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State Representative Linda Slocum
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7158
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
NEWS COLUMN
BUDGET BEGS, BORROWS, AND STEALS FROM MINNESOTANS
I am pleased a budget solution was reached that ended the state government shutdown. Unfortunately it was accomplished with a borrow and spend Republican budget. In an act of true statesmanship, Governor Dayton accepted the Republican legislative majorities own budget offer from June 30 in order to end the destructive state government shutdown.
Governor Dayton is one of the most compassionate people I’ve ever met and cares deeply about this state and its people. He saw the pain that the government shutdown was causing some of our most vulnerable — the disabled, abuse victims, children, among others — and decided it was best to accept a bad Republican budget than continue a government shutdown indefinitely.
I feel the same way. Government has a responsibility to help care for the least among us, the vulnerable and the struggling. The government shutdown hurt those very people the most, and showed the value of government to everyone else around the state.
However, this agreement is by no means the best or even second best budget for our state. Republicans utterly refused to listen to the vast majority of Minnesotans, rejected seven budget compromises, and offered no new ideas of their own during the government shutdown.
They clearly have the wrong priorities. While the agreement was not ideal by any means, it was probably the best offer the Governor could get passed by the Republican-led legislature.
There are many reasons not to like this budget solution. By and large, this Republican budget begs, borrows, and steals from Minnesota’s future, setting our state back dramatically. By shifting $780 million more from our schools, the Republicans are stealing from our kids and delaying the inevitable budget reckoning for which we are overdue. We’re stealing over $3 billion in total from our schools — with no way to pay it back.
Issuing $640 million in general appropriation bonds is irresponsible borrowing with no guarantee we will receive the funds to pay it back. This shift and borrowing will cost us billions of dollars and will take decades to pay back. These two proposals will also hurt our state’s historically strong credit rating, costing us millions of dollars over the next several years.
The Republican budget still includes damaging cuts to our students, seniors and people with disabilities. As a result, property taxes, tuition and health care costs will increase on middle class Minnesotans at a time when few can afford it.
My priority will continue to be working to build a prosperous Minnesota where all of us have the opportunity to succeed - not just the wealthy few. We will be a stronger Minnesota when we confront our challenges head on, invest in a world-class education system, and put the interest of middle class Minnesotans first.
If you have questions, comments, feedback or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you again for the honor of serving you in the legislature.
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