State Repubs Challenge Adequacy of Schweitzer Budget Cuts
March 5, 2010, 7:32 am
Republican legislators grilled Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s budget director Thursday over whether the administration is proposing to cut spending in the right places and is overly optimistic about improving corporate tax collections. The panel can vote today to ask Schweitzer to change some of Ewer’s proposed cuts, but it will be Schweitzer’s decision alone where to reduce spending. In defending his proposed spending reductions, Ewer told the committee, “The Schweitzer administration is about strong fiscal management. It is the core.” Ewer said the proposed budget cuts are aimed at protecting public education, public health and public safety, which he called the core of government. But Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, a former budget director himself, criticized Ewer for being dedicated to “protecting the core of government” while “cutting off the flow of revenue to agencies outside of the core.” On Wednesday, Lewis protested the Schweitzer administration’s decision to not release $3.5 million in grants to 50 local governments for water, sewer and other public works projects. He asked why Ewer hadn’t taken such steps as imposing a state hiring freeze and greatly restricting out-of-state travel by employees. For More of this Helena Independent Record Story, Click Here
At a meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee, Republicans questioned the Democratic governor’s budget director, David Ewer, who recommended $40.5 million in spending cuts because of declining state tax collections.
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