Governor Vilsack today announced a package of 30-million dollars in budget cuts for the coming fiscal year. Vilsack says the state can’t continue on its current spending path.Vilsack’s proposed cuts consist of projected savings on various government programs, a slowdown in the hiring of new state workers and even cuts within the Governor’s own office. Vilsack is concerned about taxes and the take-home pay of Hawkeye State residents.Vilsack says the state walks a fine line — and MUST continue to provide support for schools, health care, nursing homes and public safety. He says the state can’t afford to cut back on environmental spending — adding — 159 Iowa waterways were labeled as “impaired” in the last year.Vilsack says Iowa needs to focus on what it does best to lure new residents and tourists.Legislators and the governor have been negoitiating over budget issues. House Speaker Brent Siegrist, a republican from Council Bluffs, says he likes what he’s seen so far from the Governor’s proposals.Siegrist says the legislative session will begin January 10th with essentially no “new” money to spend.Vilsack says he deliberately worked to assure the cuts “do not lay off workers or affect front-line services for Iowans.”
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