June 26, 2009
BREAKING: Budget Passes Senate
It's not online, yet, but the Senate has emailed a press release announcing passage of the budget:
The Senate today voted to approve a $7.76 billion state budget for the 2010 fiscal year that closes a $660 million deficit while avoiding cuts to school aid, pharmaceutical assistance to the elderly and disabled, and welfare and dental benefits for the poor.The budget bill (2009-H 5983Aaa), which passed the House Wednesday and has now been transmitted to the governor, includes $60 million in pension savings and $58 million in cuts across state office budgets, and avoids increasing the sales tax or income taxes or creating any new taxes on services.
And now in the absence of new policies that will improve Rhode Island's health we begin the clock on accumulating "unexpected" costs and shortfalls, putting the fall/winter deficit announcement at... what? I'll go with $340 million, which puts the total realistic deficit that the state ought to be addressing right now at a cool billion.
The governor should veto the beast... at least to let Rhode Islanders know that it's no good.
All I can say is Laffey was right. Along with Ayn Rand.
and the House and Senate played on....
Posted by: Roland at June 26, 2009 9:56 PMFederal stimulus funds: tobacco money redux.
Thanks to the Democrat General Assembly, Rhode Island continues its fiscal and economic descent, and Rhode Island's future remains bleak.
Rhode Island is much like Michael Jackson - tremendous potential wasted away by an unwillingness to address serious issues and change ... so slowly but inevitably heading toward a bad end.
Posted by: Tom W at June 26, 2009 11:33 PM