Senator Jerry Behn Says Democratic Spending is Still Too High

Submitted by Senate Republican Leader Jerry Behn

Last year, the Legislature finally passed a budget on June 30 – averting a government shutdown by mere hours.

The good news for Iowans is that the Legislature is moving much faster this year.

The bad news is that there is still a lot of work yet to be done.  The battle of the budget is really only starting to get serious.

To date, Iowa Senate Democrats have passed a handful of department budgets thus far.

However, when all the individual Senate Democrat budgets are put together like a puzzle, Iowans continue to see a picture that they cannot afford.

Altogether, Senate Democrats spend $1.03 for every one dollar taken in. 

While it’s slightly better than their spending habits during the Culver Administration, it is still not a spending level that any family, business or government can sustain over the long-term.

That’s why Senate Republicans have stuck together and have voted against every one of the Senate Democrat budgets to this point.

From the beginning of session, Iowa Senate Republicans laid out 5 key budgeting principles that we could not and would not violate and unfortunately, the Senate Democrats’ budgets do not pass muster.

We said…

1)     The budget should not spend more dollars than our state takes in.  Hardworking Iowa taxpayers have to tighten their belts and they deserve a Legislature that has the same mindset.

2)     Enact a balanced budget without raising taxes. In these challenging economic times, hardworking Iowa taxpayers do not need government taking more of their money.

3)     Using one-time dollars for ongoing expenses is not responsible, is not sustainable and is not acceptable. We must continue to wean ourselves from using one-time dollars, which is precisely what got us into our fiscal mess just a few years ago.

4)     Leave enough in the savings account to plan for the future. Just because we may have some additional dollars, does not mean we automatically have to spend it. We need to plan for the future and be ready in case of emergencies.

5)     Let’s be transparent and accountable. Iowans want their priorities funded but they do not want to see politicians utilizing gimmicks to mislead or deceive. We should be straightforward and honest – that’s what the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa deserve.

Iowans deserve better than Washington style spending and that is why Senate Republicans remain hopeful that we will be able to support a budget later this spring once further discussions occur.

There is still a lot of work to do and there are a lot of compromises that will need to be made.

However, for now, we know that Iowans cannot afford the Senate Democrat proposals and that is why we will continue to stand unified in the name of fiscal responsibility.

It’s just simply the right thing to do.

Iowa is a great state with great people and unlimited opportunity – let’s work together to unshackle our entrepreneurial spirit so our best days can be ahead of us and not behind us.

As always, I want to hear from you and can be reached by phone at 515-281-3560 or by e-mail at Jerry.Behn@legis.iowa.gov

Jerry Behn

Senate Republican Leader

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