Gov. Rell Wants to Change Horses in Mid-Revenue Stream. Dems Ponder the Saddle, Partner.

Gov. Rell threw Democrats – and probably Republicans if there were enough of them to matter when it comes to votes in the House and Senate – yesterday when she offered a securitization-light program to save some money on interest in attempt to wrangle the upcoming $700-million deficit. The scheme would borrow about a billion bucks and pay it back over seven years, on top of last year’s $900-million bonded debt, rather than “securitize” a unidentified $1.3 billion revenue stream that would cost taxpayers $1.8 billion over 10 years. While Democratic leaders said they would study the proposal and get back to the governor quickly, unless they are decisive and concede the political high ground to her, for once, the legislative session will almost surely end at midnight May 5 – Cinqo de Mayo for you civilians – without a budget adjustment in place for the fiscal year that starts July 1.