Day 89: Call a Budget Timeout
Posted by Brett Davis - April 10, 2009Given the dire situation with regard to the state budget, it’s obvious that lawmakers need time to review budgets, taxes and spending before legislative hearings or final voting takes place. Oh yeah, it would also be nice if the public—you know, the people legislators are supposed to be working for—had the same chance.
In January 2007, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation created model legislation that would require a 72-hour budget timeout before hearings or votes on revenue or appropriations bills could occur. That same year, Rep. Gary Alexander introduced a bill that would create a five-day period before a budget could be voted on after its introduction. Unfortunately, it failed to even get a public hearing.
This type of legislation is clearly needed in a political atmosphere where it’s not uncommon for budget hearings to be held on the same day as the budget bill is introduced. All too often, the budget bill is amended and enacted with little time for meaningful review or public input. The state budget—hundreds of pages long and mind-numbingly complex—is not light reading. The average citizen won’t spend hours meticulously combing through the budget. In fact, a detailed reading of the budget has been known to send legislators who are hard-core fiscal wonks into a coma. Still, elected officials and citizens deserve a chance to look over the actual budget bill.
The point is the state budget is the most critical of all bills passed by the Legislature, and it should not be considered a rush job by politicians. Lawmakers and the public are entitled to the time necessary to actually read the budget and raise questions and/or objections before hearings or votes are held. Are the state’s priorities in order? Is the state funding core government functions? Could the state be spending taxpayer money more efficiently? A budget timeout will give all involved the chance to debate, if not answer, those questions, and more.
For more information on our ideas for balancing the budget, cutting waste and stimulating the economy, go to www.105days.com.
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