Read his lips.
Gov. Gary Herbert pledged Thursday not to raise taxes next year, despite a looming budget shortfall.
"I think raising taxes at a time of economic downturn is absolutely the wrong thing to do. We want to grow the economy," Herbert said during his first appearance on the governor's monthly news conference on KUED Ch. 7.
The new governor, who took office Aug. 11 after former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. resigned to become U.S. ambassador to China, said he believes the budget can be balanced without any tax increases.
However, Herbert stopped short of promising to veto any budget from the 2010 Legislature that includes tax increases. The state is facing an anticipated $700 million shortfall in the budget year that begins July 1, 2010.
To close that gap, some GOP lawmakers are already talking about a tax increase of $100 million, new money that would come from several sources, including increasing taxes on tobacco and alcohol.
"I don't think we need to think, 'Oh my gosh, the sky is falling' and raise taxes and have a counterproductive measure that may be stifling economic growth," Herbert said.
He warned higher taxes of any kind could further depress the economy, just at the time when it appears to be ready to rebound.
"I guess we can always target somebody," Herbert said. But he said he would not sacrifice the long-term health of the economy. "The principles are what's going to guide me, not the fact that this is something that is politically expedient," the governor said.
Herbert said the state needs to rely on finding new "efficiencies" in the budget, as well as using at least some of the so-called "Rainy Day Fund," now at $419 million, and the $100 million also set aside for education.
"That's what the Rainy Day Fund is for. It's raining out there," Herbert said, adding it would be unwise to use up all of those funds, especially if it impacts the state's AAA bond rating.
He would not, however, guarantee Utahns wouldn't see any tax increases next year. "There's a lot of what-ifs, so it would be premature for me to say anything regarding vetoes," Herbert said.
His fellow Republicans in the Legislature aren't eager to raise taxes.
"We're just exploring all the options. It's way early," said Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville. "If we can do without a tax increase, I'll be voting with him."
Waddoups, though, said he doubted he could secure enough votes in the Senate to defeat a tobacco-tax increase.
Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, said talk of tax increases is just a place to start.
"The primary discussion has to be about government programs, and are we trying to operate a government we can't afford," Killpack said. "A lot of people want to focus in on the $100 million tax increase. What we fail to mention here is if we continue to provide the same level of services as we currently have, we're going to have to raise taxes. I'm not convinced we have to do that."
The governor's budget is due in December, and the legislative session starts in January. While this will be Herbert's first budget as governor, it's also his last before he has to run next November for the remainder of Huntsman's term.
Also Thursday, Herbert said again he plans to convene a conference on global warming so Utahns can hear from both skeptics and believers.
Herbert first announced in June that he wanted the state to host such a debate, after he questioned the evidence for global warming during the Western Governors Association meeting in Park City. The association, which had been led by Huntsman, backs regional and national efforts to combat climate change.
Herbert said he expects to announce details of the event in the next month.
"I'm not taking a position on man-caused global warming, the impact we have. I think science needs to have that discussion and debate," he said. "Clearly, as we see the marketplace, that debate is not over."
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