Budget deal could get done quickly with proper focus

By Sioux City Journal

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One might reasonably think an improving economy would make crafting a state budget easier, right?

Not in Iowa.

On the heels of recent robust state revenue news came news of “hardening” positions in the continuing stalemate over a new state budget. With the July 1 start to the new fiscal year less than four weeks away, no budget agreement is in sight.

First, the good news. Recently, the Legislative Services Agency said net state receipts totaled $782 million in May, a 21.4 percent increase over May 2010 and the second-highest monthly total on record. For the year, tax receipts are up 6.3 percent from last year, 1.3 percent higher than the estimate. Said LSA senior analyst Jeff Robinson: “It was an amazingly strong month.” Entering the new fiscal year, the state will have some $1 billion in the bank, according to a recent story filed by the Journal's Des Moines bureau.

All Iowans, Democrats and Republicans alike, should be cheered by those numbers.

Second, the bad news. What amounts to a game of chicken between Gov. Terry Branstad and fellow Republican House leaders and Democratic Senate leaders grows more intense. A story filed by the Journal's Des Moines bureau surveyed state agencies for thoughts on a possible shutdown of state government.

At the risk of oversimplifying, here's our take on what's at the heart of this impasse:

Branstad wants a state budget of less than $6 billion and wants to stick to his guns on campaign promises of reduced state spending, improved budget practices and a stronger fiscal foundation for the long term. Republicans in the House support him. In the Senate, Democratic leaders believe the state can afford to give public education more money.

According to the Journal's Des Moines bureau, $100 million separates the two sides.

In our view, the state need not be pushed to the edge of the cliff before this gets done. In fact, if both sides would call a timeout to bad-mouthing one another, firing off e-mail statements, holding news conferences and scheduling hearings, they might recognize how close they truly are.

If our leaders would, in fact, concentrate more on the greater good of our state and less about saving political face, this could be over soon.