March 19, 2009

Rep. Jaime Herrera's statement on today's state revenue forecast

"Today's revenue forecast is disappointing, but not unexpected. State lawmakers have known since the first day of the legislative session that the state faced a serious budget shortfall, which makes the inaction of the majority party frustrating.

"Budget proposals are going to be rolled out in the next week and we are going to see  different approaches. I support a no-new-taxes approach that restructures state government and prioritizes public safety, education and services for our vulnerable citizens.

"It is also important to keep revenue and spending in perspective. Our state will have more revenue in the upcoming budget cycle than it does in the current one. A lot of people are surprised when they hear that fact, and it illustrates our state's spending problem.

"It is also time for our state to look in the mirror and find ways to improve its budget process. While the economy has played a roll, the size of our budget problem is a result of overspending and a process that allows for it. Our state needs a constitutional spending limit, a balanced budget requirement and a system in which extraordinary revenue generated in good economic times is set aside. These are just a few proposals I support that will ensure budget sustainability in the future." 

# # #

For more information, contact: John Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758