The Texas Senate approved a $3.97 billion draw on the state's Rainy Day Fund to cover a deficit of the same size in the current budget, but not before turning back efforts to add on a larger amount to help balance the 2012-13 budget.

Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, matched the size of the withdrawal to the size of the current deficit. But he asked the Senate to use more of the fund than the House used, casting aside other revenue sources that were in that chamber's mix. If that prevails, it would mean a bigger draw on the Rainy Day Fund and by doing so would make an additional $855.9 million available for the next budget.

Democrats made a couple of attempts to withdraw more money. Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat and a former chairman of Senate Finance, wanted to add $3 billion to the amount in Ogden's proposal, saying it would "negate the need for reckless cuts to programs that are vital to Texas families." He said his amendment wouldn't increase the size of the budget already approved by the Senate (on a straight party line vote, with Democrats in the opposition), but would make sure that the available money matches the amount senators want to spend.

"The Rainy Day Fund is being held hostage to politics," he said.

But Ogden said the bill — HB 275 — isn't supposed to finance the next budget. He limited the size of this draw on the savings account to the size of the deficit in the current budget. "I'm using the Rainy Day Fund for a single purposed and that is to cover the current deficit," he said. And he said Ellis should wait for another bill that's in the legislative pipeline — HB 4 — to make his pitch for using more of the state's savings. Ellis' amendment failed 18-13.

Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, made a similar suggestion, asking for $1.1 billion to be used to increase allotments to public schools. He withdrew it after a conversation with Ogden, saying he'll bring it up later.