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April 22, 2008

House panel 'very likely' to vote on budget-balancing bill

PROVIDENCE -- The House Finance Committee is "very likely" to vote today on a sweeping proposal to help balance a current-year budget deficit of at least $151 million, a House spokesman said.

The "supplemental" budget bill is scheduled to be heard this afternoon after the House recesses -- generally around 5 p.m. But it's not the first time it's been posted on an agenda, only to be put off.

House spokesman Larry Berman, however, said that the House leadership has met and that it is "very likely" that the plan will be heard and voted on today.

The bill will address a budget gap in the fiscal year that ends in roughly two months -- June 30. The Assembly will consider a separate plan to balance next year's budget -- and a projected $384 million deficit -- later in the session.

The House Finance Committee has been working off a supplemental budget proposed by Governor Carcieri in January. But what the panel has done with that proposal will be unveiled today.

The governor's proposals included:

- Cutting state aid to cities and towns in the current year by more than $12 million.
- Cutting subsidized health care, known as RIte Care, for 7,400 low-income adults and more than 2,800 immigrant children.
- Cutting retiree health benefits for state workers who retire after June 30.
- Cutting welfare benefits for 3,400 children who have received benefits for longer than 60 months.
- Capping the Training School population at 148 boys and 12 girls.
- Creating a new $50 ticket for drivers caught talking on hand-held cell phones

- Steve Peoples, Journal State House Bureau

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 12:34 PM | Permalink

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