Jeb Bradley: The challenge of building a bipartisan budget

Over the past few months, I have heard folks express significant concern about the budget that passed the House and is pending in the Senate. There are real qualms about an increase in spending of 13 percent and three new or higher taxes — capital gains, income and business taxes. Also concerning is lack of funding for one of the key elements of the governor’s recently announced Ten Year Mental Health Plan.

When the governor proposed his budget in February, he favored spending surplus dollars generated by a strong economy on one-time capital infrastructure projects such as targeted school building aid and local initiatives. The traffic light at the intersection of Route 302 and East Conway Road, scene of recent traffic fatalities, was one of those initiatives.