Senate passes own budget

Senate Democrats approved their own state budget plan Friday, adding another alternative and more uncertainty into the budget mix as a deadline fast approaches. The Senate voted along partisan lines for six budget measures, with Democrats backing the ideas and Republicans opposing them. The House earlier in the week approved two budget versions -- one that would keep spending basically flat from the current year and another that adds much more spending in certain areas. The Senate plan is essentially a hybrid, increasing spending by about $1.7 billion next year. But as lawmakers went home for a long Memorial Day weekend, it was unclear whether this or any budget could turn into an agreement as the two chambers try to wrap up their work by May 31.