Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Steve Peoples
Journal State House

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Senate has approved a $7.8-billion state spending plan, sending the budget bill to the governor's desk and ending a 24-hour delay on the key vote attributed to sparring legislative leaders.

Governor Carcieri had not decided whether to veto the measure, which raises the state gasoline tax by 2 cents a gallon but cuts $55 million from cities and towns and narrows pension benefits for thousands of teachers and state workers.

The final Senate vote, cast at 7:32 p.m., was 34 to 2.

The budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 seeks to close a deficit of $590 million, a hole of roughly 20 percent of state spending.

Lawmakers filled more than one third of the shortfall with federal stimulus dollars.

"The budget before us is one that truly calls for a sharing of pain and a sharing of sacrifice," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Daniel DaPonte told members before the vote.

 Tags  General Assembly Providence RI state budget

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