Civics 101 in 120 Seconds (ish) – Fiscal Committees (3 min)
Civics 101 in 120 Seconds (ish) is your straightforward guide through the often confounding legislative process.
Script:
Fiscal Committees are where bills go if they cost money
We are in a short session, but still go to a fiscal committee if costs money
Ways & Means
Appropriations
Capital Budget
Transportation
They decide: Does the state want to spend money on these great ideas?
Reason it follows policy committee is because the policy committee may not worry about the cost
EX. Every student gets a laptop, big screen and high speed internet
Great idea but fiscal committee may decide not to do all/part/any of that
Fiscal Committee also has to decide how to raise money to pay for it
This is with FEES & Taxes
Great idea we will fund it with a fee
A lot of the groups who want the idea are ok with the fee
Ex. Fisherman want improvements to a dock
We are willing to pay $5 docking fees to pay for it
You may not think people want to raise their own taxes but it actually does happen
Everything has got to be paid for
Unlike DC where they can print money and run deficits
Our state cannot do that -The Budget must be balanced
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