Individuals and government agencies have been living beyond their means in the last few years, and now its time to tighten the spending and cut out the waste. The problem we really have is we need to prioritize our spending. The lack of being able to appropriately set priorities is astounding. I hope for more sanity in the future.

With the tax surplus from prior years we will be fine. Now is the time to adjust the state budget in emergency mode in this special session. Now is the time for our wonderful republican controlled state government to show that they are different from our republican led national party, if they don't we as a state will be in the same boat as the federal greed driven politicians and country are. Lets see what your made of govenor and head republican.

Public and private equity, reserves and cash is at a point of crisis. $200 million does not begin to address portending obligations that will both broaden and steepen the cash crisis axis.

Utah isn't immune from eight years of Bush.

Your hatred for Bush is blocking your ability to recognize that the financial pitfall we are in is really the fault of Mr. Greenspan. NOT BUSH

Here is a suggestion that I am sure will be rejected:

CUT SPENDING!
DEEPLY!

"Utah isn't immune from eight years of Bush."
Or the Democrat-led Congress that must approve all federal government spending.

Viva Pelosi! Viva Matheson! 2 years on Democratic leadership and look what we have. Everyone knows that the president is mostly a figurehead and that Congress controls the country.

The Republican party of late has been nothing but words I love to hear and actions that I detest. Here's hoping our local GOP can live up to their promises better than their federal counterparts.

It would go a long way if the reddest of red states can show everyone what conservative OUGHT to mean (rather than the distorted version we've seen spreading like disease).

Instead of a special session, Huntsman should institute "holdbacks" by asking state departments to voluntarily reduce their budgets by 2-3% until the legislature meets in January and can refine the current year's budget. That way, state government can live within its means, lawmakers can focus on their re-election bids, and taxpayers don't have to pay the extra costs for a special session. Special sessions should be rare and deal with significant state issues. A budget shortfall can be carefully handled through a mid-course correction by the executive branch. Food for thought at least.

There is another article about the "carryover cash" that is supposed to be in abundance in the State. How about using some of these funds for the budget shortfall? Or better yet, improve the salaries and facilities for the education of our state's students. Some carryover cash is good, in the event of a crisis, just as we are admonished to have extra cash, food, etc. in our homes. But a huge surplus could be divided between wise savings, and wise disbursement.

The last round of tax cuts in Utah, gave back more to the well to do than the middle class, roll those tax cuts back.

We need roads, we need law enforcement, we need social services,

The next time there is a tax cut, do it more fairly.

Government has finally got the message, that living beyond your means and on predicted income is not a good way to run finances. Government should take a lesson from consumers, don't spend beyond your means or it will bite you every time. The best place to start in budget control is cutting social services and welfare. Those two aspects are individual responsibilities not government handouts to those too lazy or irresponsible to pay their own way. This includes cutting health care programs, food stamps, and progams designated for the poor, which in Utah is the illegal mexicans. Put the people back on their own designated responsibilities for their own personal care and needs. These programs only benefit and promote inflation and abuse of public funds. The second place to cut is get rid of government vehicles to government office workers. If transportation is needed their is the UTA, TRAX, and taxi's. We don't need government vehicles being used for shopping in malls and grocery stores. Government should take care of government needs and state obligations to the infrastructure of operating. Public roads, police, fire departments, courts, and emergency services are all that should be the responsibility of government.

Cut back all spending including education for the near future until we see where this national mess is going to lead us. Now is not the time to be spending wrecklessly. Tighten the budget PLEASE. People will get by. We have before and we can again. Get rid of the crooks in government and the people as always will pull the train. It's to bad the government leaders have blown up the engine.

...going to push for tax increases again?

This is the time for Gov Palin to speak up on the specifics she will apply to guide the country back to
economic confidence.

At least we are not Illinois, and still have not passed a state budget, and it is now September/October. Utah has its act together about getting a balanced budget, before we get to a normal legislative session

The first economic slowdown comes along and we cut healthcare spending?

I guess positive healthcare reform in Utah is officially dead.

Vote for Obama and hope for a national solution to the health crisis!

Citizens all over the start are hurting. Why should taxes be raised? I'm glad the legislature cut taxes, letting us keep for of our money to balance our family budgets. I would hope that they would look for more cuts to help bolster the economy.

