Lawmakers Disagree Over Oil Spill Settlement Distribution

Lawmakers are continuing to disagree over how much of the state's oil spill settlement funds should go to road projects and how much to the Gulf coast.  The feud on Tuesday threatened to doom legislation doling out the settlement dollars.  A Senate budget committee was scheduled to vote Tuesday on legislation to use $191 million for coastal road projects and $450 million for state debt repayment.  However, Sen. Arthur Orr said the money was intended to compensate the entire state.  Orr proposed to pay back all state debts and use the remaining $100 million for road projects across the state.  Chairman Trip Pittman ended the meeting as members appeared ready to support Orr.  The committee must approve the bill by midnight or it is dead for the session.