|
Publisher’s Opinion
The Legislative Dilemma: Cut Taxes or Invest in Future
Who wants a big, fat tax cut?
Not citizens, according to every poll done on the subject. Not Republicans, according to those same polls.
Not the editorial boards of KSL TV/Radio, the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret Morning News, Standard-Examiner, Daily Herald, and the Spectrum in Southern Utah. The editorial boards are unanimous: spend the surplus on infrastructure and urgent needs, not on a big, fat tax cut.
Not business leaders. The Salt Lake Chamber and other Chambers, whose members include thousands of large and small businesses, are not itching for a big tax cut. They prefer to ensure a bright economic future by investing surplus dollars in transportation and economic development.
I can’t find anyone these days (except maybe that lonely voice of the Sutherland Institute) who really wants a big, fat tax cut.
A modest tax cut, yes. Something in the range of $60 million to $100 million. Fine. But smart business leaders, citizens and elected officials all over the state know that it makes no sense to cut taxes now and then have to somehow come up with billions of dollars later to cover the state’s massive infrastructure backlog. It’s pay now or pay a whole lot more later. Construction costs are dramatically escalating.
It’s not that most Utahns like government taking their money. But they fully understand the state’s needs and see the value of investing to position the state for the future and ensure a high quality of life, good education for children, and mobility for citizens and businesses. It’s a clear choice. They’d rather have the Legislature make the investments than put a few bucks back in their own pockets.
In a way, it’s a strong vote of confidence in the Legislature. We’re saying we trust you to spend our money wisely. We believe Utah’s political leaders are frugal. You are responsible. We don’t have massive unfunded pensions. The state’s bonding activity is well within reason. You balance the budget, every year. You’re not raising taxes. You’re putting most of the surplus money into true investments, not massively building base budgets or the size of government.
We love the fact that our economy is booming, producing more revenue, which allows money to be invested in transportation and economic development that will pay long-term dividends.
On a very personal basis, that’s what I prefer. I pay a lot of taxes and I hate giving so much money to the federal government, but I’m happy with the services I receive at the state and local levels for the taxes I pay.
It’s hard to imagine many people in Utah County wanting a big tax cut while the county faces a transportation system near crisis with no resolution in sight. It’s hard to imagine many people in Washington County wanting a big tax cut while facing incredible water and highway needs to serve an exploding population expected to reach 205,000 by 2015 and half a million people less than 20 years later.
My prediction: By the end of the legislative session, lawmakers will have gone through their appropriations committee hearings; they will fully understand the true needs of the state; they will see there is no great clamor for a large tax cut; and thus the tax cut will be modest, not massive. And that’s the way it should be.
Washington Watch
The Hatch Report
Sen. Orrin Hatch on the asbestos legislation currently before the Senate: "Veterans are disproportionately afflicted with asbestos-related illnesses, yet they have the most trouble obtaining any compensation. This is the only bill that will give them just compensation'' (see press release and Bloomberg News); Hatch says opponents of the bill are beholden to trial lawyers "who are driving this with bogus lawsuits" (New York Times); Hatch is criticized (The Daily Times) and praised (The American Enterprise) for defending Pres. Bush's NSA spying policy.
Bennett On C-SPAN2
Sen. Bob Bennett will appear live on C-SPAN 2 this morning at approximately 8 a.m. to discuss the above-mention asbestos legislation, outlining "his objections to the measure as currently drafted."
Blog Watch
Wonkette is soliciting "any recent, detailed, and credible information about [Sen. Orrin] Hatch’s 'senior moments,' or any good gossip about the senator lashing out at his staff" (see also here, here, and here)... The Senate Site blog was selected for the Politics1.com Site of the Day Award... Evolution in Utah says "our Representatives cannot make a more worthless nor ridiculous bill than the one they made to substitute SB96 and passed to the House floor"... Reach Upward discusses Gov. Mitt Romney's Mormonism, and says "I think we Mormons sometimes suffer from a persecution complex"... Utah Conservative reports on the Utah County Lincoln Day Dinner (see also here)... Part of the Plan dispenses advice to the Lone Peak Teenage Republicans... OneUtah has a post on SLC's new benefits plan... Planet Legislature quotes a Utah lawmaker: "You have a legal privilege to kill your own animal in a manner you choose, even if it's less artful than the way someone else might. You just can't hang them up, cut them open, do satanic things on them"... Paul Rolly says Utah County GOP legislators are dodging a law that prohibits soliciting campaign funds during the legislative session... The Lone Wacko takes a City Weekly writer to task... Splendid Sun has a post on Utah's education system.
SUWA Protests BLM Lease Sale
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is protesting a Utah BLM oil and gas lease sale slated "to include 3,700 acres just west of the Green River in Labyrinth Canyon ... The sale also includes more than 100,000 acres of land proposed for wilderness, mostly in the San Rafael River and San Rafael Desert regions, a remote area of narrow slot canyons, shifting sand dunes, sculpted rock, and miles of the roadless desert spaces" (see press release).
Sierra Club Spring Newsletter
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club has posted its Spring Newsletter [PDF file]. This edition features articles on the "happy conclusion to the Cedar Mountains Wilderness story," the Bush Administration's "continuing war on the environment," renewable energy, rural roads, the Mojave Generating Station, and Salt Lake County groundwater reserves.
UITA Legislative Update
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Utah Information Technology Association Trustee/House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander will join Senate President John Valentine and House Speaker Greg Curtis "to discuss the most pressing technology issues on Utah's Capitol Hill." The event will take place at 7:30 a.m. in Ballroom B of the Little America Hotel (500 S. and Main, SLC). For more info, see press release or click here. |
