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Standoff Over State Budget Pushes Final Passage Until At Least Monday

A deal to settle the fight over the state budget may hinge on which chamber should act first. 

Speaker of the House Andy Tobin says he’s reached a deal with the governor to restore the full $5.5 million in new money his members are seeking for the state’s universities. But a request for $33 million in aid for district-run charter schools has been reduced to about $25 million.

Senate President Andy Biggs says he’s not saying no to the plan, just that he needs to see proof Tobin can deliver the votes.

“What I told him is, you get your votes, you get your amendment language, please get it to us so we can review it and see what it looks like and the impacts it has, and then we'll shop it to our members,” Biggs said.

But, Tobin says Biggs already has what he needs, including the names of enough Republican House members to approve the $9.23 billion deal. The standoff means final passage of the budget will have to wait until at least Monday.

Dennis Lambert was a morning host at KJZZ.