Rep. Sara
Wojcicki Jimenez (R-Springfield) this week joined several representatives in
co-sponsoring a bill which would withhold the salaries of legislators and
statewide elected officials if a non-balanced budget is enacted. Legislators
would not get their paychecks until a balanced budget is passed.
“I believe this
would be a big step toward preventing the sort of months-long budget standoff
that we are enduring now from ever happening again,” Jimenez said.
The bill, House Bill 4399, would require the Auditor
General to certify that an enacted budget is truly balanced. If it is not, the
legislature would be required to meet within 10 days to pass a balanced budget,
and legislators would not get paid until they did so.
The legislation
is sponsored by Rep. Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth).
