Lets Talk Turkey

The Governor’s budget went public this week and people at the Capitol are still trying to wrap their brains around it all. Before we jump into the details lets keep in mind that legislative Democrats are the ones who spent Iowa into this mess. They are quick to blame ole George W. Bush on the woes of economy and getting us in this economic mess, but so we’re clear, the Democrats in Iowa have been spending money like it is going out of style. For every dollar taken in, they’ve spent $1.50. At that rate, it’s no wonder we need to dip into our reserve funds and the 6.5% cut the Big Lug is proposing is the tip of the iceberg.

The Governor’s budget eliminates the following seven funds:
Senior Living Trust Fund, Healthy Iowans Tobacco Trust, Crime Victim Compensation, Attorney General’s Forfeiture Fund, Property Tax Credit Fund, Gambler’s Treatment Fund, Child Care Tax Credit Fund

He’s increasing spending by 2.4% or $147.7 million. Total General Fund expenditures: $6.211 billion for FY 2010. Someone explain to us how all this talk of tightening belts and doing more with less fits into this spending increase.

He’s shifting funds around: $200 million from reserves, $6.5 from the Gambler Assistance Fund (then he’ll eliminate it) and $10 million from the Federal Economic Stimulus and Job Handling Fund. Shifting monies does not mean replenishment will ever happen.

He also doesn’t want to give Medicaid as much money as last year. $22.9 million less to be exact.

The Governor is banking on the feds handing us money from the economic stimulus package which is fine, but we can’t do this every year, so lets not get used to it.
Here is a tribute to what we all wish for, even governors:
http://tinyurl.com/9jlkde