CL – Budget: Finish 2010 and work on 2011

Budget: Finish 2010 and work on 2011

With Congress embroiled in scorched-earth partisan battles over everything from health care to spending, an example of compromise is a welcome surprise.

That appears to be possible with the Democratic leadership of the Mississippi House and Republican leadership of the Mississippi Senate when it comes to trying to shore up last session’s work on the current 2010 fiscal year budget.

Both sides appear to at least be heading in the same direction.

The budget for this year, which began July 1, needs adjusting because revenue collections have fallen short of appropriated spending levels. Under law, Gov. Haley Barbour has been making cuts – four rounds – amounting to about $458.5 million.

Clarion-Ledger
2/16/10