Historically the Senate has not played politics with the State’s budgets. That’s not to say there isn’t vigorous debate, just that it is generally honest and pragmatic debate about appropriately funding the citizens’ needs. Every dollar spent or saved in Idaho affects someone. Idaho has a very robust budgeting process to evaluate the needs and wants of its citizens. The process begins in June, several months before they are presented to the Legislature, by the state agencies. They are reviewed and vetted multiple times by the agencies, the Division of Financial Management and the Governor’s office before they are presented to the legislature each January. Throughout the process questions are answered ensuring the request is constitutional, legal, necessary, efficient, meets the goals, and does little harm.