06/06/2007

Associated Press

STEPPING OUT: Senate leader Marc Basnight is absent from the Legislative Building because of a family illness, but budget negotiations will go on as scheduled starting this week.

COMMUNICATION: Basnight's chief of staff, Amy Fulk, said her boss is communicating several times a day with his office and will return as soon as possible. Additional details about the family illness were not released.

BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS: The Senate and House are trying to work out differences in their competing budgets before the new fiscal year begins July 1. They also are trying to reach a compromise to reduce or eliminate the share of Medicaid expenses counties must pay for their residents.