Governor Dunleavy\u2019s proposed budget reductions are the beginning of an annual constitutional process between the Executive and Legislative Branches of our state government.\u00a0 Every legislature has produced a budget that is different than the one introduced by the Governor \u2013 this year will be no different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To properly amend and improve the Governor\u2019s budget, we need to understand it.\u00a0 Towards that end, I have conducted several hearings on the Governor\u2019s budget at the Senate Finance Committee.\u00a0 Videos of those meeting can be found here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Governor\u2019s budget\nneeds to be broken down into all the different parts and pieces and the impacts\nof reductions studied from each one \u2013 most of this work is conducted at the\nfinance subcommittee level. As the\nChairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I have directed the subcommittees to\nevaluate and scrutinize each departments\u2019 budget. Further details of the subcommittees can be\nfound here.<\/a> Rest assured, my staff has been busy working\nwith the municipalities, the school districts, our hospitals, and private\nbusinesses to identify every direct and indirect impact from the Governor\u2019s\nproposed budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the Governor\u2019s budget has been taken apart and fully understood, the Legislature can then build its budget.\u00a0 This is not as easy as it sounds because we need to build a consensus among legislators to move forward.\u00a0 It really is a balancing act between securing 11 votes in the Senate and 21 votes in the House while remaining cognizant of the Governor\u2019s veto authority.\u00a0 In my experience, the best approach is to communicate and work with the Governor during the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May 15th<\/sup> is the last day of the 120-day Constitutional limit for legislative sessions.\u00a0 No one \u2013 the Governor, the legislators, or especially you, our constituents \u2013 wants to go past this date.\u00a0 There may be times where the press coverage is slow regarding the budget process and it seems nothing is getting done, but nothing can be further from the truth.\u00a0 So, please be patient as we all work through this process to find some consensus and move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n