Virginia General Assembly

The General Assembly has overwhelmingly passed a new two-year budget that makes unprecedented cuts to state services and programs.

With little debate or dissent Sunday, the House approved the $70 billion funding plan at 5:30 p.m. on a 73-23 vote, while the Senate passed it 34-6, the last act of the 2010 session taken one day behind schedule.

The compromise budget cuts $250 million from public education, erases unpaid days off for state workers and slashes fee increases the Senate sought by 60 percent.

It also retains Medicaid reimbursement cuts of 7 percent by 2012 for hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and other health professionals unless Virginia receives $370 million in federal support for the program.


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