The state is in the hurt locker.  The legislature was given plenty of time to find a consensus solution but failed because the choices would hurt their chances of reelection. If this was their home budget, they would have figured out a solution - spend less or find more income.  Instead, they dithered, argued, and failed those who elected them.  The Governor made the hard choices which the legislature will fight in order to get re-elected. Now the finger pointing begins by lining up based on party affiliation in order to lay blame.  There are no good solutions but the Governor's proposals are a mix of the unpleasant to accomplish the necessary.  Time to tighten our belts, the oil cash cow is drying up, our State programs cost more than we can afford.