Utah GOP lawmakers face decision on $100 million budget deficit, Garn replacement

SALT LAKE CITY — As Utah state government continues to fall short in tax revenue — by about $100 million at last count — state House Republicans will decide Wednesday if a few of their number can tap into the House's majority political PAC for needed primary funds.

The whole Legislature comes into its first interim study day Wednesday after the 2010 Legislature adjourned March 11. And GOP lawmakers have a grab bag of decisions to make.

A lot has changed this spring since legislators last met.

Several GOP House members have been knocked out of office in their county or state party conventions. The lame ducks can pretty much do as they like.

A few others have been forced into a Republican primary June 22. And those incumbents would like to tap into the House's majority political action committee for money to campaign against their GOP challengers.

"We'll decide that (campaign funding) issue, I hope, Wednesday," said House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara.

Clark says leaders of both political parties will be told this afternoon that the state is running about $100 million in the red.

"We have found a way through bookkeeping to take care of that," Clark said.

Simply put, legislators will transfer money from the fiscal 2010-11 budget, which starts July 1, back into this year's budget. And, thus, the law which says the state must end its fiscal year (June 30) with a balanced budget will be followed.

Of course, that means legislators start the next fiscal year $100 million short. But Clark said it's the belief of state economists, both from the executive and legislative branches, that fiscal 2011 will see tax revenues jump back more quickly than previously anticipated.

"It will be down a little deeper, bounce back a little faster," said Clark, a southern Utah banker.

Besides deciding whether to give incumbent Republicans cash from the House majority PAC, the House caucus will also decide whether to replace former Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton, in leadership, and if so, how.

Clark said he prefers that in this heated political season, there not be a "full blown leadership" races now. If the caucus demands that, however, those elections will take place in the June interim day caucus.