Reworked budget plan taking shape in La. House

Reworked budget compromise under negotiation in Louisiana House, as alternative to Jindal plan

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Louisiana House Speaker Chuck Kleckley says he's confident the House has the two-thirds support needed to pass a bipartisan compromise budget plan Friday.

The proposal — which has been tweaked several times — comes after lawmakers in the House refused to support budget sought by Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Kleckley and leaders of the Republican delegation, the Democratic caucus and the black caucus stood together to promote the deal.

As proposed, the plan would strip out $500 million in patchwork funding proposed by Jindal for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

In its place, lawmakers are proposing $63 million in reductions to tax breaks and $133 million in cuts. The plan also includes $90 million in improved revenue estimates that haven't yet been projected — and assumes $200 million from a tax amnesty program.