The 72 affirmative votes are significant beyond the fact that they constitute a majority. They also constitute a 3/5 majority which would be required to override a gubernatorial veto if those votes hold through the conference reconciliation process. There are enough Republicans in the Senate to override a Perdue veto.
Click here to download a copy of H200 to review the specific provisions of the House's budget proposal.
The vote came after the budget was published last week, and two days of debate with over 45 amendments, something that is unusual from the way the budget has been handled in the past. In prior years, under Democrat control, the budget was typically presented and voted on immediately with little or no debate allowed. During the debate yesterday and today, even many of the Democrats commended the Republican leadership on the process used.
The debate was strictly along party lines. Republicans extolled the plan because it cut spending and not only avoided a tax increase but actually reduced taxes, notably the "temporary" one-cent sales tax that was added in 2009. Republicans pointed out that the plan does not call for any teaching positions being eliminated although it would eliminate some non-classroom positions and teacher assistant position in grade 2 and 3 but retain those in K—1. Overall the budget calls for an approximately 8.8% reduction in K-12 spending, about 11% in the community colleges budgets and a 15% reduction in the University budget. Those number are subject to change after a more thorough study of the final bill.
Democrats dominated the final debate, with most speaking in favor of more spending even if it requires more taxes.
Source: BeaufortObserver
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