Budget rhetoric heats up in Legislature

Democrat legislators are complaining about being shut out of making any decisions about the state budget. Republicans hold a majority of seats in the House and Senate, and therefore get to set the debate agenda, and decide the make-up of bills. Democrat Senator Dennis Black of Newton lodged his complaint on the Senate floor this morning.Black says republicans are telling democrats they aren’t worth a quote “rat’s rear end” when it comes to writing the state budget. Republicans say they’re willing to accept ideas for spending shifts, but not willing to spend any more money.