State House passes budget plan with $4.4B in cuts

House lawmakers on Saturday approved their version of the next two-year state budget, voting 53-43 in favor of a proposal that would slash $4.4 billion in spending.

With two weeks left in the 2011 legislative session, Saturday's vote moves lawmakers one step closer toward filling a projected $5.1 billion deficit in the state budget. The Senate is expected to release its proposed budget Tuesday.