Governor says tougher standards are needed for the budget

Governor Vilsack says he wants to adopt tough new standards for the state to use in developing its annual budget. Vilsack will ask the Legislature to pass the “Accountable Government Act” which would require strategic planning and performance audits. Vilsack says decisions are now made in state government based on which party has control. Vilsack says Republicans generally push for tax cuts, while Democrats push for spending increases. Vilsack says if lawmakers have hard data on how each program is funded, it would be easier for them to choose which ones deserve to continue and which ones deserve to be cut. Republicans would like to approve some sort of tax cut this year, but Vilsack isn’t ready to commit one way or the other. Vilsack made his comments at a meeting of the Iowa Taxpayers Association.