Still Waiting

The budget is one of the most contentious pieces of legislation that must be passed every year. It is the very last bill that has to be agreed upon for the Legislature to gavel out for the year and conclude session. As the majority party, the Democrats set the tone and budget numbers that are debated. Recently they released their first round of numbers for what they’d like the budget to look like. So far, their numbers still look like a hot mess and they only have themselves to thank for it.

We still don’t have the entire picture and most likely won’t for a while. The Revenue Estimating Conference meets on March 20 so target numbers will have to be re-estimated based on what comes out of that meeting.

For now, let’s attempt to break down the info that we do have and that is: over the last two years the Democrats have grown the General Fund by nearly $1 billion. That money has gone to programs and to fund things like the restoration of a pipe organ in Clermont. Growing government breeds dependency so in lean years funding these programs becomes pretty tough. When across-the-board cuts are made it doesn’t really look so deep – but the propped-up programs need to follow through on their promised dollars. (Say hello to higher taxes, Iowa, and good bye to Federal Deductibility) Just think where the state would be if spending had never been raised. We probably wouldn’t even need cuts.

Where’s the fiscal leadership? Waiting……..Waiting………..Waiting…………………