Good afternoon. It has been a while since I have written you and I wanted to offer up two major themes in this issue: The need for a House floor debate on closing an egregious tax exemption and the major elements keeping us from a final budget agreement. When the session finally ends, I will send a more in-depth piece about what transpired along with my thoughts on the way forward.
Wall Street Banks or Our Kids
The time to debate tax exemptions has arrived! As budget negotiators continue to work towards the development of a balanced budget, another debate is approaching the House Floor. This is the debate that I have been calling for all session. HB 2078, which would close tax exemptions on Wall Street banks to fund K – 3 class size reductions, was recently passed by the House Ways & Means Committee and is waiting to be pulled to the House Floor.
The discussion around closing tax exemptions has not been easy. Because of the results of the past election (I-1053 and the repeal of certain tax measures) many law makers have been reticent to discuss taxes and our outdated tax code. That clearly has not deterred the newly elected 11 freshman democrats that have worked tirelessly to address these issues. I know that many in the 22nd legislative district feel the same way. I am fortunate to serve in a district that is willing to have these difficult discussions and understands the importance of fully funding our state’s education system. I am calling on those in the Tenacious 22nd to reach out to members that serve on the House Rules Committee to bring HB 2078 to a full and open debate. Find the list of Rules Committee Member here. Please, join me in calling for a debate. Lend your voice through letters, emails, and phone calls to Rules Committee members to bring this bill forward. Now is not the time to be safe or reserved on the paramount issues that face our state. We need this debate, and I need your help to make it happen.
A Rush to the Finish
We just got word late yesterday (Wednesday) that there may be some movement in the operating budget negotiations. House members will be here Saturday through Wednesday trying to bring this session to a close. There are many sticking points in the budget; here are a few of them:
- K-12 reductions
- Salary reductions (administrators, teachers, and classified employees);
- Reductions to teacher step-increases; and
- Health benefit changes
- Human Services
- Disability Lifeline funding (the size of the reduction and which services to focus on)
- Long-term care (employee benefits and employee training)
- State Agency Consolidation/Outsourcing/Privatization.
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of smaller line-items that need to be addressed but this gives you a sense of the magnitude of the issues that need to get solved before this session comes to a close.
By now you know the entire budget has been complicated by issues not central to the operating budget itself: Workers Compensation, biomass bills, cigar bar bills, and now additional tax exemptions are being sought by the motion picture industry and the technology industry. It seems in a crisis, anybody can claim hardship and there is a listening ear. More serious than that however is the sheer number of legislators willing to hold their vote on the budget until they get a particular policy bill moved through the process and on to the Governor’s desk for signature. This aggressive approach that focuses on one’s position instead of one’s interests will almost certainly keep us here into a second special session.
Stay close to the newspapers, blogs, and Facebook posts for updates on the action. As always, don’t hesitate to contact me or my assistant Justin if you have questions or want to offer feedback.
Best wishes,
Chris