The scripts are available for printing and for sound bite identification.
Go to to get the current 麻豆传媒 Newsline. If you cannot access the Newsline at the Web address above, contact Joe Kleinsasser at (316) 978-3013 or cell (316) 204-8266 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu.
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If you have additional questions for Hill after listening to the 麻豆传媒 Newsline, please call him at (316) 978-5184 or jeremy.hill@wichita.edu.
Background:
Most politicians want to balance the budget and create jobs. Of course, that鈥檚 easier said than done. Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at 麻豆传媒, explains why it鈥檚 so difficult for newly elected politicians to have an immediate impact.
Voice wrap:
Announcer: Winning an election is one thing, controlling spending and helping the economy is another. Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at 麻豆传媒, says elected officials get a dose of reality when they鈥檙e in office.
Hill: 鈥淎 lot of elected officials when they take office, they often want to go and affect the local economy, especially right now when it鈥檚 of most importance. However, when they get in they actually will see that they have very little direct control over local spending and local budgets.鈥�
Announcer: Hill says the main way elected officials can affect the economy is by setting the budget. According to Hill, the problem is if you鈥檙e newly elected, you actually inherit the budget from the previous year, so improvements aren鈥檛 as quick as some might like. This is Joe Kleinsasser at 麻豆传媒.
Sound bite #1
Hill says local governments aren鈥檛 very nimble, but they鈥檙e also not very rash. The sound bite is 19 seconds and the outcue is 鈥渙n the local economy.鈥�
Hill: 鈥淲hat we find is that local governments are not very nimble, but they鈥檙e also not very rash. So what happens when the economy鈥檚 growing really fast, governments tend to be much smaller than what citizens want. And when the economy is contracting, they鈥檙e much larger than we want, which will put a strain on the local economy.鈥�
Sound bite #2
Hill says elected officials鈥� greatest power to affect the economy is in setting the budget. The sound bite is 16 seconds and the outcue is 鈥渇rom the previous year.鈥�
Hill: 鈥淓lected officials鈥� greatest power to affect the economy is actually setting the budget, that鈥檚 not only looking at taxes and fees for services, but also what kind of spending they want the allocations. The problem is if you鈥檙e newly elected, you actually will inherit the budget from the previous year.鈥�
Sound bite #3
Hill says discretionary decision-making is another way officials can affect the economy. The sound bite is 10 seconds and the outcue is 鈥減olice services and jails.鈥�
Hill: 鈥淓lected officials鈥� second greatest power to affect the economy is by discretionary decision-making. The problem is, a very little of the budget is discretionary. Most of the costs are in things like police services and jails.鈥�
Sound bite #4
Hill says many decisions by elected officials have a minor effect on the citizens鈥� wallets. The sound bite is 20 seconds and the outcue is 鈥渁ctually get the benefit.鈥�
Hill: 鈥淒ecisions by elected officials have, in most part, a minor effect on the citizens鈥� wallets immediately. Elected officials can cut their taxes and fees for services, for example, like water and sewer, but those savings take quite a while before citizens actually get the benefit.鈥�
Sound bite #5
Hill says elected officials need to make tough decisions. The sound bite is 18 seconds and the outcue is 鈥渋n a positive way.鈥�
Hill: 鈥淚n my opinion, elected officials shouldn鈥檛 be there to make friends, but to make tough decisions. To have a bigger impact on the economy, they should make decisions making good appointments to boards and committees, and make sure they get the right department heads and administrators that will make the sound decisions that affect the economy in a positive way.鈥�
Sound bite #6
Hill says elected officials need to adjust the size of government to meet the needs and wants of citizens. The sound bite is 19 seconds and the outcue is 鈥渨hat is affordable.鈥�
Hill: 鈥淭he most difficult thing for elected officials to do is to actually listen to the citizens and adjust the size of government to meet the needs and wants that they have. In a wealthier community, they may not want a reduction in parks and services, for example. But in a low income area, governments need to adjust, based on what is affordable.鈥