Eagle editorial: Legislative candidates playing dumb on budget

[applegrove]

Eagle editorial: Legislative candidates playing dumb on budget

For the editorial board, Phillip Brownlee at the Wichita Eagle

http://www.kansas.com/2014/07/30/3573308/eagle-editorial-legislative-candidates.html

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It is unclear whether some candidates running for the Legislature are playing dumb about the state’s budget problems or whether they really are clueless. Either way, it’s not encouraging.

In interviews with The Eagle editorial board, many legislative candidates – all Republican – have seemed perplexed by questions about projected state budget shortfalls. Most dismissed the projections as potentially inaccurate – even though the state budget is based on these estimates. If they conceded that there might be revenue shortfalls, many downplayed the severity, suggesting that the state could balance its budget simply by eliminating wasteful spending.

If only it were that easy.

A new report is expected this week on state tax collections for July, the first month of the new fiscal year. Even if the collections come in on target or greater than the revenue estimates – unlike the past three months, when revenue was $338 million less than expected – the state still faces a major budget shortfall.


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[applegrove]

1. If they play dumb, and thus create a vacuum, reporters or opposition

might be the ones to suggest cutbacks. That way there is no footage of the GOP suggesting it. Even though austerity, and government cutbacks, is obviously the goal of tax cutters.