How did "unions drive up the cost of government," Stop?  When all sense of logic dries up in thy brain, blame the unions that have won the right to collective bargaining.  And by the way, Stop, the unions don't pass state budgets or pass bloated state pork projects for their district. Can you think reallllly hard and  guess who does pass bloated government  budgets?  I'll give you a hint; Republican majority.