NASHVILLE — Senate and House Republicans on Tuesday delayed their budget alternative for the second time in a week and quickly sought to pin the blame on Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen.
“Senate Republicans are working on our budget but the Democrats’ tax plan needs to be put forward so we know exactly what the governor is proposing,” said Lance Frizzell, deputy chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, the Republican Senate speaker, in an e-mail.
But Bredesen spokeswoman Lydia Lenker countered that “Senate Republicans have all the information they need to present an alternative budget. It’s time for them to put something on the table so this process can move forward.”
Lt. Gov. Ramsey, who is running for governor, told reporters nearly two weeks ago that Republicans would present a $130 million to $150 million budget-cutting alternative by the end of last week to Gov. Bredesen’s proposed tax increases.
The governor’s plans include a proposal to lift the sales tax cap on big-ticket items to raise $85 million. The GOP deadline then slipped to Tuesday — and now has been put off indefinitely.
Among other things, Republicans are looking at changes to funding for prekindergarten programs, although they have been vague about whether they would cut funding. Democrats have said they believe GOP lawmakers would cut recurring funding and allow the program to continue for a year with one-time funding.
The governor this week warned that “education — including pre-k — is not on the table.”
Mr. Frizzell said lawmakers always await the governor’s final plan before acting and so far have “not received the administration amendment with the governor’s tax plan that we were told we would have by April 16th.”
Ms. Lenker said the administration has revised the so-called “technical corrections” bill “to solve the additional shortfall” and that the bill’s language has been provided both to Republican Comptroller Justin Wilson and the Finance Committee chairmen.
“The governor held a detailed briefing with legislative leadership last week,” she said.
The “technical corrections” amendment outlines the administration’s proposals for taxes or closing off what it calls tax “loopholes.
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