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July 14, 2009

Forum: Deficit resolution is priority

BY KEVIN ELSENHEIMER

The state Legislature has gotten serious about the process of setting spending budgets for next year, with the House approving its versions of state department spending.

As usual, this just marks the opening of the real reconciliation between the House, Senate and administration to balance almost $2 billion of state government red ink. Even though federal stimulus dollars have been identified to erase much of that amount, a decision I very much oppose, there still must be a balancing of state spending and state revenue for future years after the federal money has dried up.

There remain tough decisions to be made. What must be remembered is while state government is struggling to meet its financial needs the vast majority of Michigan's residents are also fighting that same struggle.

I believe the true leaders our state needs are those who step up to the admittedly difficult challenge of setting Michigan on a course that matches our current government resources while also focusing efforts on growing jobs and the economy for a better tomorrow.

My position and philosophy for putting Michigan back on track and making our state competitive have been quite clear and honestly portrayed -- residents and businesses cannot financially afford any type of tax or fee increase to maintain our top-heavy government.

Nor can our state afford the devastation of further losses of companies and jobs leaving Michigan that such increases would surely cause.

Michigan has already been losing an average of 1,000 jobs per day. During the last seven years, nearly 500,000 people, including 100,000 students, have left the state. Despite these downward trends, each year the state spending budget goes up about $1 billion.

The Legislature must not enact policies or implement programs whose costs will make it increasingly difficult for Michigan to recover. That unfortunately may put some very worthwhile ideas and efforts on hold until the money is again available to provide for state government 'extras.'

That doesn't mean we stop advocating or supporting such programs and the benefits they provide, but we do have to prioritize and ensure services are well-run and productive for the value of taxpayer dollars.

Those who think taxpayers simply have a blank check to solve the state budget needs through raising taxes should join me when I meet the people who actually pay those taxes.

I believe the overarching issue for lawmakers must be the resolution of Michigan's structural spending deficit. This is not an issue to be pawned off to the next Legislature through yet another round of one-time fixes and gimmicks, nor should it be allowed to be swept under the rug until next year using one-time federal stimulus dollars.

Not only does plugging the state's current budget holes with those stimulus dollars mean fewer funds for the mission of job creation and economic rebirth, putting the likelihood of creating a new turnaround in Michigan further out of reach, it leaves our state in the same budget quandary having squandered the opportunity to move forward

About the author: Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Kewadin, represents Michigan's 105th state House district. He is House minority leader.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

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