Posted on 02/24/2005 4:13:27 AM PST by Prospero
Raleigh – Feb 23 Governor Easley’s $16.9 Billion state Budget proposal falls short of promises made in the recent campaign and in his State of the State remarks to the legislature, according to state Senate Republicans.
“Fiscal responsibility and controlled spending are budget no shows,” said Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “This budget proposal represents more broken promises and poor choices,” Berger said.
The Governor’s budget released Wednesday continues the recent trend of new programs and increased state spending after months of warnings and complaints that state coffers were $1.3 Billion short on existing commitments.
“I just don’t see how you can justify over $1 Billion in new spending. This budget is bad for our economy,” Berger said. “If passed, these broken promises and poor choices will hurt families. It takes money away from working people to pay for additional wasteful government spending. Once again we are presented with a budget which raises taxes and raids trust funds to sustain increases in spending.”
For the fiscal year beginning July 1, Governor Easley’s proposal balloons spending by $1.14 Billion, or 7.25 percent, over the present fiscal year.
Republicans also pointed to the failure to address the structural budget problems and predict that North Carolina faces a future with ongoing budget problems and tax increases.
Republican Senators also pointed out that even with the substantial increases in spending North Carolina Community Colleges will be shortchanged in meeting needs for new student enrollment. “Those funds must have gone to increase other programs that the Governor places at a higher priority,” Berger noted. “We’re still looking for the “cuts” in spending” Berger said. “We understand that in government it’s common to say that you have cut spending if you spend $20 when you planned to spend $30. But if last year you only spent $10, it looks like an increase to the average person.”
I heard on the radio yesterday that one way Easley plans to pay for the increases is to put an extra 35 cent tax on a pack of cigarettes.
Gov't looks at tobacco as the goose that lays the gold egg. As long as they can keep adding taxes, they'll use it to finance X,Y & Z programs.
That'll go over real well in NC.
"That'll go over real well in NC."
Cigs are still cheaper here than up north so I don't think the Yankee transplants will complain.
The illegals can't complain.
The Farmer's have gotten out or are getting out of the tobacco business anyway so they won't complain.
in dimocRATland what's wrong with that ? < /sarcasm>
The clarion cry of Republican legislators everywhere: "You should cut spending! Except for our favorite programs, which you should increase a lot more!"
Not only does this budget ONCE AGAIN, for the third (?) time extend the "temporary" sales tax increase, in a fit of Democrat lunacy he proposes to REDUCE the temporary income tax on family incomes over $200,000.
Also, increasing rate of sales tax on liquor, sat TV, candy bars, movie tickets, etc. up to 7%.
Cigarette Taxes -- DO NOT WORK. The money "disappears". It does NOT go where it is "said and supposed" to go. And for the state itself? That sales tax increase? This is ludicrous. NCers don't make the kind of money that warrants this increase. I'm disgusted by what NCers pay in taxes, already. I've got other states to compare to.
Right. AND there is no "sunset" on this new tax. Incrementalism taxation = economic strangulation. But then, Dems still don't *get* that yet. Even worse, is if they do. And they do.
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