TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - State lawmakers in the Florida House are signing off on a nearly $69.2 billion budget.

The Florida House on Thursday voted 79-38 along partisan lines in favor of the budget, which will set the stage for negotiations during the final month of the annual session.

Republicans called the budget responsible because it boosts money for schools without raising taxes.

But Democrats criticized the budget because it limits emergency room visits for the poor, cuts off benefits for some foster children, raises tuition for college students, raises standards for the state's popular Bright Futures scholarship and eliminates thousands of state jobs.

The Senate is moving slower on its budget proposal for 2012, but Senate President Mike Haridopolos said this week he expects his chamber to wrap its budget by next week.