Herbert threatens veto of cigarette tax, other bills

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert said Wednesday he's got a set of pens "greased up and ready to go" to veto a cigarette tax increase and other issues being considered by the 2010 Legislature.

The GOP governor told the Deseret News any tax increase would hurt the state's economic recovery and said he's concerned lawmakers are cutting the budget too deeply, particularly in public and higher education.

Republican legislative leaders shrugged off Herbert's warnings.

"It's just posturing," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City. "It's about time, in fact. This is OK. We kind of expect it."

House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton, said there just isn't enough money to do what the governor wants, especially without tax increases.

"Well, he's put himself and us in a box if he wants more," Garn said.

Herbert, though, vowed to "push back" in a number of areas that would be cut by the legislative Republicans' reductions over his recommended budget for next fiscal year, which starts July 1.

Those areas include cutting 29 UHP troopers as well as trimming an additional $3.5 million from the prison budget, which would mean early release of 213 inmates.

There's no need for Utahns to worry, Herbert said, about the Department of Corrections releasing inmates early, as called for in the budget endorsed by GOP leaders Tuesday.

"I'm confident that won't happen," he said. Still, he said state agencies are going to have to "tighten their belts. It's going to pinch a little."

But the governor was very clear that he sees no need to cut public and higher education.

GOP lawmakers would take an additional $60 million from colleges and universities, and are threatening to reduce public education funds.

Herbert said lawmakers should be looking at dipping deeper into the Rainy Day Fund and postponing some road projects to plug the holes in the budget.

They should take another $50 million from the fund, he said, which would still leave the balance at more than $200 million. Plus, he said, there's a list of some $113 million in road projects that can wait until the state is in better financial shape.

Garn said using more one-time money out of the Rainy Day Fund is not something lawmakers are willing to do. And roads have long been a top priority of Republicans in the Legislature.