Tennessee Senate approves $37.5 billion state budget

Legislation goes back to House now for approval

House Majority Leader Mark Norris speaks about the conclusion of the legislative session at a news conference at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 23, 2015.
House Majority Leader Mark Norris speaks about the conclusion of the legislative session at a news conference at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 23, 2015.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Senate on Wednesday passed its version of the state's $37.5 billion Fiscal Year 2018-2019 budget, sending the legislation back to the House.

The vote on the state's annual spending plan was 32-1.

"I believe passing this appropriations act will keep Tennessee safe and strong in the future," said Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, who pointed out additional expenditures in areas ranging from K-12 and higher education to opioid treatment and investments in economic development.

At the same time, Norris said, increases in public spending are about the same as growth in the economy, 3.2 percent, and the budget is balanced. The Tennessee Constitution requires lawmakers pass a balanced budget.

But Senate Minority Leader Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, argued the spending plan was not perfect. Republicans continue to refuse to expand Medicaid to some 280,000 low-income people, Yarbro said, chiding Republicans.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bo Watson, R-Hixson, who helped shape the budget, praised staffers and told senators he believes this year's spending plan reflects the "hopes and dreams of the state of Tennessee as well as this body."

Senators acted on their own version of the bill with few differences from the House's.

On Monday night, the GOP-run House stripped out of their budget bill a $250,000 grant to Memphis to plan the city's bicentennial celebration. Democrats charged the House GOP majority did that as punishment after city officials transferred parks with Confederate leaders to a nonprofit group which removed them.

The grant was never in the Senate budget bill. The Senate version has at least one difference from the House's bill which sends the measure back to the lower chamber for concurrence. That was an issue over the sale of a state building in Nashville.

Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.

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