Seems the mantra over the State budget impasse has been "I hope cooler heads will prevail." Well, so far, there's not a cool head to be found. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Domonic Ruggiero remain in a standoff over the Senate's amendment to the Speaker's signature car tax reduction legislation. The Speaker and Senate President haven't even met face to face since Mattiello drop the gavel suddenly ending the lawmakers' session without a passed budget. Now, the war of the words is escalating between the two. The Pro-Jo reports the Speaker suggested a way they both could end up with what they want if the Senate's willing to return to the State House and pass the House's version of the budget saying "once the unamended budget's sent from the Senate to the Governor her her signature, we can move forward to finish unresolved state business (in a letter he sent to the League oif Cities and Towns) Should that happen, Mattiello says he'd be willing to have legislation introduced, heard and be vetted, that provides some version of the escape clause the Senate wants. A Ruggerio spokesperson's letter to the League says Mattiello's offer ignores the fact the Senate passed the amendment unanimously. Matiello calls the argument a "red herring to divert attention away from its power grab. It is the Senate's attempt to undermine the constitutional balance of power between chambers and exert control over budget process." Things are getting nasty.