If the state fired every employee, closed every office and terminated every aid program, legislators would still have to appropriate $3.3 billion this year to meet its past obligations.

That report from Mark Pazniokas from the Connecticut Mirror. Journal Inquirer reporter and budget guru Keith Phaneuf has similarly dismal news: He says the governor and state legislature are playing a game of “kick the fiscal can” – siphoning nearly one point $6 billion away from the next decades worth of budgets. Perhaps solving short-term problems right now - but leaving a mess for whoever takes her place.

This fiscal year the governor and legislature are tasked with closing a widening budget gap—now estimated at $515 million.

Today, we’ll be joined by these reporters, and others to preview the start of the legislative session, which begins today with Governor Rell’s State of the State address.