with 83. He vetoed 49 bills after the 2007 legislative session.
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Bush had far fewer vetoes during his tenure as governor. His highest total for a legislative session was 38 in 1997.
