Cavaletto Questions Constitutionality of Proposed State Budget

Area St. Rep. John Cavaletto said he and his fellow Republicans Thursday fought against over 70 new bills proposed Democrats that he says expanded state budget expenditures beyond the agreed-upon revenue estimate.

With about $3 billion being spent over the initial balanced agreement of $34.495 billion, Cavaletto said the new proposed budget indicates that the tax increase of 2011, sold as being temporary, will continue in order to, in his words, "satisfy the majority party's need to overspend taxpayer money."

Cavaletto said, "This budget is clearly unconstitutional and a clear violation of our state's balanced budget requirement."

Cavaletto has a petition on his website, www.johncavaletto.org, to eliminate the 2011 tax increase and encourage less spending than is being proposed.