The budget also seeks more savings, by speeding up parole for some nonviolent criminals.

The measure cleared the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee by a wide margin Tuesday night. The bill now heads to the full House for a possible floor vote on Wednesday.

The proposal includes about $1.3 billion in general fund bonding for a flurry of construction projects aimed at creating thousands of jobs at a time of high unemployment.

Public universities and colleges would receive a 1-1/2-percent spending cut in the first year of the next budget cycle, and a one-percent cut in the second year.

The proposal also calls for reducing two instructional days in public school districts.