Leatherman Calls on Governor to Offer Proposed Budget Cuts
Columbia, SC- Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence) delivered the following comments during a press conference today in Florence. The press conference was a response to Governor Mark Sanford¹s continued call for the legislature to return to Columbia in order to make what he calls tough choices about what programs to cut and which agencies not to cut, rather than taking the easy way out by cutting across the board.
Senator Leatherman said:
I find it very interesting that the Governor¹s budget, bottom line in state dollars, was $61 million more than the final budget passed by the General Assembly.
The Budget and Control Board voted to impose an across-the-board midyear budget cut because the courts have ruled that is the only way such cuts can be implemented without legislative action. It would have been irresponsible for us not to order the cuts because we are constitutionally mandated to have a balanced budget.
It would be premature and a waste of time and taxpayer money for the legislature to return to Columbia to deal with a budget shortfall at this time. A three percent cut in a six billion dollar budget is manageable for any well-run state agency. Priority items such as public education and Medicaid have been put at the front of the line in recent years with substantial budget increases, so I am not overly concerned about a three percent cut at this time.
We need more than two months of a fiscal year to know what the budget picture will look like.
The only thing we do know is that the current round of cuts will not cripple any agency. Many governors and many legislatures have handled cuts of this magnitude in just this way and the sky has not fallen.
I find it interesting that the Governor came to Florence with a complaint, but he did not tell you how he would cut the budget. He offered no proposal of his own. He put nothing concrete on the table. So, I challenge the Governor to put forth his proposed budget cuts.
When we convene in January, we will have a much clearer picture of what we need to do. And I am sure the legislature will do whatever is necessary to keep funding vital services while maintaining a balanced budget.
Senator Leatherman is the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and is one of five members of the State Budget and Control Board, which also includes the Governor, State Treasurer Converse Chellis, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom,and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Representative Dan Cooper.
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