By Rep. Mark Anderson
Minnesota is projected to enjoy a $1.1 billion surplus. That sounds good, but that legendary radio guy – rest his soul – and the rest of us know there is a “rest of the story.”
It goes like this: Gov. Mark Dayton and Democrats increased General Fund spending by around $3 billion and drove up our state’s All Funds spending by 10 percent, to more than $69 billion. At the same time, they raised our taxes and fees by almost $2.5 billion. Now, officials say we will have a $1.1 billion surplus in 2014-15.
And the Democrats are calling this a good thing? I am proud of my Wadena High School education, but must have been absent the day they taught government-style math. Something does not compute.
Since when is it a good thing to gouge taxpayers far beyond necessity? They even buried $90 million in taxpayer expenses for a new Senate building – complete with a reflecting pool – deep in the massive tax bill. The kicker? Senators are now clamoring for a 25-percent increase in their housing allowance.
On second thought, that reflecting pool may be a worthy feature in the Senate's Taj Mahal after all. Those who forced hardworking Minnesotans to pay more for everything from income taxes to online sales, telecommunications, warehousing and cigarettes – and now want taxpayers to give them more rent money – might want to take a long, hard look.
In 2011, the Republican-led budget erased a $5 billion shortfall and generated some $3.5 billion in surplus revenue over the last two years – all without raising taxes. Money borrowed from schools in 2011 was paid off and previously drained reserve accounts were replenished.
State law dictates how some of the current projected surplus will be appropriated. The remaining balance will be around $850 million, subject to change between now and February, when the next complete economic forecast is issued. Officials warn the tax increases Democrats passed are volatile and the bottom line could fluctuate.
It will be interesting to see how any remaining surplus revenue is used. A good start would be to repeal the unnecessary, misguided tax increases Democrats passed earlier this year. Taxes on warehousing, telecommunications and the labor on equipment repair should be first on the chopping block. Citizens have raised strong objections to them and even Democrats have admitted their mistakes.
Unfortunately, we can be all but certain some legislators will be looking to put those unneeded tax dollars of ours toward pet projects. Some of that spending may even pour salt in the wound by committing us to future budget obligations.
Democrats already plan to spend even more in 2016-17, money they again will take from hardworking taxpayers. Who knows, maybe they will double-down on unnecessary tax increases once again and pat themselves on the back for taking too much money from taxpayers. Or, these tax-and-spend policies could backfire, damaging our economy by overburdening workers and the people who create private-sector jobs.
That legendary radio guy, Paul Harvey, once penned a heartfelt essay entitled, “God made a farmer.” The Democrats' wasteful government practices in Minnesota are unlikely to inspire citizens the same.
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