Paul Sanford Commends Governor Riley for Deficit Prevention Plan
12/16/2008

Paul Sanford, a Republican candidate for the state senate in the March 3rd special election, today said Governor Riley’s Deficit Prevention Plan is a viable option to help keep Alabama’s economy on track.

"Tough economic times demand bold leadership, and Governor Riley has stepped up to the plate with his deficit prevention proposal. He is doing for state government what Alabama families are doing—tightening our belts until there is light at the end of the tunnel," Sanford said.

On Monday, Governor Riley announced a three point Deficit Prevention Plan. The Governor is requiring state agencies to reduce spending by ten percent and education by 12.5 percent, which he said will cut non-education state spending by $200 million in this fiscal year. Under his plan, there will be a hiring freeze on state employees, a freeze on merit pay raises, stopping new vehicle purchases and curtailing travel expenses. The rainy day fund will be drawn down for education to ultimately reduce proration from 12.5 percent to nine percent.

"It's painful to see our state struggle financially, and tapping into the rainy day fund is not an easy decision; however, our local school systems would not be capable of absorbing such a tremendous shortfall in funding," Sanford said. "When elected, I will sponsor legislation that improves and streamlines the budgetary approach by using the prior year’s revenues as the basis point for all state spending the subsequent year," he added.

On December 11th, Paul Sanford announced his candidacy for the March 3rd special election Republican Primary to replace Parker Griffith who was elected to Congress in November. Mr. Sanford owns little Paul’s Barbecue in Huntsville. He and his wife, Danielle, have two children.