After weeks of wrangling for ways to generate more money, the House is debating a more than $24 billion budget proposal for next year.

A package of budget bills to finance government operations in the fiscal year that begins July 1 was up for consideration Thursday.

Lawmakers opened their session with a hefty budget shortfall.

But the House passed a series of tax changes to raise more money for state coffers. That, combined with money from improved income forecasts and other patchwork financing, would close about $850 million of the gap.

House leaders estimate lawmakers need another $150 million to address the remaining list of budget needs identified by the House and Senate, including more money to pay for the LSU hospital privatization deals.