Not a lot of new rhetoric, although there have been some topical jabs and pop culture references.

Dem Rep. Nelson touted the proposal as a "fair share budget" delivered balanced and on time for the first 30-plus years. He said it protects shared values like education, health care and police and fire protection.

And Nelson bashed Republicans for being "no help at a time when our state needed it most."

GOP Rep. Vos called this a "wishful thinking" budget because it assumes that the economy will get better, that people will continue to blame President Bush for economic problems, and that people will believe that the budget is balanced although it contains an ongoing structural deficit of about $2 billion.

And he said the proposal is "a ticking time bomb of property tax increases" due to the QEO repeal.

Dem Rep. Pocan said Republicans are sore because they can't label Democrats as tax and spenders, so they complained about the process.

"'Dark of night. Behind closed doors. Behind closed doors. Dark of night,'" Pocan said. "Sounds like a tawdry romance novel.

"Given your party's history with Governor Sanford and Senator Ensign, maybe that hits too close to home for you," Pocan said to the Republicans.

Pocan calculated the impact of the budget to the median family at about $128.10 annually, including the phone fee increase, tipping fee increase, and property tax increases. He said the Dems were able to keep middle class families from bearing the brunt.

"I think people would have expected a lot more pain and in a lot of other states they are going to see a whole lot more pain," he said.

GOP Rep. Montgomery said the Dem budget is "big government at its worse."

"This is 'Little Shop of Horrors.' Feed me Seymour. Feed me," he said.

-- By Greg Bump