Budget and finance writer John Reitmeyer joins to discuss the political process behind budget negotiations

Details awaited of hundreds of pet projects tacked on by lawmakers

Critics concede many budget additions are worthy, say lack of transparency is problem

Final votes Monday on nearly $59 billion state budget and related tax increases

Lawmakers set for final vote Monday, on deadline

Additional money went to farmland preservation, open space, property-tax relief, school aid and more

Details include names of legislators who asked for nearly 500 last-minute changes to the latest state budget

The additions by Democratic lawmakers allowed little time for public scrutiny and pushed the budget to a record-high $56.7 billion

No details yet of who sponsored ‘Christmas tree’ funding for ballparks, school districts and more