General Assembly begins budget process this week

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RI State Capitol

Legislative committees are set Tuesday to begin reviewing Governor Lincoln Chafee’s proposed budget for the fiscal year starting in July. This is one of many meetings where lawmakers will hash over the budget.

House and Senate Finance committees are starting a review of different elements of the governor’s budget.

The budget introduced by Chafee last month received a better reception than his two earlier spending plans. It includes no new tax revenue, and proposes a 2 percent cut in the corporate tax over 3 years.

In other news, the House will consider changes to its internal rules for the current session. The House Labor Committee is also slated to consider a bill requiring employers with more than 3 employees to verify that they’re US citizens. Another bill would raise the state minimum wage to $8.25 an hour.

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