Biennial Budgets a Power Grab? Absolutely Not
- Thursday, March 11, 2010, 10:03
- Blogs, Krusty Konservative
- 865 views
- 8 comments
Earlier this week, former Governor Terry Branstad proposed changing the state’s budget process from the current annual process to biennial budgets. Kathie Obradovich of the Des Moines Register says that both Rod Roberts and Bob Vander Plaats agree that it’s a good idea.
For all those “Branstad is Evil” folks out there, I find it telling that Branstad’s first detailed proposal won acceptance by his opponents. More telling is the fact that this is something he waned to do when he was Governor but the Republican legislature said no.
I was under the impression that the only good things he did was because the Republicans finally took control of the legislature, and all the bad stuff he did was because he’s just a liberal at heart. Momma always told me I would learn something new every day.
Anyway, Obradovich’s article jumps to a conclusion that I have not heard Branstad or any other gubernatorial candidate advance. She claims that since the budget is proposed for two years there is no need for the legislature to convene in a non-budget year.
That notion couldn’t be further from the truth. First, just because a budget is proposed by the governor and approved by the legislature doesn’t meat that everything is in place and no changes will be made to the budget, heck even with annual budgeting Culver has had to go in and make sweeping changes.
Kathie contends that Branstad’s proposal is some sort of power grab, yet nowhere in her article does she talk about how Culver has refused to let the legislature deals with the current budget mess. Last fall when the budget was out of whack, Culver opted to do a massive across-the-board cut instead of calling the legislature back so they could make more targeted cuts. Isn’t that a power grab? The result will be a massive property tax increase.
We need our Governor and the legislature to set budgets that serves the state’s long term interests, not just we can afford for the next year. Additionally, this process will allow for more oversight and more legislative input.
In the non-budget years, the legislature can look for places to save money, eliminate programs that overlap, and make government more efficient. It is the current process that is broken.
These are the type of ideas we need to be seeing from our gubernatorial candidates. This is what Republicans in this state have been longing for. Let’s continue to find ways to reform government.
About the Author
Krusty Konservative has written 284 stories on this site.
Herschel Krustofski is the pseudonym for the anonymous author of Krusty Konservative, a blog which focuses on Iowa Politics. Created in February of 2006, Krusty Konservative is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Iowa blogosphere. Since its conception, Krusty Konservative has never shied from tackling controversial issues, and providing insight to the inner workings of Republican politics in Iowa.
8 Comments on “Biennial Budgets a Power Grab? Absolutely Not”
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Finally one of the gubernatorial candidates comes out with something real – actual policy that makes sense. Kudos to Branstad for actually bringing ideas to the table!
Branstad has been getting a bum rap. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1926&dat=19950110&id=g1krAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Cf8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4999,512889
Now, he needs to propose that Iowa go to a biennial convening of the legislature. He’d be making real progress.
Texas only meets every other year. It’s it’s good enough for TX, it’s good enough for Iowa. Get these lawmakers out of Des Moines as quickly as possible. Continue to pay them the same amount but just convene every other year. There can be special sessions, as needed.
This should save Iowa a ton of money. Those monkeys in DM spend their time trying to buy votes. This is why we are in the financial shape we’re in.
They also need to reduce the size of staff. Of course, this will not happen as long as we have Dims in control.
Apparently Kathie O didnt stop to think that in non-budget years…the Legislature would actually have time to do careful consideration of legislation. Hold more public hearings, actually be able to sit down with constituents who make the trek to Des Moines during session to meet and speak with their Legislator.
Plus, obviously the Legislature deals with more than the budget. Take those non-budget years to work on issues such as economic development, tax reform, and being able to do proper oversight of the various departments within state government. Lord knows departments like the DHS and DNR need more legislative oversight than what they are getting now..
If anything..this would help to put power back in the hands of the legislative branch..rather than the executive branch. Kathie O conveniently forgets that the power of the purse resides in the Legislative Branch of government…not the Executive.
Hawk: With Dims in control in the legislature, it’s like the fox watching the hen house.
Where’s “ConservativeThinker” today? He keeps regurgitating that Branstad’s campaign is totally devoid of substance, yet here’s a clear, detailed policy issue that both Bob Panders Lots and Rod Roberts agree with.
Branstad has offered definable goals for what he wants to accomplish.
Bob Panders Lots has offered one….his unconstitutional executive order. That’s the real “power grab”.
Well I heard my name called, so here goes, I applaud Mr. Branstad for actually articulating an idea. Good for him. I am weary of his proposal, but am interested to hear more about it. Maybe for the first time in 16 tries, he’s ready to try and shrink government.
I could support biennial budgeting, but I don’t want a biennial legislature. A biennial legislature would take power away from the legislature–and I like the system of checks and balances just the way it is.
An annual legislature working on a biennial budgeting schedule would let the legislature tackle big-ideas like county consolidation and education reform. I’d love to see those issues get the time they deserve.
The biennial budget proposal should not eliminate the convening of the legislature every year, but with a budget being considered every other year, then perhaps the Iowa legislature will rid itself of the archaic funnel system. Agree with SharpHawkeye–maybe some really reform could take place in the non-budget year.