Rep. Kathy Webb: Budget Priorities & Party Lines

Editor’s Note: Rep. Kathy Webb (D-Little Rock) is co-chair of the powerful Joint Budget Committee. In the 2012 fiscal session, she and her counterpart, Sen. Gilbert Baker (R-Conway), will both do a lot of heavy lifting to keep state government properly funded and operational. What are her priorities? We asked Rep. Webb to share her thoughts in this op-ed which appears in the latest issue of Talk Business Quarterly (available today).

As we approach the beginning of the second fiscal session in Arkansas history, I hope lawmakers and others will come to the capitol focused on doing the business of the people. This is a serious undertaking, and while budgets are political by nature, the budget should not be held up by partisan politics.

Sen. Gilbert Baker, my Senate counterpart, and I have worked with a Joint Budget Committee that has continued a long tradition of conservative budgeting. This has resulted in our being a model for the nation.

During this severe economic downturn, we are one of a handful of states both to balance our budget and cut taxes, without cutting needed services to Arkansans. I might have chosen different taxes to cut, which I believe would have put more spending power in the hands of the middle class and working families, and local communities as the money was reinvested locally. However, we worked across party lines and came up with some reasonable compromises.

Our recovery has been slow, and will continue to be slow. Although the forecast for FY 2013 is largely flat, with an expected net available revenue of $4.7 billion, there are several key items on which to focus as we approach the session.

First, I believe we need to adhere to what we have been instructed to do by the court and by law, and adequately fund education. During the last few years, we have made great strides in education, moving from near last in the country to 6th. Sixth! Based on the Governor’s December 1 forecast, I believe we will be able to fulfill our obligations in this key area.

Second, I hope and expect that we will use surplus dollars to fill any holes in Medicaid, and, perhaps corrections and community corrections. Other than that, I see no room for growth.

However, we must be vigilant about federal budget cuts coming in FY 13, and be prepared to make the hard choices that might be demanded to fill gaps.

Third, it is important that we focus on job creation, even in the fiscal session. Two of the key elements of job creation are education and an adequately trained workforce. It is our

responsibility to make sure taxpayers are getting their money’s worth and that every program offered in workforce training meets the needs of 21st Century workers. I expect legislators to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, and that includes asking the hard questions during budget hearings and session.

Fourth, I hope we will continue to work across party lines and build consensus on budget matters. House Speaker Robert Moore challenged us to put labels aside when we convened last January and govern from the middle.

For the most part, I believe we did.

I strongly believe it’s what the majority of the people expect and want. While we are elected in partisan races, we must govern in a non-partisan manner for the good of all Arkansans.

Rep. Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock, represents House District 37.