The National Taxpayers Union (NTU), a non-partisan citizen group with 362,000 members nationwide and nearly 2,500 members in Idaho, today commended Governor Butch Otter for his recent announcement that he would not entertain the idea of a tax increase to deal with his state's budget shortfalls. NTU's State Government Affairs Manager Joshua Culling was particularly pleased with Otter's announcement. In a letter to the Governor sent earlier this fall, Culling wrote, "a tax hike of any kind should be off the table. Instead, targeted spending cuts" should be enacted to deal with the budget crunch.
Just a few days ago, Governor Otter announced he would prioritize what the state should really be spending taxpayers' money on, such as education. "Many other states would be wise to embrace Governor Otter's philosophy as an example of a constructive approach toward tackling budget shortfalls," Culling explained. "Recognizing that a tax increase is never a way to help a faltering economy, Governor Otter chose sensibly to reassess and analyze what the proper role of a limited government should be."
"Governor Otter's actions demonstrate something that many Washington politicians often forget: when it comes to solving budget problems, there are other places to look than in people's already-thin pocketbooks," Culling continued. "Governor Otter's foresight serves as a reminder to politicians across the nation that places exist within any government budget to make prudent cuts. NTU stands behind Governor Otter and his staff as they develop a fiscal policy that will help the state and its citizens prosper for years to come," Culling concluded. NTU is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom at all levels. Note: More information on state fiscal policy is available at www.ntu.org.