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
2010 LEGISLATIVE SESSION MUST FOCUS ON PRIORITIES
In just a few weeks the 2010 Legislative Session will get underway. By this time, most everyone knows that the continuing recession has contributed to a budget deficit of $1.2 billion, with another larger deficit projected for 2012-13. We can agree or disagree with Governor Pawlenty’s fiscal policies, but political reality dictates we must redirect our focus this session to address a few key things.
First, we must meet the immediate constitutional requirement to balance the $1.2 billion budget deficit. The Legislature has already established spending priorities during the last session; we should not revisit those fights during the short session that starts in February. Yet the Legislature has a moral obligation to the poorest of the poor and the sickest of the sick to restore funding for the General Assistance Medical Care program the Governor terminated. The Governor was also unwise to unallot millions of dollars in funding for Hennepin County Medical Center, our premier level one trauma center. Additionally, our veterans, state supported nursing homes, courts, police and corrections systems are basic government services that must be adequately funded even as we face this fiscal challenge.
I will seek to preserve these funding priorities even as I propose an across the board spending reduction bill to balance the state budget. This approach may seem harsh, but hard choices now will allow us to maintain basic standards of service that still protects public safety and society’s vulnerable citizens.
Elections provide an opportunity for Minnesotans to debate the issues anew and decide what kind of state we want for our children. As your State Representative, I need to hear your ideas, concerns and questions as the Legislature confronts these many challenges.
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.