Dear Friends,
This week, we've passed two of the first budget bills for the 2014-2015 biennium budget. I voted against both because of the wasteful spending and fee increases on the backs of hardworking taxpayers. The Democrats ran on a platform of tax-the-rich, but it's quickly becoming apparent that hardworking Minnesotans are going to be affected as well.
Jobs Bill
On Monday, I voted against HF677, the Jobs, Commerce and Housing Omnibus bill put forward by the majority. It was the first of the 2014-2015 biennium budget bills.
I voted against the bill for a number of reasons. There were over $30 million dollars in fee increases that will be paid by you, the hardworking taxpayers. The bill also featured tens of millions in wasteful spending projects that don't guarantee to create a single job. It also increases spending by $100 million dollars over the 2014-2015 baseline. We simply can't afford these types of dramatic increases in government spending, especially for projects that are not guaranteed to create any jobs.
Environment/Agriculture Bill
The Environment/Agriculture Bill also featured a number of fee increases, including outrageous fees on water usage that would increase costs for our farmers. In addition, it continues to expand the bureaucracy with over 100 new full time government employees to implement 'new government programs.' I simply couldn't support a bill that continues to increase the size of government without any significant reforms or cost savings, and ended up voting no.
College Resource for High Schoolers
If you have any High School aged children who are thinking about college, there is a pretty neat new app called "The Minnesota College Planner" which gives students a toolkit to help them through the complicated tasks of choosing, preparing for, and applying to a college. If you're interested in more information, or think it could be helpful for your children or friends, please click HERE.
Have a great weekend,
Glenn