GOP: DEMS VIOLATE RAINY DAY FUND LAW

The House Democrats tonight violated the law and public trust by trying to raid the state's rainy day fund with a simple majority vote when state law clearly requires a 2/3 majority in order to use the fund. House Democrats attempted to use the fund to pay for computers and textbooks, which do not meet the requirements and the intent of the state statute, House Republican leaders said.

"When the rainy day fund was created two years ago, we promised the public this fund would be used for emergencies essential to the public's health, safety and welfare, or to restore facilities destroyed by a disaster, or to counter economic downturns. And because it would only be used under these extreme conditions, we also enacted into law the requirement for a 2/3 vote of the legislature for approval to use these funds," said Galen Fox, House Republican Leader. "Money for computers and textbooks clearly should be from the general fund and not the rainy day fund, but when they did not have the 2/3 vote, they violated the law and tried to pass it anyway with a simple majority."

Democrats claimed the law enacted two years ago requiring a 2/3 vote was not binding on this year's legislature and moved to pass the two bills. A recess was called after Republicans protested and a heated floor argument ensued.

Realizing their position stood on shaky ground, and after earlier voting down an amendment by Rep. Ed Case to fund the two programs from the general fund, Democrats moved to recommit both bills back to the Committee on Finance, effectively killing the measure.

"We asked them to fund this properly and they had their chance to make it right, but they insisted on moving towards a dead end and now two bills that have merit and need to progress are dead," said David Pendleton, Republican Floor Leader. "We are pleased that the House Republican Caucus was able to force the Democrats to live up to the legislative commitment not to use the rainy day fund inappropriately. Now we can fund these textbooks and computers properly through the General Fund"

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