HARTFORD, Conn. -- Lawmakers have spent the day Wednesday clashing over how to pay for criminal justice reform.

On Tuesday, Gov. Jodi Rell threatened a veto, stating that there is no money in the budget to pay for the changes the bill calls for.

Now Rell, along with state lawmakers, is working to make it more difficult for repeat offenders to commit more crimes.

"If they want to spend any more money, then we need to have real cuts to pay for it," she said.

Rell said the budge surplus is gone, and that declining revenues have spiraled into a $19 million deficit.

Rell had called for the reform herself after two brutal home invasions -- one in Cheshire last year and another last month in New Britain.

The day after the New Britain home invasion, Rell called people to her office, and said that the state needs more probation officers and investigators.

"We are all in agreement we want to kick this up to leadership as soon as possible," said Democrat Senate President Don Williams. "We want to meet with the governor."

Rell said that if lawmakers really want reform, they must come up will a bill and a way to pay for it.

Lawmakers have five days to fund the bill -- Legislative session ends one week from Wednesday.