They line up in a process that lasts hours.

Industry leaders, advocates, folks from all over the state asking the Senate Budget Committee to consider their organizations when they allocate the state's discretionary spending.

Senior correspondent David Cruz sat through the second budget hearing of the season.

This one at Njit in Newark.

He has more on who is there.

Good morning everybody.

Welcome to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing.

Our first public hearing, for this, legislative session.

There's not really a formal ceremony for budget hearings, although it's an important part of what lawmakers do.

But there are constants every year.

For instance, Chairman Paul Sarlo takes the first hearing on the road to places like NJIT here in Newark.

Over the past several years, as well, progressive groups have shown up beforehand to call for new priorities.

This year, attracting a gubernatorial candidate.

We're raving nationally that we should stop Elon Musk and the rest of those folks from their austerity measures or their efficiency, quote unquote, steal from the poor, make the middle class pay and give money to the super wealthy, in this country.

But in the state of New Jersey, that is also what is happening.

That's what's happening here, that we're robbing working class families and working class people so that the super wealthy can raid the Treasury.

Inside, the chairman's opening remarks could not have been music to the ears of some of those groups facing cuts to, and in some cases, elimination of, their state funding.

Although Republicans seem to like the comments.

Those of you here today, we want to hear from you.

I want to caution you, this is the beginning of the process for this legislature, hopefully in a bipartisan manner.

To take a hard look at Governor Murphy's proposed budget.

I'm quite confident the budget that has been introduced will be modified.

There are certain fees and taxes that were proposed that I am quite certain will be eliminated.

There will be some endorsing this.

Republicans don't have much to say on what this budget ultimately looks like, but they know that this is as tenuous a budget season as this administration has seen.

With funds so tight and expectations of weak tax revenues.

The Democrats have a fragile document in their hands.

The biggest unknown is what will happen to our federal funding, especially with regards to Medicaid and higher education and education.

So there is a lot of moving parts here.

I've been doing this a long time.

This is my 16th year as budget chair.

And the uncertain here.

I've never seen so much uncertainty, heading into, our budget deliberations.

Unfortunately, we may not find out on federal cuts until after June 30th, so we may have to all reconvene later, this year.

Reconvening on budget matters in an election season, especially to make budget cuts, is not something any incumbent party would want.

Meanwhile, the testimony, while friendly, reflected that unease.

It's so important that these budget cuts don't happen.

We just want the same amount of money that we had last year.

A cut of this magnitude would devastate our programs without higher revenues and without progressive revenues.

We're going to be stuck in the same position we're in.

Let's give our next governor a head start in accomplishing their growth goals this year by eliminating new taxes and cuts in budgets to vital, departments that assist business and the higher education system.

Like last week's Assembly budget season kick off.

Today's session lasted all day for many groups here.

This will be their one and only chance to speak up for themselves before circumstances here and in Washington dictate the ultimate outcome.

I'm David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.