Thursday, September 30, 2010
Spending in Silence?
Currently the legislature is meeting in informal sessions until January, meaning that only non-controversial matters are considered and no recorded roll call votes are taken. Because of this, floor debate or formal discussion of bills is also rare during these sessions, in which routine matters are generally moved through the legislative process.
That’s why the supplemental budget now pending before the House of Representatives is concerning. While it is not uncommon for supplemental budgets to be passed in informal sessions, the appropriations in this one total more than $447 million. What’s more, the bill comes at a time when the sustainability of current spending levels is very much in question.
Given these circumstances, I am scrutinizing this bill very carefully along with several colleagues to ensure that it only expends funds to address real deficiencies in important accounts, and doesn’t unduly expand spending parameters beyond the levels of the FY’2011 budget itself, and of sustainability.
You can review this budget in its current form yourself by clicking the document below.
An Act Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 to Provide for Supplementing Certain Existi...
