Budget to be debated this week

A new fiscal budget for West Virginia will be debated this week in the state Senate. Lawmakers have been in special session for about two weeks as they try to reach a spending compromise and the House on Friday approved a four-billion-dollar package. One of the sticking points had been a possible hike in the tobacco tax for increased funding but the controversial idea was killed. The Senate will take up the measure tomorrow but Governor Tomblin has indicated a veto is likely.