Less Government, More Individual Responsibility

"I am a strong believer that the least government is the best government."

Common Sense!

"I will continue to be fair but firm on principles."

April 6, 2010

Dear Fellow Idahoans,

Common sense dictates that if you run out of gasoline in your car, then you go to the gas station. If you need baking powder, then you go to the grocery store.

The same common-sense principles should apply to state government. If the state is low on revenue, then there’s only one thing that can be done: Reduce spending.

Unfortunately, common sense has not prevailed over the years in the Idaho Legislature. When state economists predicted revenue growth of 4-5 percent, legislators took that as a license to increase budgets by 10 percent or more. The Legislature has been using that kind of “fuzzy math” since the 1980s, and now we are paying for that shortsightedness.

Everyone is, or should be, aware of the economic conditions. Consumers are spending less. Construction is almost at a standstill. Unemployment is high and underemployment is even higher. Homes are foreclosing. Families are trying to figure out how they are going to send kids to school and put food on the table.

Yet, there are some brilliant minds who think this is the time to raise taxes. Some think we should have local-option taxing authority (just what we need, an uneven tax structure). At least one legislator thinks we should “tax the rich” (the rich being defined as anyone who makes more than $50,000 a year).

I will resist those misguided efforts. I cannot justify propping up government when so many taxpayers are hurting. But I don’t think the world will end if budgets are cut by 5 or 10 percent. I don’t see gloom and doom on the horizon if we consolidated, or even eliminated, some agencies.

My sympathies don’t lie with the agencies and bureaucrats, because government will survive no matter what. I’m more concerned about families and the business operators, who are facing much deeper cuts in their lives.

Education will not be spared from the cuts, nor should it be spared. We’ve heard some political rhetoric about how the Governor and Republicans are “hijacking” the future of our children and committing an “assault” on our neighborhood schools. I’m not buying that, and neither should you.

Together, public schools and higher education take up about two-thirds of the budget. That reflects a huge commitment to education on the part of the Idaho Legislature. But those of us in the Legislature also must keep in mind that Idaho is required under the Constitution to balance the budget. To achieve a balanced budget, we can do one of two things – raise taxes so we can spend more on education; or make prudent reductions in all areas of state government and prevent tax increases.

People in District 20 should know what option I will choose. I think I stand on the side of common sense.

I am optimistic about my chances of winning reelection, but I need your help – financially and otherwise. You know exactly what you are getting with me, and it’s the kind of representation we need in District 20. I ask for your vote on May 25.

Sincerely,

Sen. Shirley McKague