State officials are predicting a $6 billion deficit over the next two years, but how exactly did they arrive at that number?  Some local lawmakers will have the answer after a meeting today in Hartford.  Members of the Governor's Budget Office are holding a hearing with members of the Appropriations and Finance Committees to discuss what factors went into that estimate.  Fairfield County is well-represented, with Weston Representative John Stripp, Stamford Representative Christel Truglia, and Norwalk Senator Bob Duff all members of the Appropriations Committee.  Today's hearing is all discussion but next week is a special legislative session to take action on the budget shortfall.  According to Governor Jodi Rell, tax hikes are off the table.

"We have to exhaust everything and that means every cut possible," Rell says.  "We have been going through the budget and in some areas you can find duplications of services."

Today's meeting of the three groups is also expected to touch on how federal aid could possibly be changed under the Obama administration.