The legislature approved the FY 2008 amended budget and House approved the FY 2009 budget yesterday, that will now go to the Senate for consideration:

The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a $332 million spending plan for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. The mid-year budget adds money for schools, provides more than $50 million for trauma health care at hospitals such as Grady Memorial, and includes $40 million for reservoirs.

After approving the spending plan, both chambers voted to immediately "transmit" it to Perdue. Under the state Constitution, that gives the governor six days to sign or veto the budget. The General Assembly will still be in session in six days.

The aim is to give lawmakers the chance to respond to any spending vetoes by Perdue. They could attempt to override the vetoes, or make other budget changes before ending the 2008 session next month.

The negatives of the budget are that there are absolutely no cuts in spending. The first full spending plan that the General Assembly passed under full Republican control was the FY 2006 budget, which was $17.4 billion. The legislature just passed the FY 2009 budget, which is $21.2 billion. That doesn't include bonds or other amended budgets.

No tax cuts, no restraint in state spending...just growth in government under Republican control.