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initiative, referendum, and recall tax policy

Pity the Politicians?

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In tough times, who get hit hardest? According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “[a]t least 39 states have imposed cuts that hurt vulnerable residents.”

Why? Well, states have been spending at increasing rates for years now. And then came the slump, with less income — and fewer sales — to tax. So of course state revenues plummet.

And politicians must force themselves to do the thing they hate most: Cut.

But, as Steve Chapman argues in his column, “A Hole They Dug for Themselves,” simply by increasing spending no more than the rate of inflation, they would have avoided this. Chapman insists, “governors and legislators might have prepared for drought.”

One thing Chapman doesn’t say is that this spending limit idea has been on many states’ tables for some time. It’s often called TABOR, or the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Such measures constitutionally limit spending to the rate of inflation plus the rate of population increase. Only voters can break this spending cap.

But politicians hate such measures, oppose them for all they are worth.

So, we may pity the poor, but let’s not shed one drop of sorrow for the politicians.

And, if you live in Maine or Washington state, vote for the TABOR-like initiatives that will be on the ballot this November. Help yourself, help the poor — by forcing politicians to spend as if things could change and tomorrow matters.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

2 replies on “Pity the Politicians?”

Nice article on limiting the spending – but I live in IL where the grants to non-profits are profligate. When the cut the grants it impacts the poor, homeless and handicapped. My question is why non-profits are dependent on State grants instead of performing the function of fund raising – State grants to charitable organizations should be outlawed. The best way to assist those who need assisting is through charitable giving – not allowing the state to spend money forcibly removed from the citizenry for purposes not specified in the State Constitution.

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