We're hearing reports tonight that there's a budget agreement between key House and Senate leaders.  One report says that they're going to raise $233 million in new revenue, which is much higher than what the Senate was proposing even at the end of the session, but about $75 million less than what the House had proposed to stop any major agency or education cuts.

We're calling around to our legislative friends, but of course the deal is a pretty tight secret as of right now.  As soon as we know whether the cuts are deep enough to force layoffs, furloughs, or if they've re-instated some of the pay cuts proposed earlier in the session, we'll let you know with a complete list of legislators to call.

Just because some leaders agree on a budget doesn't mean it's a done deal.  If this is terrible, we'll mobilize full force on Monday to try to stop it.  In the meantime, we know many of you are well-connected and have personal contacts with legislators.  So please email me and Josh (his new email address is included above) immediately if you hear any further details.

Your incredible efforts in calling, emailing, rallying, lobbying in person, and mobilizing your communities have moved the discussion from mass layoffs and furloughs to something that we are hopeful won't be quite that catastrophic.  

But we're sticking with our position of no more cuts all the way through the end, and we have to be ready to ask legislators to vote this budget down if they come after the hard-working employees who have already sacrificed.  --Carter