Colorado Senate OKs $27 Billion Budget

DENVER (AP) — Colorado's state Senate has passed a $27 billion state budget bill by a 30-5 vote.

The budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 includes about $150 million for highway construction and a slight increase for K-12 schools.

A conference committee will iron out small differences with a House budget passed last week.

They'll consider a gap of $367,000 for state work on a federal clean air plan that's been put on hold by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Republicans say there's no reason for that work; Democrats say it advances Colorado's own clean air plan.

The Senate allocated $100,000 for a suicide prevention program in its deliberations Thursday.

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