Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Minutes before 2 a.m., after a debate that spanned nearly 11 hours, the House of Representatives approved a $7.76-billion state spending plan that wiped out millions of dollars to cities and towns, narrowed pension benefits for thousands of state workers and teachers, and boosted Rhode Island's gasoline tax by 2 cents per gallon.

Among other controversial issues, lawmakers reversed a previous proposal to eliminate the office of the health insurance commissioner, and included $1.5 million in new funding for charter schools, a move strongly opposed by organized labor.

Lawmakers also refused to repeal, or freeze, the alternative flat tax.

The final budget vote was 69 to 5, with freshman Rep. Karen L. MacBeth, D-Cumberland, joining four Republicans as the only nays.

"We should be proud of what we've done with this budget," House Finance Committee Chairman Steven M. Costantino said just before the final vote, which came at 1:49 a.m. "As a whole, it's pretty fair."

The Senate is set to vote on the budget bill Thursday afternoon. It could be on the governor's desk by Thursday evening.

House Minority Leader Robert A. Watson challenged Governor Carcieri, a fellow Republican, to veto the plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

"I will vote against this budget and I implore the governor to veto it," Watson said. "To sign this budget would be a political mistake. To let this budget become law without his signature would represent a failure of political leadership and an abdication of the philosophies and principles that got you elected.''

 Tags  house budget

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