The Hiller Instinct: State of the State

Romney has now set the table for the lean meal he'll be serving tomorrow in his budget. He acknowledges that budget will trigger, "arguments that will be frightening and loud" over what he's calling "common sense for the commonwealth." And the core of the argument will be over new taxes, which Romney says are not needed to balance the budget.

Romney estimates the budget gap to be $3 billion. He says the state can save $2 billion in restructuring, reorganization and reform... Another $300 million in program reductions and $232 million more in local aid cuts.

Gov. Mitt Romney (R) Massachusetts
"We are at a crossroads. We can take the same way we've tried before, raising taxes to keep spending more money on programs. Frankly, I don't like what I see at the end of that road. Raising taxes, again, hits working families hard. It scares off employees, both new and old. The road to ‘taxachusetts’ is a dead end street."

Among those listening to the governor, the house speaker and the senate president, whom will both play leading roles in the budget drama that will now play out on Beacon Hill...

Rep. Tom Finneran (D) House Speaker
"I'm not going to get into an argument with the governor tonight… Specific comment."

Robert Travaglini (D) Senate President
"I respect the governor's viewpoints and his recommendations for change of efficiency in government, but I’m not convinced the arithmetic is accurate."

Tomorrow, Romney will detail what is sure to be a thunderbolt budget, a lightning rod for advocates on every side of virtually every issue. For months, you've heard about the pain about to come to Beacon Hill. Tomorrow, Romney delivers it.