Senate Minority Leader Jill Cohenour, D-East Helena, and House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, D-Helena, also issued a statement Thursday:

“The Governor’s proposal is the starting point of a lengthy legislative budget process,” they said through a spokesman. “Democrats are committed to creating jobs and opportunity for all Montanans, and that means holding the line on unnecessary cuts made on the backs of working families to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy.”