| Senate Rejects Tax Increases |
| The Senate has refused to raise any
taxes. On Thursday, senators rejected plans to increase the sales tax and the cigarette tax to pay for education and health care programs. The Senate's version of the state's $5 billion budget now goes back to the House. The Senate spending plan is about $20 million less than the plan approved by the House in March. Senate Republican leaders say lawmakers will try again next week to find a way to put more money into health care programs. Senate Democratic Minority Leader John Land says it is the worst budget that the Senate has ever passed. |