Ga. House panel OKs budget

ATLANTA - The Georgia House Appropriations Committee has approved an $18.6 billion budget. It slashes about $1.6 billion from what the state originally was planning to spend for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Georgia's finances have been reeling from the recession. Tax collections have plummeted leaving a budget gap that has continued to widen.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ben Harbin says Wednesday that deep cuts to state programs were softened significantly by federal stimulus dollars flowing from Washington. The budget uses about $1.4 billion in stimulus cash.

The House budget writing panel OK'd the budget by voice vote on Wednesday. The full House is scheduled to take it up Thursday.