Balanced budget? What balanced budget? asks Rep. Stace Nelson (R-19/Fulton):
The general appropriations bill SB 187 for this year increased spending from last session’s HB 1185 general appropriations bill by about $169 million and 124 new full time state employees.
...It exceeds the amount of money the governor’s office projects will be available by more than $7 million. This means the budget, as passed, returns to the deficit-spending ways that occurred during the Rounds administration, which created the accumulation of the $127 million deficit that forced the Legislature to make cuts that so adversely affected education in South Dakota. I believe the passage of SB 187 violates Article 12, Section 7, which prohibits spending more money than what is anticipated in revenue, by the Legislature and governor [links added; Rep. Stace Nelson, "Legislature, Gov Increased Spending, Size of SD's Government," Mitchell Daily Republic, 2014.03.21].
U.S. Senate candidate Nelson is giving fodder to challengers of both Mike Rounds and Dennis Daugaard. He also reminds us that South Dakota's balanced-budget ballyhoo is easily turned into a bluff. Review that constitutional amendment that we passed in 2012: "Appropriations by the Legislature may not exceed anticipated revenue"—anticipated by whom? On what basis? And if the Legislature wants to look past the Bureau of Finance and Management's projections and roll the dice on more revenues, who's to stop them? Who brings the lawsuit to put a stop to such deficit spending? Or do we wait until the state coffers run dry, and then... what, arrest the Speaker of the House and the Governor?
We won't arrest Nelson: he voted against the budget, as did just nine other members of the Legislature. Now we'll see if he can make that vote gain traction with the fiscal conservative voters the Republican party expects to show up at its Senate primary in June.
Get'em Stace!
Most republicans are only interested in deficit spending when democrats are in charge, Nelson better be careful, the republican higher ups will be knocking on his door. If the law allowed it, they would be screaming for tax cuts, and I am surprised they don't try to cut more from the poor to make those cuts happen.
Cory,
I'm pretty sure that the press release you are referencing was submitted by someone impersonating a legislator and Representative Nelson which might be a crime. No legislator is that stupid.
Cory, by reprinting it, you might be able to be charged as an accomplice. I suggest you call a lawyer. Soon!
Establishment apologist Troy front and center to defend "Republicans" increasing spending, government, and doing so in violation of the SD constitution.
Please regal us Troy with how being so unrepublican, is actually the epitome of Republicanism.