PIERRE - Sen. Jerry Apa, R-Lead, told reporters Thursday he was "upset" and "insulted" by Gov. Mike Rounds' suggestion that the Joint Appropriations Committee had inflated revenue estimates for the coming year.

"That was an honest projection by our subcommittee," Apa said in a short news conference. "We don't go in there inflating numbers because we know that is morally and ethically wrong."

Apa added, "I disagree vehemently with what the governor said about the Appropriations Committee and I take it as a personal insult."

Rounds later said he hadn't meant to insult Apa. "That was not the intent of my message," Rounds said. "Sen. Apa has been known as a fairly conservative legislator.

But the governor reiterated his criticism of the Appropriation Committee's revenue projection for fiscal 2009, which was $11 million higher than the projection by the Bureau of Finance and Management. "I don't believe that their numbers are as solid as some of them would like us to believe."

Rounds has warned that if the state's economy slows down, the state could run a deficit if the Legislature's revenue projection was too high.

Apa said he was more optimistic about the economy. "When we're continually bad mouthing the economy, what kind of message does that send to our constituents," he said.

Apa said Congress and President Bush created a stimulus package to forestall a recession.

The Appropriations Committee projected $1.195 billion in ongoing revenue for fiscal 2009. The Rounds administration predicted $1.184 billion.

Rounds said the Appropriations Committee's projections for fiscal 2008 likely will come up short. "This is the time for the Legislature to be fiscally conservative," he said.

Contact Bill Harlan at 394-8424 or at bill.harlan@rapidcityjournal.com

Contact Bill Harlan at 394-8424 or bill.harlan@rapidcityjournal.com