OSKALOOSA — It was a close vote for this past week’s Question of the Week: Do you think 2010 will be better than 2009?

Sixteen — 55.17 percent said YES, IT WILL BE BETTER and 13 — 44.83 percent answered NO, MORE OF THE SAME.

The Question of the Week poll is not scientific and only reflects the opinions of those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The Question of the Week is just another way the Herald’s readers can voice their opinions about issues that affect them.

This week’s Question of the Week deals with this year’s state legislature.

The opening gavel falls Monday on the Iowa Legislature’s 2010 session. Lawmakers have their work cut out for them as they deal with a $500 million to $1 billion budget shortfall.

Gov. Chet Culver and Democratic legislative leaders have vowed to balance the budget without raising taxes. That means there will be big budget cuts this year.

A special commission named by Culver has recommended slashing $341 million from state spending by adopting a number of efficiencies, and leaders said initial action on that proposal could come during the first week, the Associated Press reported.

“They’ve got a bill that’s ready to go,” said House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque.

Democrats blame the budget shortfall on a deep national recession, while Republicans and their allies claim it’s due to years of overspending as Democrats expanded health care insurance, increased teacher pay and spent more on alternative energy programs, the AP reported.

Balancing the budget will be in the shadow of the upcoming November elections when all Iowa House members and half of Iowa state senators will be up for re-election. Will the budget come back to haunt lawmakers?

What do you think?

This week’s Question of the Week: Will state budget problems come back to haunt lawmakers?

People can vote on The Herald’s Web site, oskaloosa.com, from Monday through noon on Friday. Then, votes will be tallied and published the following Monday.