By MELINDA DESLATTE
Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - House Republicans are at odds over a bipartisan budget proposal that contains $329 million in cuts to tax break programs that largely benefit businesses.
The divide within GOP ranks threatens to sink the House budget compromise, unless a bloc of conservative Republicans who have been negotiating the budget deal with Democrats can hold together.
The deal proposed for House debate Thursday would rework the $24.8 billion budget submitted by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
It would use dollars from shrinking tax breaks and levy $106 million in cuts to travel expenses, contracts and other items to replace patchwork, uncertain financing used by Jindal.
Jindal and the state Republican Party are blasting the plan as a tax hike. The proposal pits GOP lawmakers against traditional allies, including tea party leaders and business groups.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
