The House decided to pass and move the operating budget bill to the Senate last week after reaching an agreement for fair play regarding the handling of the capital budget bill. It would have been an opportunity too for the House to insist the Senate Majority begin to move the fiscal plan pieces, but another opportunity for that will be soon coming around the corner.
When the Senate sends back their version of the budget to the House, the House can choose to concur or not concur. The House then can hold tough until the Senate Majority shakes loose, for instance, the constitutional spending cap.
The Senate Majority doesn’t want a spending cap (sidenote: the Senate Minority and the House Majority do) but a bit of doublespeak has been underway.
On the one hand, the Senate Majority is insisting a spending cap isn’t needed because they point out “we don’t have enough revenue to increase the budget”. But on the other hand, they seem to be giddy about the potential for new and increased taxes – more revenue – and have prioritized increasing school funding.
If the House Majority decides to play hardball to insist on a constitutional spending cap before concurring on the budget, I will support their decision.
I hope if that happens that the break in the budget logjam will involve members of all four caucuses along with the governor letting Alaskans know they’re committed to moving forward the fiscal plan components as recommended by the Fiscal Policy Working Group.
Suggested reading on this topic: The Cart Before the Horse.
