Budget deal increases health care funding by $450 million, mostly recurring, general revenue dollars

The House on Friday rejected a Senate-driven health care expansion plan, passed a $300 million tax reduction package and capped the day by releasing the allocations that tell the story behind the budget deal that was agreed to by the Legislature this week. Working through staff, legislative leaders reached a deal on how to divide nearly $28.9 billion between health care, education, transportation and the environment, the majority of which is recurring. The agreement puts $8.7 billion in health care…