June 2, 2008 - 3:51pm

Once the dust settles ...

Once the dust settles after the state's second primary on Tuesday, the budget countdown should begin in earnest by the media.

The Senate rules now require that a budget resolution be filed in committee at least 14 calendar days before a House vote. That leaves only two weeks after Tuesday's election.

To that end, Tom Hester's AP story goes a long way to defining part of the upcoming debate - the state's bleeding pension and health benefits problem and future options to put a tourniquet on it.

More front page articles like the one offered today in the Courier Post are needed.