Budget Progress from the Senate

This article from the Daily Press shows that some progress is being made on the budget.

Va. Senate to take vote on spending plan
Budget offers $2.5 million for Staunton school, keeps Hampton school for disabled open

Daily Press

June 19, 2006,

2:31 PM EDT RICHMOND -- -- With a budget compromise finally in hand, the General Assembly today began taking steps to enact a spending plan before the fiscal year begins on July 1.

The Senate was set to convene at 3 p.m. for a floor vote.

The House of Delegates will come in Tuesday at noon.After passage, the legislation goes to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine for his review. Then lawmakers must consider his amendments or line-item vetoes.

It's a process that normally takes five to six weeks, but the state will have to act in two weeks to meet its deadline.

Senators spent the morning in a budget briefing. Afterwards, Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, said he was pleased that an issue of importance to Hampton Roads has apparently been solved.

The budget sets aside $2.5 million to begin planning for a consolidated school for deaf, blind and multi-disabled children in Staunton.

Meanwhile, budget language allows the state school for disabled children in Hampton to be run by an existing, as-yet-unamed organization.

The state has debated for years why it needs two schools, or if one should close.

Hanger worked closely with Hampton legislators. On the House side, Del. Phil Hamilton, R-Newport News, compromised when he dropped his insistence that the New Horizons Regional Education Center be involved in running the Hampton school.

"It's exciting," Hanger said. "We still have a lot of work to do to resolve it."

Reporter Hugh Lessig may be reached at 804-225-7345.