Colorado House Debates $8 Billion Spending Plan

DENVER (AP) -- Colorado House lawmakers are beginning to tinker with an $8 billion spending plan to try to add funding to pet projects that will likely not pass before the budget is approved.

Lawmakers will be debating the state's general fund for next year on Wednesday. They're expected to debate nearly four dozen amendments, including taking funding from private prisons to fund childhood literacy programs and reducing funding for school tests to fund economic development programs.

Most of the amendments are from Democrats who are in the minority.

Other highlights of the budget include no cuts to schools, although their funding per student is still about $600 lower than it was in 2009. The plan also includes a $100 million property tax break for some seniors.

The Senate could debate the budget next week.

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