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State Representative Kurt Zellers
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5502
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
NEWS COLUMN
Zellers: Let’s not double down on bad news by raising taxes
The state budget forecast was released earlier this month and it showed what most of us have known for quite some time: People are losing jobs and government is spending too much money.
The forecast predicted a $6.6 billion state budget deficit over the next three years. A dramatic loss of jobs and dropping wages account for 70 percent of the deficit. This should be the nail in the coffin of the call for tax increases. We should not double down on this bad news by going out and telling people they aren’t giving enough to the government.
Looking into the future, the forecast shows that revenues are expected to increase, which means the economy will start growing again. But automatic spending increases already built into the state’s budget will push spending up twice as fast – leaving us with huge deficits. These facts make it plainly obvious that government has an undeniable spending problem. If we lived within our means and resisted these automatic spending increases, our budget and our economy would be in much better shape.
To get things moving in the right direction, we have to face these two realities head on. I’ve listened to countless employers over the last six months who told me that they can’t afford to hire new people because of uncertainty over higher taxes or costs from “cap-and-trade” and health care reform. How many thousands of jobs are going uncreated because of the threat of higher taxes or more regulations? We need to send job creators the clear message that their taxes will not to up, regulations will not increase and government spending will be restrained.
As the 2010 legislative session approaches its February 4 start date, I will join with many legislators to introduce innovative ideas that will help encourage job growth and streamline government to be more cost-efficient. Simply continuing to spend money and go deeper into debt is a recipe for fiscal disaster that our children will have to clean up. I wouldn’t leave that legacy to my children, and I won’t leave it for yours either. Now is the time to act so that we can leave them a world in which they can pursue their own goals and dreams, not pay for ours.
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Rep. Zellers encourages constituents to contact him with questions or opinions on state legislative issues. He can be reached at rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn or 651.296.5502. Mail should be sent to Rep. Kurt Zellers, 267 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
News Items
- Legislative Update (April 20, 2013) - (Posted: Apr 20 2013 2:43PM)
- Zellers Statement on House DFL Budget Framework - (Posted: Mar 19 2013 4:57PM)
- ZELLERS STATEMENT ON FEBRUARY FORECAST - (Posted: Mar 1 2013 6:02PM)
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