Rep. Brad Dee

We are now in the budget intensive part of the annual legislative session.

This past week we received new revenue projections that we will use to finalize the budget. Early in the session, we "pencil" in the budget numbers based on the December 2011 projections. These new numbers are more accurate and will allow us to do the final work of balancing the budget.

KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!

Anyone remember hearing constant KABOOMs last July as we celebrated Independence Day and Pioneer Day?

Sometimes in the media, it is reported that the Legislature and public education officials don't seem to be seeing eye-to-eye on public policy related to our schools. As in any public policy debate, there are always differences of opinion, but in reality everyone should be partners in public education efforts.

Rather than have an adversarial relationship, I have asked my colleagues in the Legislature to join with educators and other champions of public education to focus on our common goal of preparing students. I'm particularly excited this year about a bill that has both legislative and the State Board of Education support that offers a new way to help prepare students for graduation and the world of opportunities ahead of them.

For the past few years, I have written an annual pre-session article discussing the state budget and various hot button issues. The budget news for the past few years has been depressing by even the most generous of standards. Even though I think the state did a great job making wise budget decisions during trying times, it didn't make it any easier to be the bearer of bad news in articles about the budget.

This year the opening budget news is positive! The projections are checked and revised throughout the year, but for several quarters the estimates have continued to move in a positive direction. Early estimates show state revenues up by $400 million over last year ($128 million from one-time revenue sources and $280 million from ongoing sources).

During the session, I often get e-mails and calls from constituents urging me to vote this way or that way on a particular issue. Sometimes I even get feedback from folks after the fact that think I voted on the wrong side of an issue and wonder what on earth I could possibly have been thinking! The considerations that go into a vote are many and varied, but the most important consideration is you.

The Legislature considers nearly 1,000 bills every year in the short timeframe of 45 days. I employ a range of strategies to help me get a sense of how the communities I represent feel about the issues of the day. Obviously not everyone is united on a course of action, so one of the most important factors I consider when casting a vote is the feedback from my pre-session legislative surveys. Each year, before the session begins, I compile a list of questions on the hot topics that are expected to come before the Legislature and ask my constituents to let me know what they think. This year I asked about topics ranging from possible budget cuts to liquor licenses to immigration reform. I would like to thank everyone that took the time to complete and return the survey.

There has been a lot of talk this legislative session about immigration reform. I don't think anyone would dispute that our immigration system is broken and deeply flawed, but there is quite a bit of disagreement about how to fix it, who should fix it and what to do next.

The easy part of government is to identify the problem -- the hard part is to identify a solution. Whether you agree or disagree with the various immigration reform bills proposed this year, one needs to respect the individuals that have dedicated their time to generating possible solutions. It isn't an easy job to imagine something better and then draft laws to make it so.

For better or worse, this year's hottest hot topic at the Legislature appears to be immigration. This issue has simmered for many years, sometimes hitting boiling points such as when the state instituted a requirement that undocumented immigrants receive a driving privilege card rather than a drivers' license a few years ago. Illegal immigration could be more easily addressed at the federal level, but unfortunately, the federal government lacks the courage and political leadership to do so, leaving the issue to the states to handle as they may.