These weren’t abstract line items. This funding supports moms and babies, children with cancer, public safety, housing, local nonprofits, and community development — including projects right here in our own district.

Some municipalities and organizations tell me they’d already signed contracts, placed special orders, paid deposits, or otherwise spent money expecting to be reimbursed from the funds the state had allocated and promised. Those groups are now scrambling and afraid they’ll be left holding the bill.