By Leader says budget work may not start until mid-March
Montgomery, AL – - The 2010 session of the Alabama
Legislature has reached the halfway point and lawmakers have yet to
start work on preparing budgets for the operation of state
government and schools.
That's the only task the state constitution requires them to
complete.
Lawmakers have delayed the tedious and often contentious process
of preparing General Fund and education budgets because of
uncertainty over how much money they may receive from the federal
government for education and for Medicaid.
House Speaker Seth Hammett says it might be after the spring
break recess in mid-March before lawmakers can start work on the
budgets.
The holdup is caused by delays in Congress in passing a jobs
bill that could include about $340 million for Alabama schools and
uncertainty over about $190 million in federal matching funds for
Medicaid.