Republicans say budget balanced ‘only on a wing and a prayer’

The Senate on early Sunday morning passed a budget package authorizing $42.8 billion in general revenue spending next year, although much of that remains tentative depending on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential congressional action that could send more financial aid to states.

During debate in both chambers, Republicans urged delaying any action on a budget until the state has a better estimate of how much revenue it will receive in the coming year, as well as how much federal aid will be available, but Democrats did not entertain that suggestion

The 68-44 vote in the House to pass the budget bill appeared to fall largely along party lines, with Republicans arguing it relied too heavily on borrowing and not enough on fiscal restraint.

The budget package actually consists of two bills – an appropriations bill, Senate Bill 264, which authorizes spending by various state agencies; and a “budget implementation” bill, or “BIMP,” in legislative lingo, House Bill 64, that enables various agencies to carry out the budget.

The implementation bill sets up a number of new funds within state government that can receive and distribute money from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion federal relief program that Congress approved earlier this year.

But the implementation bill also gives the governor additional discretionary authority over the spending of state funds throughout the budget.