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State Representative Tom Hackbarth
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-2439
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS COLUMN
LET’S KEEP THE BUDGET FIX SIMPLE
By Tom Hackbarth
State Representative
Bringing our state out of the budget deficit should be a fairly simple task. Let’s cut spending and maybe use a little bit of money in the budget reserve. That is the easiest way to cut spending. Keep the bill small and free from other provisions.
While that makes sense and is logical, that is not what we are seeing happen. Instead of a straight budget fixing bill we have provisions to add more money to education funding, to help fight bovine tuberculosis, and providing some more Local Government Aid. While these provisions are worthy, the bill is also loaded with tax increases, draining the entire cash flow account, and leaving very little left in the budget reserves.
Simply put, what we have here is a bad bill made to look better by adding a few good provisions. The rest of the bill is still horrible. The Democrats are putting together a bill that will likely end up on the veto pile. Then they will be able to say the Governor vetoed property tax relief, more education funding, and protection of livestock in northern Minnesota. They want to play politics with it.
Fixing the budget should not be a political game. Accounting gimmicks should not be used. Shifting funds should not be used. Changing dates for colleting taxes or for state spending to make the budget appear balanced on paper does not fix a thing. It provides the illusion of a balanced budget, but it is not balance.
Even with the budget balancing plan the Democrats are proposing it will do nothing to change the fact that a multi-billion dollar budget deficit is still projected in November. They are ignoring that fact. They want the quick fix right now. That way the can go home to campaign on fiscal responsibility. Of course when the multi-billion dollar budget deficit stares them in their face upon return next year they’ll set a straight course for your wallet.
After all, they are the kings and queens of double talk. We saw it in 2006 and we’ll hear it again in 2008. They talk fiscal responsibility, and then overburden our families with tax increases that kill jobs, take more out of our wallets, and make our economy even worse. They’ve proven once again DFL is code for “tax and spend liberals”.
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