Bredesen's Budget Address Hinges on Fed. Package

By Carrie Pond

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen says that if a federal relief package for the states appears likely, he will ask the state Legislature to give him more time to present his budget proposals. The Democratic governor says a stimulus package would significantly improve Tennessee's financial outlook and could reduce planned 15 percent cuts by as much as half. Bredesen says he will ask lawmakers to take up a small package of budget measures when they convene in January, including a change in the way the state sells bonds and more flexibility in some civil service rules. Bredesen says his budget address would be held around the middle of February.