Senate set to tackle $11.6b state budget

In the Nashua Telegraph, Kevin Landrigan sets the stage for today's budget debate in the Senate:

Senate Republicans vow to try and remove three tax hikes and restore $50 million in aid to cities and towns when the state Senate votes on a proposed, two-year $11.6 billion state budget today.

Senate Republican Leader Peter Bragdon, of Milford, said the plan would preserve a business tax credit for profit-making corporations, pay for $50 million in aid to cities and towns and eliminate increases in existing taxes on cigarettes, meals, car and hotel room rentals.

To carry it out, the Senate GOP calls for across-the-board cuts in state spending totaling $245 million or about 8 percent.