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« "This We'll Defend" | Main | Wednesday Barn Blogging » May 24, 2005It's Time For Spending Reform
Belly-up to the trough boys! We've got a windfall of cash and only a little time to spend it!Of course, that's not going to happen. And Campfield notes that if the legislature doesn't designate where the money goes, it will still be spent: If the money is not designated immediately then it will go Governor Bredesen's slush fund to be doled out(out of session) as he sees fit with no questions asked. Republicans had a bill to stop this practice, but guess what? It was killed in committee.What Campfield is talking about is the constitutionally questionable practice of the spending of "unexpected revenues" by the administration without going through the legislative budgeting process. It was a huge problem during the eight years of fiscal recklessness perpetrated by Gov. Don Sundquist, and Gov. Phil Bredesen has continued the process. In fiscal year 2003-04, Bredesen spent $400 million more than the legislature budgeted, via a process that appears to be at odds with the state constitution, which says "No public money shall be expended except pursuant to appropriations made by law." As I have explained before, the Tennessee Constitution lays out how laws are made in this state. They are passed by a majority of both houses and signed by the governor. But here's how the "unexpected" revenue gets spent in between legislative sessions: The unelected Finance Commissioner merely notifies the chairman of the House and Senate finance committees. The finance committees do not vote on the extra spending. The full legislature does not vote on the extra spending. The chairman of the finance committees do not have the power to approve or reject the extra spending. They are simply notified that another $400 million is going to be spent. Now, nowhere in the Tennessee Constitution does it say public money can be spent pursuant to executive branch bureaucrats sending a memo to the chairmen of two legislative committees legislature. It says, and I quote, "No public money shall be expended except pursuant to appropriations made by law." That's not difficult to understand. Unless you're a pig racing to the trough. Or, apparently, the governor of Tennessee. Comments
All this surplus debate proves is: 1) It's never enough 2) It's not your money 3) They aren't accountable 4) Because of 1 thru 3 TABOR will never get approved. Go here (www.cafrman.com/Articles/Art-TN-S1.htmif) to see what the REAL surpluses the state is running. This report is for 2003 so the 2005 numbers are even greater. This $270M is only the tip of the iceberg and a smokescreen. Posted by: R at May 25, 2005 10:00 AMPost a comment
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State Rep. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, says 