Does getting rid of government vehicles also apply to the transportation of prisoners to court. I believe judges hold Corrections officials in contempt if the prisoner does not show up.
Why is education exempt? of all the areas that have the least amount of accountability to the tax payer that is education and my experience in the past has shown a their share of abuse of budgets.

We are two and half months into the fiscal year and by reading this story people think we are in the hole already. Not even close. All they are doing is projecting that by june 2009 we may be in the hole so we better do something 9 months in advance of that projection. Horrible time to raise panic and alarm when the sky is far, far from falling.

To Kory Holdaway, sorry the timing of this has to inconvenience you so much. But the priority for which you were elected is to deal with such problems, not to worry about how it may affect your re-election bid.

"Here is a Suggestion" has hit the nail on the head. During the last couple of years, we have had a $600 million budget surplus. With that money, tax cuts were instituted, hardly any of which went to the middle class (I noticed no material difference in my state tax return this year, and I'm sure most middle class readers had a similar experience). Roll back a portion of those cuts and the shortfall will be taken care of.

I am pleased that the governor is leaving education increases held harmless, although the article indicated that there was no guarantee for next year, and I suspect our legislature will roll back education funding before they roll back tax cuts for the wealthy.

I hoped that Utah would have learned from the Bush tax cuts. A surplus in good economic times cannot be relied upon to extend into perpetuity, and cutting taxes on businesses and the upper class does not fend off recessions. A better use of surplus moneys is to give education a shot in the arm as long as the surplus continues, which invariably doesn't last long.

This principle applies not only the the government, but to all of us: It's not what you make, it's what you spend.

1:42 am wrote "The last round of tax cuts in Utah, gave back more to the well to do than the middle class, roll those tax cuts back."

For all you "soak it to the rich" advocates out there, here is a look at some effects of the "progressive" tax structure our governments impose.

My wife and I had good paying jobs. We were busy individuals so we decided to "hire out" a lot of services. We ate at restaurants, had a yard service, had a housekeeper come in once a week, found a good day-care.

If we could hire someone else to do something for us and it cost less than we could earn during that same time, we tried to do it.

However, the progressive tax structure meant that we were earning less and less for each hour worked beyond a certain point. 50% of our earnings were going to taxes.

So my wife quit her job and we do ourselves most of that stuff we used to hire out. Our overall cash flow is about the same, but there are a lot of businesses and workers that make less from us.

Can the LOrd bless and prosper a nation, a people and a state who have forgotten fundamental principles and precedence ? LAW..

MOney answereth all things, Leviticus

Love of money is root of all evil.

Honesty and integrity are legs that we could walk on, and require of our representatives who are , by the way acting in our behalf, so if they are quilty and we do not remind them of their oathe , would we not be equally as quilty..

If getting our house in order means cleaning up our own, it means also cleaning up our legislative and senatorial house as well...
obedience and sustaining of constitutional law is what equality stands for..... and we should be willing to petition for recall, and let them know we have had enough of misrepresentation if both money and men.

We can restore the family and limited constitutional representation if we are willing to use the power of pen, petition and prayer for relief ( recall) from the usurpation and violations of those elected under a standard of order to Law
Limited constitutional republican government, that restored family as foundation, to be protected , not usurped by state.

This mess is caused by the deregulation of the banking and real estate industries. Who did that? The republican led congress during Clinton's final term. We have been giving home loans, and other types of loans to people who have no ability to make the payments. Why, so that the fat cats in those industries can turn a quick buck. How did they get away with it DERUGULATION. Was what they did crimininal, probably not, was it immoral absolutely, and don't blame Obama because he took money from the industry, the problem was started during a republican led congress with a republican idea. The democrats are not blameless either, because since they have been in power in congress they have done nothing to stop or change the bad policies established by the republicans. I am personally disgusted with both parties, and there is not a nickles worth of difference between them when it comes to honesty and caring about the American people. They aren't honest, and they don't care about the average American, they care about power, money and furthering their careers.

Get rid of the pet projects that don't affect the majority. We really only have basic needs that everyone should be paying for. Roads, education, law enforcement, and a few other basics that we all use should really be the only things we all pay for. Legislators, keep your pet projects away from our wallets. Follow these rules and there will be a surplus every year.

They have a rainy day fund of more than $400 Million.

For all the uneducated people out there, only, only the Congress of The United State can ok spending, not Pres. Bush. Get a life.. The more government get out the way the better off we are. The big babies out there need to learn to help themselfs. You know get a job work hard and make good choices is life.

