Really, until relatively recently, oil prices were normally in the $40 to $60 a barrel range and everybody got along fine. Then came the big price increases of the 00's which the Republican dominated legislature used to expand government spending, as well as putting in place corrupt, ill advised subsidies to the oil companies through SB21. Oil prices went down as well as the house of cards that the Republicans had put in place. Now the same bunch of idealogues are blocking any solution by opposing elimination or drastic cuts in the subsidies, and opposing any kind of broad based taxes. The other oil producing regions aren't going to cut production to raise prices and save us. If these same folks continue to dominate the Senate, the PFDS are toast,  the money to run the state has to come from somewhere.