GOP budget plan cuts state spending 6 percent

GOP budget plan cuts state spending 6 percent

MATT GOURAS, Associated Press

HELENA — The budget battle moves to the Montana House floor on Friday with the Republican majority aiming to cut enough spending to meet conservative expectations — while beating back criticism from opponents that their proposed cuts will hurt the poor and could result in college tuition hikes.

A tally of GOP budget actions so far in committee shows that spending of state tax money would go down about 6 percent from the current budget, to about $3.7 billion. That is about 3 percent less than what Gov. Brian Schw...