After a lengthy debate tonight, the Senate voted 32-5 on SCR 2 to use $99 million from the Rainy Day Fund - a figure $20 million less than requested by the Governor but $24 million more than preferred by the House. The Senate also passed 

HB 3 on a vote of 29-8 to make corresponding budget reductions and financing changes to close the $304 million mid-year deficit. HB 3 now heads back to the House to accept the changes or send the bill to conference committee.

    Meanwhile today, the House passed Speaker Barras' resolution to direct the Treasurer to immediately begin a process to allocate funds from certain constitutional and statutory dedications to pay a share of state debt service. The resolution also requires the Treasurer's Office to prepare a report describing this process prior to the 2017 regular session that begins in April. HCR 1 passed 81-14 and heads to the Senate for debate.