Budget negotiators separated into subcommittees yesterday to talk about specific budget items, a sign that they have resolved many of the revenue issues that threatened to push the General Assembly into overtime.
The conferees have been looking for ways to balance a spending plan for the 2010-12 budget period that began with a $4 billion deficit.
"We're working together; I think that's very important," said Sen. Charles J. Colgan, D-Prince William, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. "We have the same goals."
Del. M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, also was encouraged, though he said the differences are too great to resolve today.
Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, the Senate majority leader, said it is growing more unlikely that the budget will be complete by Saturday, the scheduled day of adjournment for the 60-day session.
The 13 conferees from the House and Senate met periodically throughout the day before breaking into subcommittees to discuss health-care and public-safety issues. It was the first time the conferees had reached enough agreement on larger budget issues that they could form subcommittees.
Significantly though, Colgan said a subcommittee to talk about education -- the main stumbling block -- had not been formed.
Senate negotiators have been pressuring the House to put hundreds of millions more dollars into K-12 education. The two bodies are about $500 million apart on education funding. But House negotiators say Senate funding for education has been swollen by excessive revenue estimates.
If conferees don't reach agreement by tomorrow, it is unlikely the assembly can adjourn on time, because the conference committee reports must be printed and on the members' desks by Saturday for their consideration.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.
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