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Republican votes are needed to pass a tax increase because it is past the Legislature's May 31st deadline and a super-majority is required.

KHQA spoke with Representative Rich Myers today who said the Republicans have never said they wouldn't support a tax increase.

"The Republicans have said we'd like to see some spending reform before we put votes on a tax increase," said Myers.  "Show us, we've asked the governor, I've asked the governor in personal meetings, show us an attempt to get a handle on spending or reform spending or somehow get control of the increase in expenses before we support a tax increase."

Representative Myers said he would be willing to look at any compromise between a tax increase and budget cuts.  But one or the other is not enough.  And he feels deciding between cutting state funded programs and a tax increase is putting legislators in a tough position.

"We're caught in the middle," said Myers, "we know we need to keep these programs that are funded and at the same time we have the taxpayers out here saying were in a recession, we don't need to be raising taxes right now."

Representative Myers told KHQA he doesn't see any difference between when Rod Blagojevich was in office and this year.  He says government still is not working together.