Perdue’s Budget Choice
December 3, 2010 - by
In the next few weeks, Governor Perdue will make a decision that could determine whether she is reelected in two years.
She can go either of two ways in handling the budget and the new Republican legislature.
She could work with the Republicans to cut nearly $4 billion. The political goal there would be to show that she can get things done with the other party.
Or she could draw a line in the sand and fight. She could say that cutting $4 billion would cause too much damage to education and human services. She could propose extending the temporary sales tax – or even other tax increases – to make up part of the gap.
The latter may never pass, of course. That’s not the point. The question is whether fighting on principle is better for her – and for the state – than going along with cuts she believes are too damaging.
What she can’t do is have it both ways. According to WCNC News in Charlotte , she said this week that “business leaders are looking to invest in states that invest in their own education, and that for North Carolina
She can’t say that this week and go along with deep cuts next year.
She’s already in a hole. The contingency cuts that she asked state agencies to make are already being seen as “the Governor’s budget cuts.”
A big part of her political problem is that voters – whatever their party and ideology – don’t have a clear picture of her and what she stands for.
This could be her last chance to change that image – or cement it.
Posted in North Carolina - Democrats
Perdue’s Budget Choice
December 3, 2010/
In the next few weeks, Governor Perdue will make a decision that could determine whether she is reelected in two years.
She can go either of two ways in handling the budget and the new Republican legislature.
She could work with the Republicans to cut nearly $4 billion. The political goal there would be to show that she can get things done with the other party.
Or she could draw a line in the sand and fight. She could say that cutting $4 billion would cause too much damage to education and human services. She could propose extending the temporary sales tax – or even other tax increases – to make up part of the gap.
The latter may never pass, of course. That’s not the point. The question is whether fighting on principle is better for her – and for the state – than going along with cuts she believes are too damaging.
What she can’t do is have it both ways. According to WCNC News in Charlotte , she said this week that “business leaders are looking to invest in states that invest in their own education, and that for North Carolina
She can’t say that this week and go along with deep cuts next year.
She’s already in a hole. The contingency cuts that she asked state agencies to make are already being seen as “the Governor’s budget cuts.”
A big part of her political problem is that voters – whatever their party and ideology – don’t have a clear picture of her and what she stands for.
This could be her last chance to change that image – or cement it.
Posted in North Carolina - Democrats