Then hundreds of members came privately to Mr. Young seeking some $80 billion in new spending, much of it for pet programs.

But as in previous years, the package became a magnet for pet programs and new initiatives that lawmakers feared would not otherwise be approved.

Besides promoting pet programs, legislators are experts at blocking reforms.

But the political winds shifted after Sept. 11, and with a fiscal crisis looming, the governor refused to restore any of the Democrats' pet programs.

Some House members held out for one pet program or another, like more generous tax breaks for business expenses at restaurants.

Legislators in both parties agree that the state's charter schools, one of Mr. Bush's pet programs, need to be fixed.

Wall Street's boom has left state government flush, allowing for pet programs, rather than spending cuts, to be the order of the day.

Mr. Kemp also spoke enthusiastically of his pet programs involving private and public partnerships.

It's part of his pet program, "No Cash Left Behind."

Lawmakers pinned their pet programs and policy initiatives to the bill knowing it was must-pass legislation.