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Republican plan is unpopular
Published 10:06am Tuesday, June 14, 2011Sticking with their unpopular budget plan and refusing to negotiate a bipartisan solution to Minnesota’s $5 billion deficit, Republican lawmakers are close to forcing a government shutdown.
Their line in the sand as we head into July could be the closest the rest of us gets to any Minnesota beach this summer — and would result in the worst economic situation for every mom-and-pop business that relies upon our 10,000 lakes to stay afloat.
Without a budget deal before the end of the month, nonessential government services will shut down. That includes personnel at state parks and within the offices of Explore Minnesota, the folks who promote our state as a major U.S. tourist destination.
Their numbers are few but their work defines big business: More than 9 million people visit Minnesota’s state parks annually, and tourism, at last count, brings in more than $11 billion a year.
In Minnesota’s southern economic region, that translates into $1.3 billion annually and accounts for 33,000 jobs.
Minnesota is a four-season tourism state, but summer months account for the greatest single-season tally in local revenue. Given the sluggish national economy and high gas prices, national experts projected early this year that Minnesota would have a banner summer — exceeding previous years — as an affordable tourism spot.
That was before the budget stalemate.
Only 27 percent of state residents side with Republicans, who insist that Minnesota erase Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s $5 billion deficit through spending cuts alone. The vast majority, some 63 percent, side with Gov. Mark Dayton, who proposed nominal revenue gains, mixed with savings, to balance the state’s budget. His plan asks that those with top 2 percent income earnings pay marginally higher taxes to lessen the load on middle-class workers and families.
With majorities in the both the House and the Senate, Republicans can hold up budget talks for any reason they see fit — and the sad fact is politics appear to be more important than the economic well-being of our state.
Cynthia Moothart
policy director
League of Rural Voters
Minneapolis
Good job Cynthia!
Of course the Repub plan is unpopular. The public isn’t as ignorant as some wish. The Repubs are offering up the same old tired worn out diatribe from the usual ultra conservative suspects. They spew the same “cut spending and taxes” mantra that put us in the ditch in the first place. Enough is enough!
Title should read…
Republican plan unpopular with collectivists and bid spending, big government types and also unpopular with small government and fiscally responsible types because of the increase in spending.
One should also note that spending was at 32 billion with a B to 34 BILLION and gov. NO wants 37 BILLION to pay back his “connected friends” I guess under gov. NO’s program the people will have to do with less of their own income again while the state’s bloated budget expands AGAIN and AGAIN, at the expense of all minnesotans. The gubermint has decided it needs the peoples money more than the people.
We have a governor incapable of managing the state.
Some people need to take out a calculator and use their head. 98% of the population makes less than 250k a year. That is $1000 bucks a day!!! We (those of us under 250k)will not have our income taxes go up! Under the REPUB plan though we will see our property taxes go up, college expenses, fees, stickers, you name it, all up. 8 years of this garbage is what got us into this mess.
As for the budget going up every year, any idiot knows, inflation, gas prices, population increase are all factors that are going to make a state or city have to spend more. To make it real simple for those that need it, here is a basic example the town of Glenville spends a lot less than Minneapolis. Rochester spent half of what it does now vs 10 years ago. The Pawlenty/Bush (Repub play book) is a proven failure.
“They spew the same “cut spending and taxes” mantra that put us in the ditch in the first place. Enough is enough!”
Sung like a true collectivist/progressive it’s time for Al to pay HIS FAIR SHARE!! but he won’t, he would rather have the state steal in his name. Using this faulty logic an addict can blame his addicting substance for the problem and not his underlying cause, sorry al we have a spending problem to many freebies, handouts, programs that are not needed.
We are talking about unrestrained explosive growth of state government that is consuming more and more of minnesotans personal income it’s time for them to take a pay cut everybody else has.
sounds like a race to the bottom. See you there
Why would we let the rich keep getting rich and the poor/middle get poorer. Something has got to change, as what have now is not working for MN.