Heat's on Huntsman
The reasons behind the Guv's refusal to call a special budget slashing session of the Lege became painfully obvious after a legislative budget meeting. Panicked conservative lawmakers, who control things in Utah, want to hack more than $400 million in programs, half of that from the area Gov. Jon Huntsman wants to keep sacrosanct: education. House Speaker-elect Dave Clark says postponing action until the session will force lawmakers to raid something they hold sacrosanct: the state's rainy day account. (You might ask: What's it there for?)
Huntsman apparently hopes a combination of timely federal aid, a little borrowing, a vague state-level stimulus program and postponing some (sacrosanct) highway projects can stave off serious cuts in education and human services until the economy gains traction.
Budget chief Sen Lyle Hillyard says that without major cuts (as to what, the Lege, itself, isn't that clear on), the state will run out of money by April:
We can't print money. We can't bail ourselves out.
The unspeakable remains, of course. Raise taxes.
7 Comments:
Great! Instead of 4 days a week we will have 0 days per week. In the 3 month shutdown hopefully most of these bureaucrats will find more productive employment.
This energy saving shutdown brought to you by Gov. Huntsman, protecting the environment by canning bureaucrats one job at a time!
The reason legislators want to make cuts now is that they know that the economic stimulus package being developed by Obama and Congressional Leadership is going to bail out the states by funding Medicaid, transportation projects and "green jobs" projects-- and that it will be hugely popular with the public. They want a special session so they can tell the next President that they don't want his help-- even if his help is what the Utah economy needs.
Cutting the State of Utah's education expenditures does not eliminate or make more difficult the ability to educate one's own children (heaven forfend that a parent should actually feel responsible for such a task) or oneself.
If the Utah Legislature were to cut education expenditures, parents and students might discover the abundant homeschooling and online resources that are available ... and at a lower cost than what the State of Utah currently spends buying the votes of dangerous government employee unions.
There is no such thing as Federal help. Everything comes with strings attached. Being hooked on the Federal dole promotes irresponsibility and punishes our children and grandchildren since they will have to pay the bills for our reckless behavior.
The economy isn't as bad a the press and the politicians make it sound. The pessimism is making it worse. But Obama needs crisis to implement the "Change He Really Wants". Once created he won't let the crisis opportunity pass without taking advantage of expanded government encroachment and reduced liberty.
Look, this budget situation is temporary. The education one receives lasts a lifetime.
AnonUtahn: I do educate m7 own children, but I am pleased with their public education and the opportunities it gives them to socialize and receive educational opportunities from others.
Home schooling is a plus, but it isn't the solu6ion.
Raising taxes is unspeakable?
Huntsman is already proposing a $50 million tax increase. Don't fall for the "it's just a fee increase" BS.
In addition to availing themselves of homeschooling and online education, Utah children attend many independent schools.
The students at Juan Diego and Judge -- non-taxpayer-supported schools in Utah -- socialize just fine.
Post a Comment
<< Home