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State Representative Mike Benson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4378
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS COLUMN
LOOKING FOR THE DEMOCRAT BUDGET PLAN
Not long ago, Rochester Democrat state representatives held a “community budget briefing” to give their perspective on the proposed budget making its way through the Minnesota House. They brought a pair of commissioners appointed by Governor Dayton and together they painted a partisan sky-is-falling picture of Minnesota’s future.
This is not the first time they’ve performed this act.
In 2009, after Governor Tim Pawlenty unveiled his balanced budget, House Democrats spent weeks touring the state, holding “listening sessions” allowing those impacted by the proposed budget reductions to share their concerns.
Interestingly enough, they didn’t hold those same statewide hearings this year after Governor Dayton proposed his $4 billion job killing tax increase plan to fund a 27 percent spending increase.
Democrats, who controlled the House at the time, didn’t offer a balanced budget solution until the end of April. It contained tax increases on almost everything – including home mortgages, organ donations, and credit interest. When Governor Pawlenty refused to accept them, Democrats ended session and left him to balance the budget on his own. The result was government spending went from $34 billion every two years to about $30 billion.
We heard the same “the world is going to end” predictions two years ago following those budget reductions. Amazingly, we all survived.
We’re going to survive this budget as well, and it will begin to set Minnesota on a sustainable fiscal path.
We are facing a projected $5.1 billion budget deficit because the government spending path we are currently taking is unsustainable. Previous legislatures, and previous legislative majorities, refused to reform government when they had the opportunity, and now we’re seeing the results – a 27 percent increase in government spending in the next two years.
Change is hard, but if we don’t change the way we prioritize your tax dollars, state government spending will continue spiraling out of control.
Governor Dayton wants to tax “the rich” to solve the deficit. OK, then what?
Raising taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans will not eliminate the projected deficit. Now we’ve learned, according to an update of the 2011 Tax Incidence Study issued by the Minnesota Department of Revenue, that Dayton’s job killing tax hikes will hit every Minnesota income group. This means all Minnesotans would pay higher taxes if Dayton’s proposal becomes law. In other words, you too are rich in the eyes of the governor.
At least the governor has a plan. Minnesota House Democrats do not.
They were given the opportunity to vote for Governor Dayton’s job killing tax hikes on the House floor. It received zero votes. They’ve had months to craft and offer a balanced alternative budget plan. Instead, they’ve done nothing but sit and complain.
House Republicans have offered a sustainable, growth-oriented budget. Our budget contains income tax reductions for lower and middle class Minnesotans as well as property tax relief for Main Street business owners.
To help solve our budget deficit House Democrats have offered excuses. They have offered scare tactics. But they have not offered a budget plan. In the meantime, House Republicans will continue to lead and craft a budget that controls state spending and avoids job killing tax increases.
News Items
- LAWMAKERS UNHAPPY WITH DECISION TO EXPAND GAMBLING TO PAY FOR VIKINGS STADIUM - (Posted: 2012-04-26 00:00:00)
- REP. BENSON: VOTER IDENTIFICATION DECISION NOW BELONGS TO MINNESOTA VOTERS - (Posted: 2012-04-05 00:00:00)
- REP. BENSON DISAPPOINTED WITH COMMISSIONER’S DECISION TO RELEASE CONVICTED PEDOPHILE - (Posted: 2012-02-08 00:00:00)
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