The state’s job-creation agency has an extra $8 million in refundable tax credits to award to companies this year under a request approved Monday by the Legislature’s budget committee.

The motion passed along party lines, 11-4, with one member absent. Democrats decried the move as a corporate giveaway that won’t help the state increase funding to public education and roads, while Republicans said it was necessary because Wisconsin is competing for companies with other states. Read the full State Journal story here.