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That old question: How much is enough?

Friday, January 16, 2015

By Rep. Mark Anderson

 

The Legislature will set a new two-year state budget this session. The process is just beginning, but it’s never too early to ask this key question: How much is enough?

 

I believe we can set a new state budget without raising taxes. Unfortunately, evidence already is mounting that Senate Democrats are coming for our wallets in order to raise spending again after the historic increases they passed in both areas two years ago. It didn’t even take them a week to unveil their first $1 billion tax increase pertaining to transit.

 

They’re selling the lower figure of $800 billion, but that is only for one year. The real number likely is more than $1 billion annually. It includes 6.5 percent sales tax on wholesale gas, a 1-cent metro sales tax increase and higher car registration fees. Those are taxes that will hit all of us – even those who can least afford it or don’t even drive – one way or another.

 

And roughly one third of their proposed tax increase would be eligible for use on metro-centric projects like light rail.

 

Maybe we do need to increase funding to ensure safe roads and bridges throughout Minnesota. Let’s talk about that. One key problem I have with the Democrats’ proposed tax increase is they are calling it a tax to fund “transportation” when at least one-third of it could be funneled toward things like light rail – aka “transit.”

 

It makes you wonder what is causing Democrats to talk about spending more on transit now. They could have walked the walk during the last biennium when they had one-party rule at the Capitol.

 

So, let’s get back to my main question: How much is enough? Democrats already raised our All Funds budget (which includes federal funding) to $71.3 billion, jacking up All Funds spending by $10 billion from the last biennium to this one and increasing our total taxes by $5 billion in that same span.

 

For perspective on that $71.3 billion, our All Funds budget was “only” $37 billion in 2001.

 

Surely, there are areas of inefficiency in a $71.3 billion budget that could be diverted to our roads and bridges. It all comes down to priorities. Transportation receives 10 percent of our state’s All Funds spending in the 2014-15 biennium. By contrast, Health and Human Services receives more than 41 percent. The Department of Human Services received a $3.5 billion funding increase, while transportation saw a $750 million bump.

 

We do not need a bigger budget pie in Minnesota. What we need to do is figure out a better way to slice it in order to uphold priorities like roads and bridges so we can meet our responsibilities and spare taxpayers at the same time.

 

Oh, and while we are on the topic of sticking to priorities, let me close by saying this: Among the first 20 bills introduced in the House this year came one Democrat proposal to provide money for the Minnesota State Band and another requiring Minnesota State Band rehearsal space.

 

I look forward to your feedback.

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