"This independent report clearly indicates that while we may differ among ourselves in government about what to spend money on, we have one of the most reliable and non-political processes for agreeing on how much money there is. We don't play games with the numbers"
About this Quote
Ruth Ann Minner draws a bright line between politics and arithmetic. Disputes over priorities are normal and even healthy in a democracy; they reveal values and force tradeoffs into the open. But when the baseline itself becomes a partisan battleground, trust collapses and budgets turn into theater. Her insistence that the state has a reliable and non-political way to decide how much money there is elevates a key principle of sound governance: argue about what to do with the resources, not about whether the resources exist.
As governor of Delaware, Minner could point to the state’s consensus revenue process, anchored by the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, a nonpartisan body that sets the official revenue estimate. That structure is designed to separate technical forecasting from legislative bargaining. It is also the quiet backbone of Delaware’s reputation for fiscal discipline and stable credit, especially important in a small state that must balance its budget and cannot wish away shortfalls. When she says, “We don’t play games with the numbers,” she invokes a norm against rosy forecasts, one-time gimmicks, or shifting liabilities out of sight to make budgets appear balanced.
The stakes are practical as well as ethical. Inflated projections delight in the short term and devastate later, forcing midyear cuts, deferred maintenance, or emergency tax hikes when reality catches up. An independent forecast pins elected officials to a shared reality, making it easier to hold them accountable for the priorities they choose rather than the assumptions they manipulate. It also helps the public follow the debate: if everyone accepts the same top line, the conversation moves to schools versus roads, safety nets versus tax relief, not dueling spreadsheets.
Minner’s point travels beyond Delaware. Institutions that keep the numbers honest create room for principled disagreement without cynicism. Facts first, politics after, is not a surrender of values; it is the condition that allows values to be debated credibly.
As governor of Delaware, Minner could point to the state’s consensus revenue process, anchored by the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, a nonpartisan body that sets the official revenue estimate. That structure is designed to separate technical forecasting from legislative bargaining. It is also the quiet backbone of Delaware’s reputation for fiscal discipline and stable credit, especially important in a small state that must balance its budget and cannot wish away shortfalls. When she says, “We don’t play games with the numbers,” she invokes a norm against rosy forecasts, one-time gimmicks, or shifting liabilities out of sight to make budgets appear balanced.
The stakes are practical as well as ethical. Inflated projections delight in the short term and devastate later, forcing midyear cuts, deferred maintenance, or emergency tax hikes when reality catches up. An independent forecast pins elected officials to a shared reality, making it easier to hold them accountable for the priorities they choose rather than the assumptions they manipulate. It also helps the public follow the debate: if everyone accepts the same top line, the conversation moves to schools versus roads, safety nets versus tax relief, not dueling spreadsheets.
Minner’s point travels beyond Delaware. Institutions that keep the numbers honest create room for principled disagreement without cynicism. Facts first, politics after, is not a surrender of values; it is the condition that allows values to be debated credibly.
Quote Details
| Topic | Money |
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