State Representative Don Tripp

First, Let Me Thank You for the Honor of Serving as Your State Representative...

Special Session Update...

The current budget crisis 'solutions' passed in the special session have failed to address the core problems. The reductions in government fell short of what was needed and what was most upsetting was the unnecessarily high cuts to senior's programs. In addition to the lack of balance in the cuts, the Bill is using non-recurring revenues to cover recurring expenses. That is just postponing the inevitable. There were even bond authorized, which amounts to borrowing money against a future lacking the promise to reasonably retire the debt. All this means that, while this special session avoided raising taxes, the general session will see many tax increases proposed. I voted against this Bill because it offered no real answers to the crisis and I will vote against tax raises in the general session. Government, like the rest of us needs to act responsibly during these difficult times.