Members of the Appropriations Committee say they will study the impact of state budget cuts on state agenices once they are implemented.

The committee wants those agencies to report back with a detailed plan on how they will enforce the cuts. State senators want that plan by January.

Four budget-cutting bills have been advanced and the special session could close sooner than expected.

"We are making great progress, the Legislature's proposals are very similar to mine", said Governor Dave Heineman.

About 94 percent of the budget that state senators are looking to pass is Governor Dave Heineman's proposed plan.

"I'm glad to see that the governor and the legislature both came to a consensus on where things need to be going, but state employees are wondering what all those cuts could mean for them and if layoffs or furloughs are still a possibility", said Senator Heath Mello.

Nape/AFSCME - a union representing state employees says when government positions are cut, they don't come back. Governor heineman sees the real challenge about six months down the road.

"I think initially we are going to be able to move forward without any layoffs but as we begin to look at the next fiscal year, that will be the challenge", Heineman said.

State senators say the budget plan isn't for the longterm, just a stepping off place for when the legislature reconvenes for the regular session in about six weeks.

"The budget that we will pass is a band-aid approach to our larger fiscal crisis that we are facing and we will come back in january and look to deal with that looming fiscal crisis", Mello said.

Governor dave heineman says government should do taxpayers a favor and take advantage of technology to be more efficient, even if that means cutting jobs.

Nape/AFSCME says eliminating positions will be detrimental to the citizens of nebraska