I voted "no" on this budget because, first of all, I believe that it is a breach of my oath of office to pass a budget that is out of balance. This continuation budget does not have the revenue that it needs to sustain services. It doesn't have the revenue that's needed to sustain services for public safety, for public health, for public education. It means that ultimately we have to provide even more revenue to make up the difference.

I believe it's time to solve this problem and to not operate on previous budgets--budgets that were not created by this body, but by other former bodies like our previous leader and appropriations chair. This is a budget based on another legislature. I believe it's important to pass a budget that has adequate revenue and does not result in layoffs. This continuation budget does that. It does not protect our children. It does not protect our mental health patients. It does not protect the public. It does not provide for safety in our communities.