Senate Completes Work On Budget

The Senate completes work on the 2006 fiscal year budget, breezing through the thirteen budget bills in a day-and-a-half of debate. Senator Chuck Gross of St. Charles, Chairman of the Senaat Appropriations Committee, says not everybody is happy with what was decided on, but he’s pleased the debate was orderly and constructive. The next step is for a House-Senate conference to begin to iron out the differences in the two chambers’ versions of the budget bills. The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, with Gross expecting that work to be completed by early next week.