From the Union Leader…
We are told — always by proponents of big government — that government can restrain its own spending; all voters need to do is elect the right people.
History shows otherwise.
Exhibit A: The Republican Revolution of 1994.
In New Hampshire, the past six years provide another great example. In August of 2002, Craig Benson proposed a Taxpayer Bill of Rights. It would have held the growth of state spending to no more than the rate of inflation plus population growth (just like the proposed Manchester spending cap would).
Members of the House rejected Benson’s cap (just as eight Democratic Manchester aldermen are trying to kill the city spending cap).
Look what happened just a few years later. Gov. John Lynch and Democratic state legislators increased state general fund spending by 17.5 percent — the largest increase in two decades. To help pay for the spending, they raised numerous taxes and fees.
Derry, Franklin, Laconia and Nashua all have tax or spending caps. Their governments have not collapsed. In fact, they have been forced to spend more frugally. What in the world is wrong with that?
Government spending will never be controlled unless elected officials are forced by the people to control it. Elections are insufficient safeguards. Tax and spending caps have been shown to do the trick. Which is why the powers that be at city hall are fighting so vigorously to prevent the people of Manchester from implementing one.