Budget impasse stalls summer break for lawmakers

Its likely Georgia lawmakers will return to Atlanta later this week for a special five day session. This after house members squared off against Governor Sonny Purdue over the 2007-mid year budget. At the center of the legislative showdown is a 142- million dollar tax cut, backed by House Speaker Glenn Richardson.

Governor Sonny Purdue vetoed the entire budget in the waning days of the 2007 legislative session, saying it wasn't fiscally responsible. Richardson, however, has vowed he'll continue to fight for the one-time property tax refund. "Absolutely, we're gonna overide again and we're gonna override again, and again, and again. We're right, the taxpayers of Georgia deserve to get some money back and the Governor doesn't want to give it to them."

If approved by Governor Purdue, the 2008 budget will go into effect of July 1st. It includes a $140 million "austerity cut" the Governor recommended for state school districts.