Predictions of Big Battles Over Budget Surplus

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Interest Groups Prepare To Pounce on Budget Surplus
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With the legislative session about to begin, predictions loom that a big fight will ensue over who will get how much of the $843 million dollar budget surplus. Individual legislators licking their chops over the prospect of bringing home the pork have been stymied by a court ruling that at least one such bill was unconstitutional. That tilts the scales over to groups with state-wide interests, such as education. Governor-elect Beebe stands firm on grocery tax phase-out. Should that not happen, the one group left out of the feasting will be the people that originally earned the money being divided up- the taxpayers.