It happens most every year. Lawmakers pass a budget, leave town, and the governor vetoes some of the spending they approved.

Legislators stew for a while but generally cool off by the time the next legislative session rolls around eight or nine months later.

This year may be a little different, thanks to a parliamentary procedure Legislative leaders used Thursday.

The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a $332 million spending plan for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. The mid-year budget adds money for schools, provides more than $50 million for trauma health care at hospitals such as Grady Memorial, and includes $40 million for reservoirs.

After approving the spending plan, both chambers voted to immediately "transmit" it to Perdue. Under the state Constitution, that gives the governor six days to sign or veto the budget. The General Assembly will still be in session in six days.

The aim is to give lawmakers the chance to respond to any spending vetoes by Perdue. They could attempt to override the vetoes, or make other budget changes before ending the 2008 session next month.

"If he goes in and vetoes anything that's important to the General Assembly, we have a chance to put it back into the budget," said House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans). "We can restate our intent. We don't have an override session like other states."

Legislative leaders were angered last year when Perdue waited until May 30 —more than a month after the session ended —to kill $130 million in spending that lawmakers approved.

The governor may have reason to veto more spending this year. Last week Perdue recommended the General Assembly cut $65 million from the midyear budget because the slow economy is bringing in less revenue.

Lawmakers essentially ignored that recommendation. So if he signs the midyear budget, he will have to use up to $190 million in reserves to make ends meet until June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Perdue said this week he may have to use reserves during the next fiscal year —which starts July 1— as well. The state has about $1.5 billion in reserves.

"It certainly raises concerns," said Bert Brantley, the governor's spokesman. "That's $65 million more that would have to come out of reserves."

"You don't know how long this softening in the economy is going to last. The prudent first step —he thought— was to reduce spending. This budget doesn't do that."

Later Thursday, the House overwhelmingly passed a $21.2 billion budget for fiscal 2009, which begins July 1. The measure now moves to the Senate for its consideration. Lawmakers are off until March 27 to give senators a chance to work on the spending plan.