Legislative Republican leaders used their weekly news conference to make the case that the state’s impending budget shortfall is much smaller than the figures Democrats have provided to most media outlets.
The standard description of the shortfall has consistently topped $4 billion in recent weeks, with a $4.7 billion figure used today in one major media report. Republicans contend the actual gap is much smaller: about $1.1 billion. They say that gap can be closed with cuts and does not necessitate tax increases.
Watch the 22:54 news briefing below for details.
