Senators return to work this afternoon on the
five billion dollar state budget for the coming year. It's the
third week of debate on the spending plan.
Florence Senator Hugh Leatherman says he wants to raise more
money for education than the House provided in its version of the
budget. But the chairman of the Finance Committee has not yet
succeeded in coming up with additional funds.
Two efforts have failed so far to raise the cigarette tax to
provide more money for health care.