More of the same. The Republican leadership has failed miserably, but the Democratic minorities have done little to bolster confidence that they'd do any better. As always, Gardner tells us what we CAN'T do, but has no clear answers about what we should and must do. The Dems don't like cuts to education or any tinkering with the Dividend, but they offer no alternative plan to deal with a revenue shortfall in excess of $3 billion.

They'll defend our dividends, it seems, until they run out for good in three or four years. That's not a plan, it's election-year pandering, and we deserve better. The Republican leadership has failed, but I'm not convinced this current crop of Dems are capable of saving the day.