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State Representative Pat Garofalo
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1069
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
OP/ED COLUMN
GAROFALO: MINNEAPOLIS WINS…..THE SUBURBS LOSE.
By Pat Garofalo
District 36B, State Representative
We are supposed to be “One Minnesota,” the idea being that each region contributes its own strengths to form a unified and prosperous state. Sadly, the results of the 2007 legislative session show that many members of the Democrat party view the suburbs as merely an ATM for their spending programs.
Time after time this session, Democrats turned their backs on the suburbs. Most notably was their assault on the wallets of suburban taxpayers. There are many examples of their proposals for huge tax increases, but most offensive was the proposed metro area sales tax increase to 7 percent. Of course this would be done WITHOUT a referendum. So much for fiscal moderation.
Surprisingly, the Democrats are quite candid about this. “When you guys win, you get to keep your money. When we win, we take your money,” said St. Paul Democrat Cy Thao to Republicans during a 2007 committee hearing. My colleague, Representative Thao, deserves this year’s award for telling it like it is. I may not agree with his viewpoint on a lot of issues, but I respect him for being honest.
In the area of property tax relief, Democrats said that government had to raise income taxes to pay for lower property taxes. Yet, after Governor Pawlenty rightfully vetoed the income tax increase, Democrats suddenly found tens of millions of dollars in local government aid (the state’s indirect form of property tax relief) for Minneapolis and St. Paul. Meanwhile, the suburbs will continue to get nothing.
However, the biggest disappointment has to be education funding. The education bill passed this session increased spending by almost $800 million dollars. Despite this, schools in our area will be facing higher class sizes and huge, bone-crushing property tax increases. Why you ask? Because Democrats funneled the money to Minneapolis and St. Paul schools as opposed to increasing funding for ALL schools fairly. The results are unbelievable. Minneapolis will receive a 43 percent larger increase than the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district, a 61 percent larger increase than the Farmington School District, and a mind boggling 71 percent larger increase than Northfield schools. I can understand why Minneapolis Democrats would support these plans. After all – they are from Minneapolis. But what on earth were suburban Democrat legislators thinking when they supported these plans?
The unwillingness of suburban Democrat legislators to stand up against the liberal elements of their party will mean higher class sizes and bigger property taxes for residents of our area. We deserve better.
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News Items
- GAROFALO ANNOUNCES BILL TO RIGHT-SIZE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE - (Posted: Mar 7 2013 2:06PM)
- GAROFALO ISSUES STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR DAYTON’S BUDGET PROPOSAL - (Posted: Jan 23 2013 3:47PM)
- GAROFALO PREPARES FOR NEW TERM - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:00PM)
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