Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Steve Peoples
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state legislature is set to release the 2010 state budget on Wednesday, according to a posting updated this afternoon on the General Assembly Web site.

Specifically, the House Finance Committee is scheduled to unveil the sweeping $7-billion plan Wednesday at 1 p.m. in State House room 35. The document will contain dozens of budget "articles" relating to everything from taxes to subsidized health care programs to state aid to municipalities.

Governor Carcieri released his own tax-and-spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 in the spring. But it's up to the legislature to accept or reject the governor's recommendations, although state law requires the passage of a balanced budget.

Since the governor released his plan, the state's financial outlook has worsened considerably. Carcieri had anticipated a budget hole of $460 million. But revenue estimators in May determined the gap was at least $130 million worse.

The House Finance Committee is expected to approve the budget proposal Wednesday, setting the stage for a marathon budget session by the full House the following Wednesday (House rules require a seven-day waiting period.).

The Senate has no such waiting rule, and could vote on the state budget the day after it is approved by the House.

Assembly leaders have thus far been silent on which of the governor's recommendations they support, or how they plan to fill the additional budget gap.

(An earlier version of this item was posted at 1:48 p.m.)

 Tags  budget Providence RI R.I. General Assembly

Comments

kate said:

And all the cry babies will be out bemoaning their loss of the pie.....No one wants these cuts- YET THEY ARE NECESSARY! Stop the whining!!

Link | June 15, 2009 4:51 PM
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bill said:

the amount of state employees should be cut in half.but the ga does not have that kind of courage to take on the unions.so the ga will take from the poor,the elderly,and the children.same as usual in this state

Link | June 15, 2009 6:46 PM
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