State lawmakers are moving closer to finishing the only absolutely essential job they have to do--passing a balanced budget for state government, public schools, and universities for the fiscal year that starts in July. But pass the Maalox, there's a massive case of heartburn here, and it's afflicting Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals. That's because everybody's got something to hate in the cost-cutting, recession-shriveled budget bill, and two other major revenue-raising bills that would balance it without raising taxes. "There's no question there's heartburn," said Rep. Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe). "If you want to talk about a budget that balances on the backs of working families, then this is that budget. The governor has just refused to talk about even common sense things like making big out-of-state corporations pay a little bit of corporation tax."
