Georgia House and Senate in power struggle over budget

Lt. Governor Burt Jones presides over the Georgia State Senate on March 6, 2023. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

The Georgia Senate on Tuesday rolled out a budget that would slice $87 million from Georgia’s public universities in a power struggle with the House over hospital funding and permitting.

The budget dispute looms as a threat to the General Assembly completing its work by its self-imposed deadline of Wednesday, House Republican leaders warned, setting up a high-stakes endgame as new House Speaker Jon Burns and new Lieutenant Gov. Burt Jones lead end-of-session talks for the first time.

“I plan on working through the weekend and trying to get an agreement between now and Wednesday,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett, a Dublin Republican. “I hope we don’t have to have a special session.”