First, a word about the dire budget numbers you may have heard.

"You know our budget numbers," the Mayor told the union leaders.

The economic forecast on which the budget numbers are based was made public in early December.

"I haven't sat down and looked at the budget numbers," he said.

First of all, it is important that the budget numbers have integrity.

These were estimates made in 1996, not actual budget numbers.

Industry experts are still trying to figure out whether the budget numbers issued by the Administration add up.

The Congressional budget numbers go even higher in the years ahead.

Yet at every microphone, these days, one state leader or another is giving different budget numbers.

A. That's not my reading of the historical budget numbers.