Budget Negotiators Get It Done

House and Senate budget writers have agreed to what amounts to a patchwork quilt of fees, taxes and cuts.

At the outset lawmakers faced an estimated half a billion dollar shortfall.

Both chambers had proposed substantial revenue packages.

But in the end, the Senate refused to support the House capital gains plan, and the House rejected the Senate’s video slot proposal.

Now that a deal has been reached, the Senate will get the first crack at the spending plan, where even supporters admit it will be tough to secure enough votes for passage.

If the measure fails in either body, lawmakers will have to craft a new plan or work off last biennium’s budget as they extend negotiations into the summer.

For NHPR News, I’m DG.