Connecticut Democratic and Republican leaders remain at odds over budget proposals for the next two years, but remain optimistic that they will pass a budget before the end of the legislative session next week.

Governor Rell?s (R-CT) budget director and state legislators met Thursday to discuss the next budget; they say they?ll have a budget on time despite party differences.

House Speaker Jim Amann (D-Milford) said Democrats and Republicans are talking but progress has faltered.

?We have an obligation, a constitutional obligation to get a budget. If they don't want to do it, we want to at least put something on the table to say this is our budget, you may like it, dislike it but let's at least negotiate it, let's debate it,? Amann said.

State Senator John McKinney (R?Fairfield) said the Democrats are acting irresponsibly by pushing a tax package without a spending plan. He says this isn't the time for political stunts but Democrats say they're just trying to take the lead.

?We've never had a budget process like this before where you vote on your tax package before you know how much you're spending. It's utterly ridiculous. It's political theater,? said McKinney.

Amann contends the ball is in the Republicans? court after the Democrats put their proposal on the table. Democrats in the House and Senate passed budget proposals calling for tax increases this week.

Republicans disagree with their Democratic counterparts and Rell said she will veto any budget that increases taxes.

?If the governor and Republican Party decide they don't want to move on spending, don't want to move on the tax side, someone has to govern,? said Amann.

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