The 2010 state legislative session was contentious, stressful, and challenging, according to four local legislators.
Senator Willie Mount and Representatives A.B. Franklin, Mike Danahay and Chuck Kleckley were the featured speakers at the 2010 League of Women Voters/Chamber SWLA legislative wrap-up luncheon on Friday. Each legislator had a few things to say about the session, but they all had said one thing in common: that this time it was extremely challenging.
"It's been a pretty stressful session," Mount said.
"There were 33 votes in the House of Representatives against the budget. Even the Speaker of the House voted against it. I have never, ever heard of that happening," Kleckley said.
"The budget last year was $29 billion. This year it's $26 billion. We're dwindling it down," Danahay said, expressing optimism.
"However, we're not going to sugarcoat it. It's going to be very tough, next year," he continued.
Even with the contention, Mount said she was satisfied with much of the work done this year.
"We've done a lot of good things in reducing government while maintaining the basic services everyone needs," she said.
Kleckley was a little bit more pessimistic about the budget this year.
"We spent $2 billion of one-time money on recurring expenses," he said.
"It's as if you were doing your family budget: you know what you'll be making for the year, you know what things will cost, and the two don't match up. So you raid the college fund, or your retirement, or whatever, without a plan to put anything back into those places. Where will we be next year?" Kleckley said.
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The 2010 state legislative session was contentious, stressful, and challenging, according to four local legislators.
Senator Willie Mount and Representatives A.B. Franklin, Mike Danahay and Chuck Kleckley were the featured speakers at the 2010 League of Women Voters/Chamber SWLA legislative wrap-up luncheon on Friday. Each legislator had a few things to say about the session, but they all had said one thing in common: that this time it was extremely challenging.
"It's been a pretty stressful session," Mount said.
"There were 33 votes in the House of Representatives against the budget. Even the Speaker of the House voted against it. I have never, ever heard of that happening," Kleckley said.
"The budget last year was $29 billion. This year it's $26 billion. We're dwindling it down," Danahay said, expressing optimism.
"However, we're not going to sugarcoat it. It's going to be very tough, next year," he continued.
Even with the contention, Mount said she was satisfied with much of the work done this year.
"We've done a lot of good things in reducing government while maintaining the basic services everyone needs," she said.
Kleckley was a little bit more pessimistic about the budget this year.
"We spent $2 billion of one-time money on recurring expenses," he said.
"It's as if you were doing your family budget: you know what you'll be making for the year, you know what things will cost, and the two don't match up. So you raid the college fund, or your retirement, or whatever, without a plan to put anything back into those places. Where will we be next year?" Kleckley said.
