With Nothing Left to Trade Away, Continuing Resolution
It still appears that Carney and Acting Governor Schwarzkopf gave too much to quickly to Republicans, leaving themselves with no arrows in the quill at crunch time.
This statement from Governor Carney was released early Saturday:
I’m deeply disappointed that the General Assembly has failed to reach an agreement to pass a balanced budget, and a responsible long-term financial plan. The people of Delaware expect us to responsibly do their business, and that includes working together to enact a responsible financial plan for the state. As I’ve been saying for months, we need a balanced, long-term plan that relies on spending reductions and new revenue to solve our financial challenges in a sustainable way. The fact is we met Republican leaders more than halfway. We have pledged to support real spending reductions, and fiscal reforms that would place controls on future spending. Unfortunately, Republicans have been unwilling to compromise on their ideological demands, and have not agreed to support a sustainable plan to raise new revenue. But our work will continue, and it’s time for members of the General Assembly to get serious about passing a long-term budget.”
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Senate President pro tem David McBride released the following statement:
While I believe we have a constitutional responsibility to pass a balanced budget, I also believe we have a moral responsibility to ensure that the budget we pass is fair and just for the people of our state. It became clear to me and other members of leadership that despite the progress made today, we were not yet in a position to deliver on our promise of a fair budget at this late hour. The budget, in its current form, is not something we can pass in this General Assembly. And nor should we, particularly when the state’s fiscal calendar gives us a handful of days to continue working to get a better deal for Delawareans without inflicting immediate pain on our residents, non-profit community, or our state employees. We know time is of the essence, and that’s why we are coming back here tomorrow to keep pushing forward.
Via WDEL
From the News Journal:
“House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, the bill’s sponsor, amended it eliminate tax increases for lower-income folks and hike taxes further on the wealthy. That was apparently a move to shore up support among Democrats, though it abandon any hope of GOP votes.
Yet when the vote came down, Democrats fell one vote short. Andria Bennett, D-Dover, voted no.
Bennett nearly broke down in tears when approached by reporters after the vote. She said her constituents did not like the bill’s reduction of itemized deductions for things like mortgage interest and charitable donations.
“[Democrats] don’t elect me, the people in my district do,” Bennett said. “Is everyone upset with me? Absolutely.”
Just who are Andria Bennett’s constituents? The ones who nodded in agreement when she twice voted to kill minimum wage increases in committee, and then quoted Chamber talking points verbatim to justify her votes?
Or the ones she claimed to represent last night?
I think the answer is that SHE doesn’t know.
“She said her constituents did not like the bill’s reduction of itemized deductions for things like mortgage interest and charitable donations.”
If she is being honest – bring back mortgage interest in exchange for two more higher tax brackets. She’s given Acting Gov Pete something to trade.
In today’s world the mortgage interest deduction is negligible. With rates between 2.5-3.5% it has minimal effect. Charitable donations should be restricted to cash or equivalents.
Delaware is bankrupt. Bravo to those politicians on both sides standing up to decades of failed budgets and gross overspending.
gross overspending…
Wingnut-ese for: I’m an idiot doesn’t realize that traffic lights are not free.