Trib: Idaho ♥’s budgeting surpluses
In his editorial this morning, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune comments:
In Idaho, this is becoming routine.
Either the governor and the Legislature low-ball budget revenue estimates - thereby justifying deeper than necessary cuts in the public school budget. When the original estimates prove accurate and the money comes in as predicted, the budget cuts stand while “extra” money is siphoned off in tax breaks for the well-to-do.
Or the politicians can barely restrain themselves. When a recovering economy translates into modest revenues, they begin promoting tax cuts.
First it’s House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, talking about “giving back a little.”
Then it’s Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter telling the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce Idaho’s income tax rate should be “much, much lower.”
Now comes Fred Birnbaum, vice president of the conservative Idaho Freedom Foundation. In an op-ed earlier this month, Birnbaum insisted that Idaho was on an extravagant spending spree. More here.
* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog