Iowa Has a Spending Problem, Not a Revenue Problem

I have spoken consistently throughout the years that government needs to run the state’s budget just like American families run their household budgets. Government should not spend more than it takes in and should not use irresponsible budgeting tactics.

We, as legislators, have to make the budget balance by law. In order to accomplish that task difficult choices must be made. Because of all the reckless spending practices in the past, that were never going to be sustainable, we now need to find over $110 million dollars in savings in just the few months we have left in the current fiscal year. My goal was to help get the de-appropriation bill passed as we did today. This passage will allow affected organizations to plan accordingly in the remaining months.

I want to be clear. We do not have a revenue problem here; we have had a spending problem. Hopefully now we will be more able to budget in a responsible way that will limit any need for major mid-year budget changes.