Ga. House passes $19B amended budget

ATLANTA (AP) An amended $19 billion budget plan for Georgia now heads to the state Senate.

House lawmakers voted 145-18 on Friday to adopt a new spending plan for the financial year ending in June. The plan now goes before the state Senate for approval.

The Republicans who control the House largely stuck to a spending blueprint from GOP Gov. Nathan Deal. A weak economy meant Georgia received less tax revenue than initially anticipated and faced rising costs in Medicaid, a health insurance program for low-income Georgians.

Deal had earlier ordered state departments to trim their spending.

House lawmakers cut some regional development funding and made health care changes intended to save money.

House lawmakers will now review budget plans for the coming fiscal year.