The following is the full transcript of the Senate Democratic Caucus' response to Governor Nathan Deal's State of the State address. The response was given by Sen. Steve Henson.

Georgia would keep spending relatively flat under a $19.9 billion budget plan from Gov. Nathan Deal that tries some trims to health care spending while including limited infrastructure and education spending. That figure does not include billions in federal spending.

Leading Georgia Senate officials say they expect the Senate to pass Gov. Nathan Deal's proposal for a new Medicaid financing scheme that will spare lawmakers from voting directly on a tax.

If Governor Nathan Deal’s Eggs and Issues speech Wednesday is any indication much of his State of the State address Thursday will be a mix of good and bad news.

State regulators will have to enforce a 25 foot vegetative buffer for most all waterways in Georgia. That's what an state administrative law judge has ruled in a case that pits environmentalists against the state Environmental Protection Division. the ruling could be appealed to Superior Court. The case involves the definition of waterway.