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Promises, promises
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Posted on Oct 26 2005
As election day approaches, we have seen the candidates make promises to bring back “the pork barrel” days of past years: the Earned Income Credit, prompt payment of tax rebates, salary increases, or CUC bills without a fuel surcharge. There were times when government revenue was close to $270 million and those promises could be realized. Today, however, and in the foreseeable future, because of the downtrend in the global economy, government revenue cannot support those programs without cutting other essential public services. The promises of better days through government subsidy hold no water.
I would estimate that a renewed EIC program, immediate payment of tax refunds, salary increase and elimination of the fuel surcharge would cost the government close to $75 million a year. It is easy for any candidate to make promises. Can they deliver on funding to make good their campaign promises? None of the candidates that have promised us these things have shown us a concrete financial plan on how they will do it. Even if a new investor immediately threw millions of dollars into our local economy, tough choices would need to be made if we want to bring back the EIC and get rid of the fuel surcharge. Show me how we will do this.
Our governor has delivered and made real accomplishments over the past four years. Those promises of the other candidates are only that, promises.
Sid Kani
Tanapag
