Let the lobbying begin.

Starting today, legislators in Augusta will hold three days' worth of budget hearings aimed at helping the state close a $140 million revenue gap.

Gov. John Baldacci has proposed $45 million in new cuts that he hopes can take effect by Feb. 1. He also has proposed using some money in the state's reserve fund and taking other steps to address this year's -- this year's -- budget shortfall.

Lawmakers will hear testimony this week about the effects of the cuts and, rest assured, agencies and organizations hurt by the reductions will make the best cases they can that their programs and projects are high priorities, and should be protected as much as possible.

It is rare, even when pressed, for advocates to say, "Don't cut our program. Cut this one (by name) and by this much (exactly)." Rather, most advocates and even many lawmakers leave it up to the governor and other leaders to make the hard choices, to get specific.

The latest group to make its case is the Maine Forest Products Council, which rightly says the timber and paper industries are major players in the state's economy.

Patrick Strauch, executive director of the council, says his organization is concerned about $603,000 in proposed cuts at the state Department of Conservation. Among other things, these cuts would hurt the state's ability to monitor timber harvesting and tree growth -- thus keeping the forests sustainable -- and to spot fires.

Strauch makes good points. So, too, will advocates for hospitals, school funding, correctional facilities, and on and on.

Gov. Baldacci is right to insist the state should not raise taxes to close this gap, not while the Maine and national economies are mired in a recession that shows no sign of ending any time soon.

Too many people are hurting right now, their wages and benefits cut and their monthly mortgages harder to meet.

Maine is among 43 states facing budget shortfalls. Like here, leaders in those states face tough decisions about what to cut. Economists predict things will start getting better late in 2009, and we sure hope they're right this time.

But between now and then, many tough decisions must be made. Many good programs, good people and good causes will feel the impact of an economy that's turned downward and a state government that still tries to do too much for too many.