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BRIEF: Yesterday, Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn rejected the two-year state budget presented by lawmakers. Today she received notice of a potential lawsuit that could be used to force her to certify the plan. The case would be filed before the Texas Supreme Court. The Associated Press reports that Texas State Attorney General Greg Abbott wrote Strayhorn a letter today saying he believed that "additional" steps had been taken to ensure that the budget is balanced. The letter did not provide details. Strayhorn argues the budget is unbalanced, and over $180 million short. She became the first comptroller to exercise her right under the state constitution to reject a budget before it is signed by the governor. At issue is a last-minute transfer of over $200 million in Department of Public Safety fees that would be shifted from the General Revenue fund to the Texas Mobility Fund through a bill overhauling the state's transportation system. Lawmakers who wrote the legislation called the general revenue shortage a "technical error," and wrote a letter to Strayhorn explaining their intent. The comptroller rejected the letter... and said she's not permitted to consider "after-the-fact letters" changing the terms of legislation. So will Strayhorn be taken to court? Regarding the potential lawsuit against her, Abbot said: "I have it ready to be filed. My belief is that meaningful progress has been made with regard to budgetary issues and that matters will be resolved shortly." Pokey Anderson, KPFT News, Houston. E-mail Pokey Anderson at pokeyink@aol.com . This story was broadcast on June 20, 2003.