What?
Tightening belts in Utah and U.S.?

Not long ago President Bush said the economy was fine and dandy.
Senator McCain echoed this nicety.

Why the sudden flip-flop?

LOL!

Stop spending when you don't need to. We have a "must buy" mentality. Stick to the basics for a while, build up a personal reserve. You don't need the latest cell phone, gadget, car or house - you really don't.

Wasn't it out of the mouth of Pres George to spend spend spend mmmmmmm good GOP advice for sure.

I just read that we have a surplus in revenue? I am confused? Why is the education the only ones that gets protected from cuts. The Law Enforcement agencies are continually left without enough to pay their employees

That is disgraceful to have that amount of leftover revenue, and still continue to leave our prisons understaffed due to extremely low pay, which in turn leaves the public at risk without enough officers to control inmates in or out of the prisons. Not to mention the financial struggle the officers families go thru, as well as the worry of the risk associated with the job. We should be ashamed of the way we compensate our law enforcement as well as our soldiers. Legislature stop filling your pockets and take care of the men and women who protect us each day from the violent people in our communities

President Bush told us the economy was robust (so did Senator McCain) - so , keep spending. It's good for the economy.

I thought it was about obese people getting thinner. Sounds like a good time to eat less and lose weight.

Some of you say the Bush-Wacker has not been the reason for this economy meltdown. Well does that mean we no longer need a President and V.P.? If not lets quit the squabble over the two tickets and eliminate the office, and concentrate on our state elected officials. We could save millions and millions that are spent on these ridiculous campaigns, and feel better about each other. Wonderful idea, I had never looked at it like that.

Stop whinning! It will do everyone good to tighten our belts, including myself! Count your blessings and go do something useful for someone else! Lets stop thinking only of ourselves! Most of us live like a King! We have nothing to complain about!

Sadly, as a Texan, it must be stated this started with Johnson's great Society of no poverty in America. Johnson passed through literally hundreds of bills in his five years in office. In all of this, the government was given more control over financial dealings in the Banking Industry. Nixon did nothing to attach oversight controls or to back out the government. When Carter came in, he instituted a demand on lending institutions that they either give a percent of risky loans in poor areas or be barred from any mergers or government low lending rates. They had to comply. In 1995, Clinton with Janet Reno put the Attorney General's office in charge of prosecuting any Banking Institution that did not grant loans in high risk or low income areas. Since then, many loans without baseline capital or collateral were made and not just within the U.S. In 1995, Senator John MCCain, not someone I adore, went to the Senate floor and denounce Democrats and Republicans for the impending disaster with the Loan and Banking Industry that he saw coming due to no oversight or controls. No one did anything. We now have a trillion dollar mess.

Sorry, I gave a wrong date on McCain's speech on the Senate floor. It was in 2005 and again, in 2006 he went and complained again. It is a matter of Public record if you chose to check out the history of this mess. Barney Franks of New York stated less than 6 months ago, that Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac were in fine shape. Mr. Franks(D) is the chair of the Banking Committee in Congress. He need to get another job- as of yesterday!

We don't need any new taxes on anyone right now. Yes, even the very rich. Who do you think control jobs and business? They will close shop and layoff and secure their money overseas. We need to go to 0% Capital Gain Tax. It is what mainland China did after it aquired Hong Kong from the British 10 years ago and their economy in Hong Kong is extremely robust. Remember, sale a house and pay capital gains on any extra money earned.- Bad idea: if you are trying to get out of a house debt without filing for bankruptcy. Our leaders need to let the industry dust settle and no new taxes. Finally, if we want to infuse 700 Billion dollars back into the US economy, we can become energy independent and quit sending those billions over to the Middle East and South American Communist countries. It would certainly be a good start to clean up the deep debt of this country. Start drilling off the coast and Anwar!

In reply to one comment in particular, Bob G.'s, Bring back the alms-houses and institutions for the disabled and physically unfit of society. According to him it would help to get rid of the social welfare programs and healthcare programs and food stamps for the lazy, irresponsible individuals of society. After all they are not human or fit for society. I wonder what an alms-house would look like since after being a fit working(teacher of middle school) person I became disabled, unable to work at any job and thus became lazy, irresponsible and dependent on social programs for my food, healthcare, and sub basics of life. This would greatly help the economy? Heil Hitler!