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State lawmakers are closer to cutting about one-billion dollars from the state budget.  The House Budget and Policy committee voted along party lines to approve the plan.  But as Chris Casquejo tells us, lawmakers really have their sights set on property taxes.

 Hear it here: Budget Plan Heads To Floor Votes

The plan to cut more than $1 billion from the budget now heads to the House and Senate floors.  Some Republican lawmakers say education and environmental programs won’t suffer that much.

“When have a $71 dollar budget, and you’re cutting a little over a billion, nobody likes to see reductions, but it’s not like the world is coming to end, you know, said Rep. Ray Sansom.

Democrats are vowing to fight until the end for education and the water quality initiatives that are facing the ax.

“We’re just a little bit concerned about the way in which they did it,” said Rep. Jack Seiler.  “We think we can craft a budget a little more carefully, a little more cautiously.”

But lawmakers seem to be banking on two very uncertain things.  Changing property tax law and a better economic outlook year.

“We get our money because people choose to make an expenditure,” said Rep. Frank Attisson.  “They choose to buy a car. They choose to go to Best Buy. Whatever may have a sales tax.  They don’t have disposable income.”

Until they do, many Republican lawmakers believe they’ll be right back here in January, making additional budget cuts.