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June 13, 2006

House finance panel quickly OKs budget proposal

PROVIDENCE -- The House Finance Committee approved a $6.66 billion budget proposal from fellow lawmakers this afternoon in what may be record time -- less than two hours.

The tax and spending plan for the coming year -- only unveiled today -- raises spending by 4.9 percent. It goes to the House floor next week for a vote.

It would restore many -- but not all -- of the human service cuts proposed by Governor Carcieri, give a tax break to the state’s richest residents and significantly increase aid to local school districts.

The Democratic lawmakers chose not to reduce state employee benefits, as the Republican governor had proposed, but left it up to the Carcieri’s staff to somehow reduce the workforce enough to save $36.5 million.

The budget also further reduces the state’s car tax, includes a $50-million bond for affordable housing and provides a tax credit for companies that donate to private or parochial schools.

More to come on projo.com and in tomorrow's Journal ...

-- Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 3:53 PM | Permalink

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