House and Senate lawmakers finalized negotiations Wednesday to
marry competing variations of the state's 2018 spending
blueprint, a record $25 billion in state appropriations that
includes pay raises for tens of thousands of state employees. The
budget, which also includes an additional $24 billion in federal
funds for federal programs that are administered by the state, now
awaits final approval by Governor Nathan Deal.
Education
Governor Deal's underperforming schools initiative—his
second attempt to turnaround chronically failing public
schools—advanced out of the Senate Education Committee
earlier this week and passed the full Senate overwhelmingly
today. The Senate version differs from the House
version but it is expected that the House will agree with the
Senate's actions next week.
