WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - House leaders are trying to hammer out a compromise on next year's $25 billion budget, to lift a deadlock that has stalled all work on the spending plans.

Republicans, who hold a majority of seats in the House, were working Thursday to settle on $81 million in cuts, to comply with a new rule limiting the use of one-time money for ongoing operational expenses.

A dispute over the cuts stymied debate on the 2011-12 budget a day earlier.

Either the House has to make the cuts, or two-thirds of House members have to agree to spend the additional one-time money. The House voted overwhelmingly against increasing the use of the one-time money, and House leaders don't think they can reach the two-thirds hurdle.

So, that leaves them choosing between cuts.