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State Representative Rod Hamilton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5373
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS RELEASE
REP. HAMILTON OPPOSES HOUSE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PROPOSAL
ST. PAUL – State Representative Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) said he opposed a supplemental budget bill designed to reduced the state’s $935 million budget deficit because it relied too much on one-time spending and tax increases and not enough in spending reductions.
“We’re in a recession, and our legislative leadership is asking taxpayers for more money,” Hamilton said. “We need a long-term solution because state economists are already projecting a billion dollar deficit for next year. Nearly emptying out our savings account and not reducing wasteful spending is a fiscally irresponsible, short-term fix at best.”
The bill raises revenues by a total of $232 million this biennium through a series of tax and fee increases (mainly on businesses) and compliance. It also takes $350 million from our cash flow account and $250 million from our budget reserve. And it only reduces overall government spending by $128 million out a $34.5 billion budget.
Hamilton said he was disappointed by the method the majority party used in crafting the budget reduction bill, as the 300 page bill covered more than a dozen budget areas.
“When I tell residents that I was forced to vote on one bill dealing with state government, education, higher education, sex education, environment, natural resources, energy, agriculture, veterans affairs, military affairs, jobs and economic development, transportation, public safety, courts, human services, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, judiciary, housing, public health, health department, abortion, human services, taxation, fees, penalties, fund transfers, appropriating money and reducing money, they understand my frustration,” Hamilton said.
“Because the legislation deals with more than one subject area, it is highly likely that it is unconstitutional,” Hamilton continued. “Its difficult to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a vote like this because the legislation is loaded with thousands of provisions, some of which are good and some of which are bad. But the bill is so fiscally irresponsible that it was easy to vote against it.”
The bill will now head to a joint House/Senate conference committee in order to create a compromise proposal that can be approved by both bodies.
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