Republicans propose a budget at odds with governor

Republicans in the legislature have developed an approximately five billion dollar state government spending plan for next year. In addition to general state tax revenues like the sales and income taxes, the budget spends the taxes from Iowa’s gambling casinoes as well as the 55-million dollars the state will be paid by cigarette makers. House Speaker Brent Siegrist, republican from Council Bluffs, says the G-O-P will NOT accept many of democrat Governor Vilsack’s spending proposals. Siegrist says the governor will complain about “priorities and choices.” Siegris says these are the republicans’ priorities and choices and they want to spend responsibly to keep from having to make cuts next year.Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson, a farmer from Dows, says the budget plan leaves a little “wiggle room” in case the farm economy goes sour.The Republicans say they intend to enact some tax cuts, but can’t say how much will be cut or even which taxes will be cut. Republicans say their budget outline would increase general state spending by about two-point-three percent next year.