We've had some reporters ask, 'Why the public hearings? Why do we do them?' This is the classic example.

They don't grow here. The number one reason they give is the permitting process. Ultimately, what the department is doing is taking a leading industry in the state and sending them elsewhere.

It's not being driven by public policy.

The hospital industry is important to me because this is the second-largest industry in the state. (The tax is) the sleeper in this budget.

We are not counting as this committee that we're going to get a windfall of money. What we don't want is an avalanche of loss.

We are committed to funding the Governor's School.