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State Representative John Benson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9934
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
Column/LTE
FOCUS NEEDS TO RETURN TO THE BUDGET
To the editor:
We have less than two weeks before the Minnesota Legislature is set to adjourn on May 23, and we still don’t have an honest, balanced budget from the House or Senate. The 2010 election campaign focused on a debate over whether an all-cuts budget — the Republican plan — or a balanced approach of budget cuts and some additional revenue — the Dayton plan — is better for Minnesota. Governor Dayton submitted his complete and balanced budget over two months ago, but we’re still waiting for the all-cuts budget our colleagues on the other side of the aisle promised.
Unfortunately, it now appears that the focus is shifting from the budget to constitutional amendments dealing with controversial and divisive issues. When the people of Minnesota sent us to the Legislature, they told us loud and clear that their priorities were jobs, the economy, and balancing the budget. I believe our focus should return to the budget. We still have more than a year to pass bills putting constitutional amendments on the ballot for 2012. With less than two weeks to go, passing and enacting a balanced budget is a far more pressing task.
The Republican leadership has said that the budget bills are moving slower because Governor Dayton is not involving himself in the conference committee process. Typically, governors do not become deeply involved in negotiations until bills have moved out of conference committee. Furthermore, Governor Dayton’s commissioners have been sending letters, attending hearings to explain the governor’s position and have been working to move the legislation forward.
The clock is ticking. It’s time for the legislature to pass a Republican all-cuts budget that doesn’t rely on gimmicks or unsubstantiated savings so that the voters can compare and contrast the two budget plans. It’s time for us to do the work the people of Minnesota sent us to the Capitol to do.
Sincerely,
John Benson
State Representative
District 43B
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