Comments about ‘House Republicans issue budget proposal’

Time for a special session. No time to delay. A stitch in time saves nine.

Such drastic cuts at a special session would likely result in terrible mistakes and an impossible administrative nightmare of having to implement not just the past budget cuts but then a second round along with a reshuffling after the regular session. Most people who are familiar with organizational management understand that businesses and governmental agencies require a sense of both security and predictability in order to provide efficient services. Large budget cuts will require careful planning, importance policy decisions that will need the involvement of the stakeholders impacted. What we don't need is a knee-jerk, crisis-feared based approach to state budget making.

I am impressed however with the psychology of the Republican Legislature to focus on the worse case scenario and then hope the the best. From a planning and public acceptability standpoint this may be the more thoughtful and productive approach to take at the regular legislative session in January. It would be easy, but it appears to be a responsible approach to a balanced, fiscally sound budget.

As the Gov delays calling a special session he just delays the inevitable until March (3 months from now) when the corrective action will be even more severe.

Of course, he's shamelessly pushing Congress to burden our children with extra debt for his own bailout. Why foist the burden on those that can't even vote?

The State agencies have contracts with providers that need to be modified NOW to achieve any hope of reducing spending for the fiscal year ending June 30th. Waiting for the regular session will mean that some programs will have to be shut down immediately after the session to get the needed reductions in the remaining 90 days of the fiscal year. And more programs will have to be cut to make up for lost opportunity now.

It is time for OPEN BUDGET meetings! The voters have a right to hear open discussion about the state budget and not have it decided by the GOP behind closed doors!

(W)Reckless and Irresponsible-- just so you know that state does not have a Congress, we have a legislature. And what bailout are you talking about? The Governor has not asked for a bailout?

Why should the governor call a special session when the legislature will be in session in a few weeks. Remember that these politicians have jobs outside of Capital Hill. It's difficult enough to be missing the few months that are requested. It makes no sense to call a special session.

It is amazing how all these issues have just popped up 6 weeks after the election. I wish Utah voters would have cleaned house and so this state could get rid of the corruption and special interest groups running this state.

But, we only vote for those that say they are Rebublicans, but are more liberal than any democrat. It is time to wake up.

The flat tax is only fair if you get rid of tax deductions. Taxing everyone at 5% without any deductions would more than pay for our state's needs for many years to come. Follow God's method of taxation. He doesn't allow for deductions, does he? He asks for a flat 10%. The state should ask for a flat 5.

I work for one of the larger private companies in Utah ($6 Billion in revenue) and we had to redo our budget 3 times in the last 8 months! If the state knows it's going to be in trouble...it's better to cut sooner rather than have entities keep spending more than what's available.

Right now Utah Transit authority is burning several billion tax dollars to build rail lines that their own studies show will not impact congestion. Those 5 rails require billions more in finance costs and 45-year subsidies for operation and maintenance.

But, the southwest valley has no freeways at all and face terrible congestion and possible danger without emergency evacuation capability. A couple of billion$ needed to build their long-needed freeway is less than UTA is burning for these foolish rail lines, with $2-billion to spare!

On UTA's website rail projects pages, download the Final environmental Study Report for West Valley TRAX. Go to section 4.3.2.2, titled Regional VMT.

There, you will find Table 4.3-4: "Regional Vehicle Miles Traveled for all Modes (2030)". Under the heading "Autos", Read the lower line, "Preferred Alternative". It shows., "0.00%" change from No-Action. That means we get virtually nothing for the $750-million long term cost as calculated by UTA's Mick Crandall and WFRC's Chuck Chappell in the 11/19/2006 handout for "Salt Lake County 0.25 cent Sales Tax Funding Facts".

What is more conspicuous than paying $750-million for a train that does NOTHING? Their other rails are equally foolish.

First, STOP the INSANE WASTE!

Davis Guy: Perhaps you don't understand, but Huntsman is begging those in Washington DC (the US Congress and President-elect Obama) to give Utah a bailout. We all know that DC is broke, so who will be paying the bill for that "free" bailout money?

Don't correct me when you don't know what you are talking about. And yes, we call that reckless body in DC (comprised of a house and a senate just like here) Congress!

Every day of delay makes the resolution worse. By the time the Legislature comes into session the Gov will have delayed for more than 2 months. If a special session was necessary in September, then today one is urgent since we have a bigger hole in the budget with half of the fiscal year elapsed.

Of course I think we have too many bureaucrats so I will be watching with anticipation as Huntsman will be required to do mass RIFs because of his delay.