Accessibility menu
State Representative John Benson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9934
For more information contact: Charlene Briner 651-296-5809
Column/LTE
Budget Deficit Solutions Must Utilize Creative Solutions to Protect Vulnerable Minnesotans
To the Editor,
Several weeks ago, I wrote about the impact of Governor Pawlenty's budget balancing proposal. I described several programs in line for drastic cuts under his plan including programs to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, youth smoking prevention grants, a project that helps Greater Minnesota residents access health care, and community lead testing and cleanup services.
Since I wrote that letter, the Housing Policy and Public Health Finance Division on which I serve, has worked on alternatives to those cuts, which has led to our own proposal. In it we make over $3 million in budget cuts to help balance the state budget. However, our plan utilizes a strategy of looking for savings by cutting administrative agency overhead, which in turn allows us to preserve essential funding the above-mentioned programs. Additionally, we were able to increase food shelf and homeless shelter funding for the first time in several years while still staying within our budget target.
The same careful scrutiny the Housing and Public Health Committee used is being applied to every area of the state budget. One troubling provision that has surfaced in the Governor's budget would cut the renters’ property tax refund by $34 million. Rental property taxes are extremely regressive, meaning that a disproportionate share of this tax falls on Minnesotans with the lowest incomes and least ability to pay – including senior citizens. If the governor’s proposal became law, the average Minnesota renter would get $119 less in their renters credit - and 11,200 households would not get a renters’ credit at all.
As I've said before, it is the responsibility of the legislature to examine the Governor's proposals and work with him to find solutions that won't cause harm to Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens. The Legislature is demonstrating that we can balance the budget and still protect the most vulnerable. I believe the Governor's office can do the same, if there is a comparable will to do so.
Sincerely,
John Benson
State Representative, District 43B
News Items
- Rep. John Benson: Southwest Light Rail Transit Good For Businesses, Communities, and Our Future - (Posted: 2012-09-13 00:00:00)
- Legislature Passes Bonding & Vikings Bills, Neglects Skyrocketing Property Taxes - (Posted: 2012-05-10 00:00:00)
- Legislative Update - May 8, 2012 - (Posted: 2012-05-08 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.