As States Battle, Virginia Lawmakers Blow Past Midnight Deadline to Forge Deal

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia legislative budget writers agreed early Sunday on revisions to the state's $80 billion budget, just hours before a final floor vote.

Working past Saturday's scheduled adjournment, Sunday's 1 a.m. accord marks the sixth failure in 12 years to finish its work in the allotted time.

Negotiations between six House and six Senate budget writers were cordial if leisurely for more than a week until Saturday.

But tempers flared and nearly derailed the talks Saturday amid quibbling over funding for police departments, colleges and $30 million for the intellectually and developmentally disabled.

Peeved House Republicans discussed adjourning and heading home without finishing the budget. Instead, they extended the deadline into Sunday and set a final floor vote for 5 p.m.