Discord Over Spending
in Concord
I've read the proposed amendment to the Concord, New Hampshire, city charter
and read it again. It looks like a fine, responsible attempt to limit
government growth.
But Paul Cavanaugh, Concord's city solicitor, has quite a different view. While
three state agencies have given the proposed amendment their go-ahead, he filed
an appeal, arguing that the amendment's spending cap would interfere with the
city's ability to pay for legally required welfare and public safety services.
On first blush, it seems he may have something. If you limit government growth
with a charter amendment, and the state still requires you to pay out certain
services, and there's an influx of people who ask for such services . . . what
do you do?
Well, you could develop a rainy day fund for just those services, to cover
unexpected demands. Or, perhaps, prioritize spending just a tad. Stop spending
so much on discretionary items so you have the funds to fulfill your
constitutional duties.
Yet the first thing that came to mind for Cavanaugh and Concord's politicians
was to block the citizens from voting on the spending limit. Force it off the
ballot.
Politicians! They will do anything, it seems, rather than spend wisely.
It's sad, really. Politicians hate saving. They hate not spending. Most of all,
they hate citizens control of their prodigal ways.
That's why it is citizens who should decide, directly.
This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob.
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Paul Jacob is President of Citizens in Charge and the Citizens in Charge
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