March 24, 2008 8:25 AM
Show Me the Money!!!!
House lawmakers begin the budget debate today.
Because the two legislative chambers annually alternate on leading the budget shaping, this year the the lengthy budget measure -- known as the "Long Bill" -- is first confirmed in the House and moves next week to the Senate. The working general fund budget estimate is $8.1 billion. But the overall budget, including capital construction, will be more than $18 billion.
House legislators this morning will break into party caucuses to chew over what programs Majority Party Democrats and Minority Party Republicans will to fight to fund. (Parties often have internal rifts on this, but their JBC members and party leaders try to talk sense to them -- often not concealing their annoyance with fiery mavericks.)
Tuesday: the bill goes to the Appropriations Committee in the morning and then more floor haggling and caucuses as needed.
Wednesday: Lawmakers will get out their pencils and calculators and debate long and hard before taking the initial vote on the budget bill.
Thursday Morning: It will all be over but the crying and laughing as the House passes the Long Bill. Lawmakers will rest briefly -- then return to regular afternoon committee hearings.
Now that the heavy lifting has been done, the Long Bill moves to the Senate -- and then to Guv Ritter for his John Hancock.
--Alan Gathright
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