AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COCHAIRS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, WE'LL TALK TO THEM IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT MORE NOW ON HOW DIVIDED GOVERNMENT IS WORKING SO FAR HERE.

>> BEFORE US THIS EVENING, THE FIRST ONE BEING THE ADOPTION OF THE AGREED-UPON HOUSE BUDGET TARGETS.

>> BACK FROM A SHORT BREAK, LAWMAKERS DOVE INTO DEADLINE WEEK.

>> WE ARE IN, AS YOU KNOW, UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A TIE.

IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

WE'VE NEVER HAD COCHAIRS BEFORE NEGOTIATE BUDGET TARGETS.

>> THIS, I THINK, WAS THE FIRST MAJOR TEST OF OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER UNDER THIS POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT WE PASSED THAT TEST AND DELIVERED A BUDGET ESOLUTION ON TIME.

>> BUDGET TARGETS ARE SET TO GUIDE THE REST OF THIS BUDGET SESSION.

>> THESE BUDGET TARGETS REPRESENT A COMPROMISE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, AND IF DEMOCRATS WERE SETTING TARGETS ON OUR OWN, THESE TARGETS WOULD OF COURSE LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE ASKED THE WEALTHY AND LARGE ORPORATIONS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

IN ORDER TO MAKE ADDITIONAL NEEDED INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE >> HIS DOES REFLECT THE HOUSE PRIORITIES THAT WE BROUGHT INTO NEGOTIATIONS INCLUDING ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING AND EDUCATION AND PENSIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECTING OUR INVESTMENTS IN OUR TRANSPORTATION, SO I THINK EVEN THOUGH THIS ISN'T THE BUDGET THAT WE WOULD HAVE WRITTEN YOU CAN SEE WHERE OUR PRIORITIES WERE AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO STAND UP FOR.

>> THE GOVERNOR HOSTED LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND KEY CHAIRS TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

>> A BROADER MEETING WITH SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERSHIP BIPARTISANLY, BUT THE LEADS, THE CHAIRS AND SOME OF STAFF AND I THINK THE PROGRESS MADE WE HAVE A CHART OF SIDE-BY-SIDES COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES TO APPLES, THE PROPOSALS THAT ARE BEING MADE FROM THE BUDGET THAT 'VE HAD OUT, NOW A HOUSE BUDGET AND A SENATE BUDGET.

>> ONE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING THINGS THAT I HAVE, THAT I'M SEEING OVER TIME IS THE GOVERNOR'S CALLING US TOGETHER.

AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM ME SPECIFICALLY WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS THAT WE CAN START THE CONVERSATIONS.

>> WE HAVE JUST LEFT A VERY CROWDED TABLE WITH, YOU KNOW, CREDIT TO THE HIGH WOMEN.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE NOW GAUGED IN THIS ISSUE OF THE WORK TO BALANCE THE BUDGET TOGETHER.

I AM REALLY PROUD SENATE D.F.L.ERS THAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER TARGETS THAT BALANCE OUT INTO THE TAILS SO FOR ALL FOUR YEARS, WE DO IS RESPONSIBLY AND WE DO IT CLEARLY, WE'RE LINED UP WITH THE GOVERNOR ON THAT.

>> WE'VE GOT A MONTH AND A HALF LEFT BEFORE THE END OF SESSION