Montgomery – Some Democratic legislators are questioning the budget and tax cut plans laid out by Republican Governor Bob Riley in his State of the State speech Wednesday night.
The chairman of the House education budget committee, Richard Lindsey, questioned the wisdom of giving income tax cuts at the same time the education budget is facing about a $500 million shortfall.
Riley says tax cuts for working families and small businesses will stimulate the economy and generate more revenue.
The chairman of the House's General Fund budget committee, John Knight, says the governor didn't explain how the state will fund the increased cost of employees' benefits. Knight says Riley also offered no explanation about how he plans to level fund most state agencies while still paying for a 3.5 percent cost-of-living raise that has already been promised state workers.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)