Pop Quiz
Remember those math "story" problems you hated in fifth grade?
A train going east from Albuquerque at 50 miles an hour. . . . Another train
Leaves Istanbul at 35 miles an hour . . . . Does your head hurt already? Then you might want to stay away from the statehouse.
Problem 1. A Legislature is faced with a $1 billion surplus. The state has many needs, including improving education, building highways and funding research laboratories where brainiacs will create more Utah jobs. Many lawmakers face reelection. How big a tax break will they promise?
Hint: There also seems to be a direct correlation between the number of members facing re-election and the magnitude of proposed tax cuts.
The House, in which every member faces reelection this year, has a big tax break promise: $230 million, at least.
The Senate, in which half the members face re-election, is calling for $100 million.
The enormously popular governor, who doesn't face re-election for two years: $60 million.
Simple, right?
Now try this one.
The majority of voters want sales tax removed from food. The governor wants it gone. Even the House leaders want it gone. But the state has many needs and removing the food tax will require dozens of other complicated and boring adjustments, including a "hold harmless" provision for local governments. Worse, killing the tax flies in the face of a goal of widening the tax base. You are a lawmaker facing election, what do you do?
Be creative and use the back of your ballot for figuring.
-- Glen Warchol
A train going east from Albuquerque at 50 miles an hour. . . . Another train
Leaves Istanbul at 35 miles an hour . . . . Does your head hurt already? Then you might want to stay away from the statehouse.
Problem 1. A Legislature is faced with a $1 billion surplus. The state has many needs, including improving education, building highways and funding research laboratories where brainiacs will create more Utah jobs. Many lawmakers face reelection. How big a tax break will they promise?
Hint: There also seems to be a direct correlation between the number of members facing re-election and the magnitude of proposed tax cuts.
The House, in which every member faces reelection this year, has a big tax break promise: $230 million, at least.
The Senate, in which half the members face re-election, is calling for $100 million.
The enormously popular governor, who doesn't face re-election for two years: $60 million.
Simple, right?
Now try this one.
The majority of voters want sales tax removed from food. The governor wants it gone. Even the House leaders want it gone. But the state has many needs and removing the food tax will require dozens of other complicated and boring adjustments, including a "hold harmless" provision for local governments. Worse, killing the tax flies in the face of a goal of widening the tax base. You are a lawmaker facing election, what do you do?
Be creative and use the back of your ballot for figuring.
-- Glen Warchol
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