For all the energy devoted to it, Governor Storm Abernathy(D) found the annual harangue over the state budget the most unsatisfying part of his job. He understood that it was the one job requirement each year, that gave governors and lawmakers the chance to put their stamp on public policy – to have an affect on the state’s history – but from a political point of view he saw it as nothing more than an instrument of the bureaucracy.
Politicians could only affect the debate at the edges. Most of the budget was spoken for and the main goal of any politician was to keep the thing in balance without raising taxes, or cutting some program people would notice. In that regard, it was a trap. Especially in tight times like these.
In one of his first meetings after taking office, Morris Houck, the governor’s budget director, gave Storm a briefing on the state’s finances. As usual, they were in an advanced state of disarray. Held together with the political bubble gum of phantom savings and overly optimistic revenue estimates. His first job would be to present the legislature with a plan that looked as if it was balanced on the first day of the legislative session.
More than most, Storm understood that his plan only had to be good for that one day, because a budget is nothing more than a plan. But for the first time, since his time as mayor, he once again felt the responsibility of the executive branch to come up with a budget that was more than smoke and mirrors. And as a candidate, he wanted to use it as a means to present an Abernathy vision for the next five years.
Looking at the charts of red ink Houck had presented him, Storm leaned back in his high back leather chair, out of a stream of sunlight that had been creeping into the room. “Remember in the movie Dave when Kevin Kline is president and he asks his friend the accountant to go through the budget and look for savings? Why can’t we do that?”
“We can governor,” Houck said. “We could start by eliminating funding for the nursing home industry and give money directly to people for taking care of their parents at home. Then we can put tolls on all the highways and bridges. We can contract out snow plow services and get rid of half of the DOT. There’s all kinds of stuff like that we could do, but it would be a Hell of a fight. To start with, people don’t want to take care of their parents at home.”
“Wow. How long have you been doing this job,” Storm asked with a smile meant to note Houck’s cynicism?
“Too long I guess, but every day I come in I say to myself this might be the day when we actually do it right. It’s like Groundhog Day.”
“And you’ve never gotten Andie MacDowell,” Storm said.
“No sir, I regret to report I’ve never even met her, but it is on my bucket list if my divorce comes through.”
There was laughter in the room, in part because everyone there understood the absurdity of the moment. They had all been entrusted to lead the state and instead they were talking about movie trivia. And in part, because they understood Storm had some tough decisions to make and they were using small talk to put off those decisions as long as possible.
Mary Ann Watson, Storm’s chief of staff, ended the silliness by boiling down the choices. “So governor, the choices are these, and before I begin, might I say they all suck: To close a budget gap of $513 million you can cut it all across the board, but particularly in education. You can cut about half and raise the cigarette tax by 10 cents a pack and eliminate the car tax credit. Or we can freeze spending at last year’s levels, raise the gas tax and some users’ fees and hope for an increase in revenues next year. We can claim about $200 million is coming our way as part of national healthcare.”
Storm looked at the numbers and considered his options. He noticed they were now framed as “his choices.” When he and his staff met on less controversial issues it was always about what “we could do.” When the choices were harder it was about “What he could do.”
More than anything, he wanted to be taken seriously. He didn’t want to raise taxes. He didn’t want to cut any programs. He did want to put forward a program, a set of new ideas that would cost money. So he needed to come up with some combination of new spending, dedicated taxes and spending cuts that would allow him to make an argument the voters would buy.
He was not content to paper over the deficit until after the election. He was willing to lose for the chance to put his stamp on state history. He needed more time with the numbers and his thoughts to come up with the right mix.
“Ok everyone, let’s get back together around this time tomorrow and I’ll have some ideas for you.”
