Column: Ken Martin, Guest Column

Leadership is about choices, and choices matter. So as our state heads closer and closer toward government shutdown, now is the perfect time to take a hard look at Rep. Rich Murray’s choices and lay out exactly what he and his Republican leaders are refusing to compromise on.

The truth is: Rep. Murray is driving our state toward shutdown over his choice to protect the richest of the rich from having to pay a little more in taxes.

Under Gov. Dayton’s budget plan, only the richest of Rep. Murray’s 35,000 constituents — approximately 144 people, or .004 percent — would be asked to pay more in taxes. The governor has combined significant reforms with a tax increase on the richest of the rich in order to responsibly and fairly balance the budget without destroying the quality of life and services that make Minnesota great.

Contrast that with the Republican plan — the budget that District 27A Rep. Rich Murray has chosen to support — which would hurt the seniors, education and increase pressure on families and small businesses already feeling the squeeze during these difficult economic times.

Choice 1: When given the choice between raising taxes on only 144 people or raising taxes on everyone in his district, Rep. Murray chose to protect only the richest .004 percent.

The Republican budget would cut $1 million from local government aid, driving up property taxes in Albert Lea and the surrounding communities. But even without that cut, the Republican budget repeals important tax credits — the Renter’s Credit and Market Value Homestead Credit, which would also push up the amount that homeowners have to pay in property taxes. All totaled, that means an increase in property taxes on everyone in his district who rents or owns a home by an average of $200 or more per year.

That’s not a good start for Rep. Murray. But that’s not all.

Choice 2: When given the choice to raise taxes slightly on the richest 144 people, or hurt all his constituents by harming health care, eliminating jobs and damaging the economy, Rep. Murray chose to protect only the richest .004 percent.

Rep. Murray voted for cuts to Albert Lea Medical Center (now called Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea) totaling $1.6 million. These cuts would eliminate good-paying jobs in the community and create a ripple effect to hurt local businesses. Because, with these cuts, not only will residents of Albert Lea be faced with less care at the hospital, but the hospital layoffs will mean fewer customers at local stores and restaurants.

That’s very telling. But sadly, Rep. Murray didn’t stop there.

Choice 3: When given the choice between asking the richest 144 to pay their fair share of taxes or cutting education and forcing layoffs in his district, Rep. Murray once again chose to only protect the top .004 percent.

Rep. Murray voted to cut $240,000 from Albert Lea schools in the next year alone. That’s in addition to the $250,000 he chose to cut from Riverland Community College. Both cuts will have real and harmful effects on Minnesotans who live in and around Albert Lea.

What will Rep. Murray say to parents of children in Albert Lea schools to explain his choice to increase the pressure on already-strapped K-12 schools and make them suffer further? What will he say to those in his district who lose their job because such a significant cut to Riverland would lead to layoffs of staff, elimination of programs and course offerings, and fewer admitted students?

Rep. Murray has consistently chosen to raise taxes on families and small businesses, raise taxes on seniors who live on a fixed income, slash jobs in Albert Lea, cut education and deny health care for Minnesotans all so he doesn’t have to raise taxes slightly on just 144 people.

Leadership is about choices, and choices definitely matter. Rep. Murray’s choices spell disaster for all but 144 of his constituents and that’s exactly what he’s fighting for in these final weeks before a potential government shutdown.

Ken Martin is the chairman of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.