This situation is drawn from the budget crises faced by Ohio, Kentucky and other states this year. If you were a state legislator, what would you choose? The choices you make will reflect your personal values and ethical standards.

As a legislator, it's your responsibility to help design and pass a state budget that spends no more tax dollars than it takes in. The economy is in recession, and the state has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs. Income and sales tax revenues are plummeting, while health-care costs are soaring.

Medicaid, the program that provides health coverage to more than 1 million poor and disabled people in your state, will cost an additional $2 billion over the next two years just to maintain current levels of care. The increase is so great that options include a 1-cent increase in the state sales tax and deep cuts to road, school and university funding.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Register your thoughts, and see what others think