Lawmakers met on Beacon Hill to offer their opening statements ahead of the budget debate scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, and the theme of the day seemed to be the acknowledgment that no one can be sure of what’s happening in Washington.

“As we gather here today in this honorable chamber, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where we, as a body, are at a crossroads where our fiscal prudence and responsibility align face-to-face with our moral and constitutional obligations,” Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues told his senate colleagues on Monday.

According to the senate budget chief, over the first months of President Donald Trump’s second term, lawmakers have “witnessed firsthand how our federal partners have unleashed unprecedented amounts of uncertainty, unpredictability, and volatility.”

In past budget debate sessions the chairman said lawmakers would ask themselves “how much help can we expect from D.C.?” Now, Rodrigues said, the Legislature is forced to ask themselves “how much is D.C. going to hurt us today?”

“At a time where trust in the federal government is low, our budget, our values, and our actions reflect and embody good governance, bringing state government to where it is most needed, while never forgetting our solemn responsibility to care for and support our residents in need, especially in the face of federal uncertainty,” he said.

Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, said that Rodrigues “rightly cites the uncertainty” coming out of D.C., adding that “the consequences of our decisions with this budget are perhaps more intense than some of the recent budgets we’ve dealt with.”

A potential economic downturn is a worrying scenario, the minority leader said. However, it’s also not the first time that state has dealt with uncertainty and perhaps is all the more reason to remember the people paying for the budget.

“That’s why, in addition to looking at the many investments that [Rodrigues] outlined, we also need to make sure that we use this budget document — and other matters that we consider in the senate — to make our state more affordable, to make our state more competitive, to increase the sustainability, the reliability and the robust nature of our economy. Those are things that we can work on, together, right now,” he said.

Senators are scheduled to open debate on the 1,058 amendments attached to their $61 billion spending plan on Tuesday at 10 a.m.