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State Representative Carly Melin
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0172
For more information contact: Charlie Vander Aarde 651-297-8406
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MELIN CALLS ON HOUSE GOP COLLEAGUES TO HAVE COURAGE TO COMPROMISE
(ST. PAUL) – Rep. Carly Melin (DFL – Hibbing) joined two dozen of her House DFL colleagues on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul today and called for six Republican representatives to join Democrats in sending a fair and balanced budget solution to Governor Dayton. The legislators were joined by four Minnesotans affected by the shutdown: a child care provider from Brainerd, two developmentally disabled group home residents from St. Paul and the executive director of a shelter for abused women and their children.
“I am disturbed by the lack of compromise by my Republican colleagues," said Melin. “Governor Dayton has made eight compromise budget offers to legislative Republicans. Governor Dayton has made three compromise budget offers since the shutdown began on July 1. The Republicans have made zero since July 1.” The shutdown is now in its twelfth day and no meetings are scheduled today or tomorrow. “The governor continues to compromise. One week ago he decreased his tax proposal and is now calling for a temporary surcharge on income over $1 million dollars a year. There are only 68 taxpayers in St. Louis County that would be impacted under the governor’s latest offer.”
Republicans have immediately rejected the governor’s offers since July 1 and have not responded with any counteroffers since then. The last offer by legislative Republicans came at the end of June and included divisive social policy issues unrelated to the spending items being debated in the state budget. “The last offer by Republicans included controversial policy proposals like outlawing stem cell research and implementing schools vouchers that would send public dollars to private schools,” explained Melin. “Republicans also continued their attack on collective bargaining rights. Divisive policy agendas don’t belong in budget discussions.”
Melin called on her colleagues to have the courage to compromise. “DFL legislators want to send a fair and balanced budget to Governor Dayton,” noted Melin. “We only need six Republicans to vote with us on one of the governor’s seven offers. I call on my Republican colleagues to do what’s right and end the shutdown for good. I encourage you to ask Speaker Zellers to allow you to vote on one of the governor’s proposals and send Minnesotans back to work.”
News Items
- 2013 Legislative Session Wrap Up - (Posted: May 24 2013 10:57AM)
- Rep. Melin Votes for Historic Investments in Education - (Posted: May 19 2013 2:26PM)
- House Passes Rep. Melin's Bill to Give Second Chance to Minnesotans with Juvenile Delinquency Records - (Posted: May 16 2013 3:44PM)
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