From Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle:

We are all blessed to live in such an extraordinary state, but it is impossible to miss the frequent reports of worsening economic conditions exacerbating’s budget challenges. The latest announcement of an additional $900 million budget shortfall puts us in the unfortunate company of 47 other states that have addressed or face 2010 budget shortfalls totaling a combined $166 billion. Clearly, the same budget challenges that dominated the 2009 agenda will be the focal point for legislators and leaders in 2010.

I’m proud of the work the state Senate has done to anticipate these challenges. My office worked with senators as early as summer 2008 to assess the role of each state agency and work in partnership with agencies to make significant spending cuts. Our goal was to maximize the efficiency of government with the firm expectation that the state’s budget situation would not improve in the short term. Thanks to their cooperation, this comprehensive review of state spending allowed us to enter the 2009 session with the necessary facts and information to make many carefully targeted cuts that totaled over $2.5 billion.

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