AUGUSTA — Legislative leaders on both sides of the political aisle Tuesday defended a $6.7 billion state budget and tax bill crafted largely in secret negotiations between party leaders, saying they ran out of time to follow a more public process.
Changes to a budget bill that was previously approved on a 9-4 bipartisan vote of the Legislature's budget-writing Appropriations Committee came in the form of a series of amendments, including one that dramatically revamps the state's tax policy. Continue>>>
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