Harrisburg and DC can learn from local governments

Today in Washington DC, our US Congress passed one of the swampiest bills ever conceived in the most un-transparent way possible. And they did it with bipartisan support. In doing so, members had less than 24 hours to read, digest & consider over 2200 pages. Result? $1,300,000,000,000 bill that adds billions to our runaway national debt. Honestly, it seems the only time the two parties cooperate is when they really want to stick it to us.

 

Earlier, in Harrisburg – Four months late – elected leaders passed their spending bill. But they did it before locking down a revenue plan. So surprise! There was a gaping hole. So, they turn to gimmicks & band-aids. Massive borrowing, yet another expansion of gambling. The result? With nothing fixed, we’ll face the same problems again next year.

 

 

Meanwhile in Lower Mac we passed a budget (once again) on time and managed to actually reduce our planned general fund spending by about 6% year to year. Of course, it’s not always without tough conversations. Note, I personally voted against advertising (one step in the process) 2 of the 4 budgets we considered since I became a Commissioner. But, we get through it.

So ya.
I think career politicians in DC and Harrisburg can learn something from local government. 

Back to DC. Remember in 2010, we were promised by party leaders a new age of transparency as part of the contract with America? It stated, “We’ll ensure bills are debated and discussed in the public square by publishing the text online for at least three days before coming up for a vote in the House. No more hiding legislative language from the minority party, opponents, and the public. Legislation should be understood by all interested parties before it is voted on.

The Omnibus completely ignores this. Is it really too much to ask? 3 days to review a 2000+ page spending bill?

So, I want to share the process we use here in Lower Mac. Which actually honors the tenants laid out in the above contract.
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Yes, obviously State and Federal budgets are absolute beasts compared to ours.
But the same principles do, can and should apply. 

1.) We start very early. Our process begins in August. 5 months before the budget is due.

2.) Decision makers get materials early.  Commissioners get draft budget book by September and then have full access to staff to question, suggest and critique.

3.) Residents then have ample opportunity to make suggestions and offer comment. Each year the Board holds no less than 2 but normally 3 full public hearings. All not only open to the public to participate but also simultaneously webcast on our website and also broadcast on television.

4.) The full budget is made available online to residents through multiple avenues. We make the full draft budget available for public review and scrutiny almost a full month before the Commissioners final vote.

I do think our process is particularly transparent. But other localities do similar. Again, I think DC and Harrisburg can learn a thing or two.

I’ll leave you with this: Our Federal Government spends nearly $7 million per minute, the national debt will reach $24.9 trillion by 2027. The Social Security trust fund is already insolvent. The highway trust fund is insolvent. And this is the same federal government that states rely on to fund many essential services. We’re heading off the cliff folks. We’ve known this for awhile, but lately it doesn’t seem like most career politicians even bother to pretend they care.

 

21 Trillion and counting. . . 

national debt

 

Ya, I’m pretty ticked off. As a taxpayer I’m tired of getting thrown under the #Omnibus. #TermLimitsNOW

Congress’s “One Spending Bill to Rule Them All” is a Debt-Fueled Disgrace.