Governor Huckabee Says "Put Up or Shut Up!"

Imagine for a moment that you are in a financial bind. Your spending habits have suddenly exceeded your income and you are struggling to meet your monthly financial obligations. Maybe you recently lost your job or didn’t get that holiday bonus you were counting on. Would you think it a good idea to tighten your belt for a little while until things got better? The answer for most people is "yes."

This scenario is a reality for many today. National and state economies are officially in recession, American workers are experiencing massive layoffs or pay cuts and families are struggling to get by. Yet, elected officials in state houses across the country, faced with budget deficits, are turning to the idea of additional taxes and increased government spending as a way to cure budget woes and lead their states out of economic decline. Instead of cutting unnecessary amounts of spending to offset decline in tax revenues, these politicians are more concerned about keeping their coffers filled by increasing the tax burden on hard-working citizens at a time when they can least afford it.

Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R) has instituted a new program for those inflicted by this tax-and-spend mentality. On November 28, the governor challenged anyone demanding tax increases to contribute to his newly created "Tax Me More" fund at Arkansas’ Department of Finance and Administration. The fund was created so those who believe they should be paying more taxes can make a voluntary contribution that will ultimately go to the state’s general revenue fund. "There is nothing in the law that prohibits those who believe they aren’t paying enough taxes from writing a check to the state of Arkansas," Huckabee said. "Maybe this will make them feel better."

The governor said he won’t contribute to the fund because of his belief that he and other Arkansans already pay enough taxes. It’s not surprising that the majority of Arkansas citizens share his sentiment. So far, the fund has only received $483.82, the largest contributions being $100 from state Senator John Riggs (D-Little Rock), and $100 from Stacey Pittman, the head of a commission that advocates improving the state’s public school system. Both are vocal supporters of tax increases and are leading a verbal assault on Governor Huckabee for his novel approach to tax-and-spend advocates. The governor’s response to such criticism, "I’m having too much fun. The press is mad at me and some of the liberals in the legislature are furious and have resorted to name calling, but the people understand it."

The majority of contributions and letters that have come in to the fund have been humorous and supportive in nature. One lady from out of state contributed $1.78, and wrote she wanted to contribute more than most Arkansas legislators. "Go Arkansas! Go Mike Huckabee!" she wrote. "Send me a receipt." An Arkansas citizen used the opportunity to thank the governor for his commitment to lower taxes and went further to write, "Please let this letter service as an invoice to the Tax Me More Fund that I am owed $1,144.85 in overpayment of my fair share of taxes for the past year alone." He signed the letter, "Respectfully, humorously, yet sincerely yours."

In November, Governor Huckabee cut spending by $143 million this fiscal year and $160 million from next year’s budget — budget cuts mandated by Arkansas law to deal with economic shortfalls. He is doing what all state government officials should be doing to climb out of recession — decrease government spending and advocate for tax cuts.

Governors and state legislators across the nation faced with similar budget shortfalls should follow Governor Huckabee’s lead. Tax increases in a recession are gravely irresponsible, as they reduce consumer spending power. According to noted economist Charles Venus, "The multiplier for private spending is much greater than for public spending." In a time of economic downturn, "you don’t take that (spending power) away from consumers, you take it away from the government." Elected officials at both the state and federal levels need to do their part to increase consumer spending power by putting more money in the pockets of people through tax cuts and incentives, not tax increases. State governments need to tighten their belts.

For those of you who continue to push for tax increases and more government spending, your checks can be made out to: Tax Me More Fund, P.O. Box 8054, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203. To use the words of Governor Huckabee, "Put up or shut up."

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