While Democrats like state Senator Rollie Heath have dared to try and solve budget woes by calling for new taxes to salvage things such as education jobs, Republicans and business leaders rallied at the Capitol on Wednesday to defend cuts that are sure to come in the 2011-12 budget this year (Associated Press). At the rally, House Speaker Frank McNulty did praise one Democrat, Governor John Hickenlooper, who has proposed cuts to education, state parks, and other items.

McNulty said of Hick’s budget, “The proposal recognizes the fact that Colorado has declining revenues. And it does a more responsible job of not spending money we don’t have” (Denver Post). While Democratic leaders try to persuade Hickenlooper to back off slightly on education cuts, you can try your hand at the budget with BackSeatBudgeter, an online state budget game.