The fiscal year 2006 budget is making progress. All but two of the House Appropriations subcommittees voted out their recommendations for the state's $17.1 billion
spending plan. The budget legislation still has to make it through the
full House Appropriations committee before the House can vote on the
plan. Lawmakers David Zelski has more about House Bill 87.

Debate in the Senate today became impassioned over legislation that would impact eligibility for the PeachCare for Kidsprogram. That insurance program for low-income families is being placed under Medicaid's new managed care program. We'll have the highlights of the debate on Senate Bill 140.

Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson spoke in favor of the adoption of new Congressional maps in a press conference today. He also spoke out against a statewide smoking ban, but said he would not impede the legislative process in regard to the Georgia Smokefree Air Act.

Congressional reapportionment is gaining momentum. The House
and Senate Reapportionment committees today adopted the same plans for
Georgia's Congressional districts, in a map drawn by Congressman Lynn
Westmoreland's office. Lawmakers Jesse Freeman has the details.

The Capitol Hill Independent Baptist Ministries rallied at the Capitol today to call for a nationwide ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions. They also called on Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia General Assembly to prohibit homosexuals from adopting or providing foster care for children. Lawmakers Chriss Knight has that story.