Budget bill passes on party-line vote

JFAC has voted 16-4 to pass the new version of what was SB 1222 on personnel funding cuts and stimulus spending. Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said joint committee members may “moan and mourn” that the original version didn’t fly, but he said, “In reality that bill’s failed. I think it’s time for us to move on, and this is the next-best option.” It was a party-line vote, with the panel’s four Democrats dissenting.