Senate Republicans are taking a "wait and see" approach to the state budget right now. Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) says that's about all they can do, while they wait for Democrats to unveil the budget package they've been discussing in closed caucuses.
The Majority party in the Senate is expected to restore health care spending and tax hikes to the budget that were removed by the Joint Finance Committee. Fitzgerald is expecting a healthy debate on those issues and says they'll make their positions clear when it comes to the floor.
The Senate is expected to take up the budget next week, but Fitzgerald is unsure how quickly their work will be done.