The Legislature made substantial changes in last year's state budget to avoid these pitfalls. I urge you to do the same thing this year. We have begun a similar analysis of this year's proposals. In the meantime, we are happy to provide you with copies of last year's report. One of the instant solutions currently proposed at both the federal and state level is the block grant.
Block grants can be an improvement when they free cities and counties from onerous mandates.
However, they are dangerous if they are used solely and simply to cut state spending while shifting more responsibilities and costs to cities and counties. Unfortunately, I think that in most cases at the federal and state level, block grants are being proposed purely to cut spending. As we begin to discuss this budget, we have to reject the premise that there iis only one way to change and if you oppose that one way you are a defender of the status quo. The only purpose of that argument is to inhibit debate and silence opposition. If a proposal for change is strong and effective, one should be able to defend it on its merits.