Question from audience: how do you build a positive bi-partisan climate to make this budget happen?

Sykes: open meetings will help a lot. Important decisions should be made in a public forum. The governor should offer the minority to have input into the process, but I see rep Carey laughing here, so I will ask how he can offer more opportunities

Carey: the last budget became very difficult for everyone - people become very passionate during this process - there are arguments in the caucus - when people have limited resources...people should be allowed to have their say and be respectful;no one will get their way 100%. I think the minority should be respected and included - probably every member of my caucus has been mad at me more than once... but that is why we're here, we have to talk about the issues and be respectful, learn what is important to my colleagues...

Pari Sabety: HB 119 was the Strickland budget that passed with only one dissenting vote...everyone has a different view... views are not right or wrong, they are views...that is why we live in a democracy. The budget sometimes becomes arms in an ideological battle and that does not foster progress, but impedes it. The next successful facet to bipartisan governing - all three branches - we are brought here to serve our public and our public expects us to deliberate together with common sense and come forth with a solution that may be painful for some, less painful for others, but moves us forward in a positive direction. They do not expect us to assassinate each others' characters or fiddle while Rome burns and the economy is in a state of collapse.

AND ALL AGREE THAT THE BUDGET WILL BE FINISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAN LAST.