What were they even arguing about?

Anyone should be able to see here the answer is, not much, actually.

Who would pay more

Different plans yet to be approved by the state Legislature seek to address a looming $1 billion budget shortfall. None of the measures would cost any taxpayers more than 1 percent of their income per year.

0.25 percent increase in the state sales tax

Families earning less than $25,000 per year would pay: $40

Families earning $100,000 to $125,000 per year would pay: $60

Ending the state and local tax deduction

Most families earning less than $200,000 per year would pay: $0

Families earning more than $200,000 per year would pay: $400 to $600

Compressing tax brackets

Families earning less than $50,000 per year in taxable income would pay: $0

Families earning $75,000 per year in taxable income would pay: $500

Families earning $100,000 per year in taxable income would pay: $1,000

Of course the "ideological" frame is in play. Conservatives don't like progressive taxation, yadda yadda.   But the numbers here are small enough that we should expect reasonable people negotiating in good faith to come to an accommodation. But if the purpose of any of this was about negotiating in good faith, we wouldn't be where we are now.  The simple fact is the Republican leadership has been using the budget process as a cudgel against the Govenor's reelection chances for a few years now.  There isn't any negotiating with that.