Senate Republicans Plan to Balance Budget without Tax Hikes

Although heavily outnumbered, Senate Republicans expect to be heard on the budget. And, as Brad Shannon reports in the Olympian, they're saying "yes we can."

They just had large campaign-style buttons made up with an Obama-esque color scheme? mainly blue with white letters and a swash of red. "Yes we can!" the buttons say, with an asterisk followed by the words, "balance the budget without raising taxes."

Senate GOP caucus spokeswoman Rebecca Japhet was handing out the buttons early this afternoon, and members should start popping up with them on lapels. Click here to see the button and a 17-page explanation from Republican Sen. Joe Zarelli of Ridgefield and his colleagues about how the budget-balancing feat can be accomplished.

Clever. You can also download the Republican plan here.

In The News Tribune Michelle Dupler identifies points of conflict.

Republican leaders say Democrats are painting too negative a picture of state finances in an effort to impose a tax increase.

Democrats are firing back by saying Republicans are oversimplifying the state's problems to gain support for cutting important programs.

Meanwhile, the state jobless rate climbs to 7.8 percent.