Guest blog: A week in the States chamber

BBC Jersey's political reporter, Christie Tuckers, had the pleasure of spending a week sitting in a small box looking down on Jersey's politicians as they debated next years budget.

She has shared some of the highlights, lowlights and more "interesting" aspects of her five day ... experience.

Here is her diary

Manana, chocolate body paint and zero ten. The political consultancy work of Jersey's jewellers. And three little letters that take three days to decide.

The 2011 budget debate has been a fiscal safari of epic proportions. Members had yet another chance to take sales tax off food (and failed again), and had an opportunity to freeze it at 3% (they didn't do that either).

As a political reporter I sat looking down on your elected members for every dazzling minute of their week in the States.

As I emerge blinking from a haze of political rhetoric and economic uncertainty, as I rub the indentations of my keyboard from my forehead, this is the week in brief as I remember it.

Day One: Monday December 6, 2010

Members meet Monday afternoon to finish with question time so they can start fresh on the big budget debate on Tuesday morning at 9:30.

The afternoon starts with an unexpected apology to all victims of abuse in Jersey care homes. Members don't quite know how to react.

It overshadows a number of other big stories, including the fact that the island is close to re-signing a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, and the Health and Social Services department has four point four million pounds unspent in its budget for this year.

They seem to be bracing themselves for the big economic issues of the week.

Day Two: Tuesday December 7, 2010

The budget debate begins, with a carefully-crafted speech from the Treasury and Resources Minister laying out the key messages: the economy is bad, but will be getting better, everyone will have to contribute to filling the deficit, and the government's plan is a package of measures to help Jersey through the "great recession".

But the minister is accused of producing a "manana" budget (meaning tomorrow in Spanish), putting off decisions that should be made today.

Deputy Wimberley tries to introduce an "alternative budget" to cancel the spending cuts, speaks for 75 minutes, and is defeated. He immediately starts working on his GST speech.

Day Three: Wednesday December 8, 2010

GST day, part one! This is the day members really get in to their stride, discussing whether to freeze GST at 3% for a year, or six months, or not at all.

There's an amendment to an amendment which is agreed, and then rejected. Mass confusion ensues, and the bailiff has to spend a bit of time explaining it all.

Senator Francis Le Gresley tries to boost support for the freeze by withdrawing his own suggestion to raise GST to 4% instead of five.

Strangely, it emerges that a number of politicians have had cosy chats on the economy with a jeweller or jewellers around the island.

When the day ends, everyone's a little dizzy, but they know it's only one more sleep until the great exemption debate.

Day Four: Thursday December 9, 2010

GST day, the sequel! Members get a second wind, and enter into enthusiastic debate about food exemptions.

They bring out props, such as gigantic ring-binders full of complex regulations and grocery bags full of food.

They detail the absurd rules of VAT, and the debate leaves listeners with the enduring image of Senator Sarah Ferguson and chocolate body paint (VAT exempt, as opposed to diabetic chocolate, which you pay tax on). The amendment fails by two votes.

Day Five: Friday December 10, 2010

GST is decided, but there are twelve debates still to be had.

Energy is waning, the smell of grilled sausages from the French market is wafting into the House, and some members are getting cranky.

Nevertheless, the speed of debate picks up considerably, and members hurdle towards the end, after a skirmish about zero ten, and agreeing to tax foreign-owned companies.

Threats to sit on Saturday or next week have focussed members' minds. By four o'clock the Treasury Minister is speaking so quickly he must be getting light-headed.

The budget and all its legislation is finished just before five.

The Treasury Minister, who has been called Scrooge and stupid during the week, is included in the Christmas wishes, as a fog of goodwill and relief come over members - animosity forgotten, with their traditional seasonal greetings.

Enough mulling, pass the wine.