January 14, 2009: Legislative Report #6
Playing Games with our Trust
During the first couple of weeks of 2009, Nick and I spent some time digging through documents within the Office of Management and Budget. We also talked to folks within this same department. We wanted to understand what the Legislature did during the 2008 session to balance the budget.
One shock we discovered is the 2008 Legislature went home knowing full well the state budget is short $945,000,000.00 for FY 2010-11. For Nick and I the shock intensified as we reflected on the 2008 campaign season.
During the campaign and especially in the debates Carolyn Laine proudly expressed how she helped balance the 2008 state budget and set our state on a firm budget foundation. The simple fact Carolyn Laine knew budget shortfalls were coming in 2009 hid this fact during the election knowing full well raising taxes or cutting spending would be required in 2009.