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Henry Gives Alario Indigestion

Mark Carroll

Cameron Henry brought his budget cutting bill before the Senate Finance Committee yesterday, and Senate President John Alario cross-examined the Appropriations Committee chairman about the mood of the House.

“You see any more appetite in the House for making much more cuts at this point?” Alario asked during the hearing on HB 122.

“I think members are going to continue to work through that process because we need to,” Henry responded, “Assuming that you-all don’t send us an absolutely perfect bill.”

Alario didn’t rise to the bait of that statement. Instead he probed deeper into the thinking behind what the House will -- or will not -- do.

“Do you think we’ll be able to close all the gap with just cuts then, based on – you think there’ll be a need for some additional revenues?” Alario inquired.

“I think regardless of the amount of money we send, we’re still going to have a deficit, to be perfectly honest with you,” Henry responded. “I think that we’ll be rolling some of this over to next year, just based on the time that we have, the will of both bodies—whether it’s the will to cut more, to raise more. I think that’s the feel of where things seem to be.”

Though he kept an even tone, Alario was clearly taken aback by Henry’s attitude about kicking the can down the road, into the next fiscal year.

“Rolling a deficit into next year when we’re looking at a $2-billion shortfall already, that doesn’t make any sense,” Alario remonstrated. “We have an opportunity to fix that now, and I’m suggesting to you that we do that.”

“I’m not suggesting that we don’t,” Henry said defensively. “But I’m trying to let everyone know exactly the position that we’re in, both on this side and the other side.”

Shaking his head, Alario said, “I can’t imagine what the bond-rating agencies would think if we continue to roll a deficit into another year. To even put that on the table, I think – it gives me a stomach ache. To tell you the truth, I’m getting ready to go throw up!”

The Senate Finance Committee postponed voting on Henry’s bill, deciding to take some time to digest the situation first.

In response, the full House postponed its votes on raising cigarette and alcoholic beverage taxes, which had been on the docket for Monday’s floor session.