It’s time for the legislature to pass a budget and come home; the wasteful extra sessions are unnecessary. Democrats are stalling, refusing to do their jobs; they’re threatening a government shutdown because they want a new form of taxes, despite the fact that the state received unexpected tax revenue above expectations by about as much as the Democrats want to raise taxes.
Senator Andy Hill’s budget fully funds education to meet the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision; Representatives Larry Springer’s and Roger Goodman’s doesn’t.
Sen. Hill’s budget allows state college tuition to be cut by over 20 percent; Springer’s and Goodman’s doesn’t allow for any tuition cut.
Sen. Hill’s budget reinforces the safety net for the most vulnerable; Springer’s and Goodman’s generally does too.
Sen. Hill’s budget put over 80 percent of the $4 billion tax windfall to education, $4 billion that was raised without raising taxes; Springer’s and Goodman’s put less than 30 percent of it to education.
Sen. Hill does more without raising taxes; Springer’s and Goodman’s does less and has to raise taxes to do less.
Isn’t it time for the legislature to put aside partisan bickering, pass the better budget and save the cost of yet another special session by coming home?
