GOVERNOR PAWLENTY: "THE DFL IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO INCREASE TAXES."
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY BLASTS DFL PLANS TO RAISE TAXES BY $1.4 BILLION
~ Lack of leadership part of an ongoing pattern exhibited by Senate DFL ~
Saying that true leadership includes holding government accountable, setting priorities and spending smarter, Governor Tim Pawlenty assailed the spending proposal outlined by Senate DFLers this morning at the Capitol.
Governor Pawlenty said that he was "astonished" that Senate DFL leaders would stand in front of a sign that said "Honest Solutions" and then refuse to say how they would pay for their projected $1.4 billion in increased spending over Pawlenty’s budget.
"The DFL is obviously going to increase taxes. They should at least have the courtesy to tell us whose pockets they are going to pick." Governor Pawlenty said. "Minnesotans are smarter than that. They know that the Senate DFL can’t help themselves when it comes to spending other people’s money. They say yes to every spending lobby and special interest in the state. But they’re apparently afraid to tell us who will be stuck with the bill."
Pawlenty chuckled at Senator Dean Johnson comparing himself with "a cardinal at the conclave." "If he’s a cardinal and the DFL’s a conclave, then the chimney is blowing black smoke," Governor Pawlenty said.
Senate DFL Leader Dean Johnson did offer a few proposals that he said were under consideration. Those included a Senate DFL plan to put a sales tax on clothes, a cigarette tax increase, a gas tax increase, "surcharges," and "rollbacks." The Senate DFL proposal would spend an estimated $1.4 billion more than the Governor’s proposed budget for FY06-07 (see attached spreadsheet).
Today’s announcement is part of a pattern of failure exhibited by the Senate DFL. This is the third year in a row that Senate DFLers have been unable to put together a complete budget solution.
In January 2003, Governor Pawlenty dealt with a FY03 deficit of $356 million through unallotment, after legislative leaders were unable to come up with a solution.
In the 2003 session, Senate DFL leadership failed to pass a final budget proposal. After negotiating budget details, Senate Republicans passed the FY 2004-05 budget with the help of only three Senate DFLers.
In 2004, with the state facing a remaining deficit of approximately $160 million for FY04-05, the Governor again took administrative action by himself to balance the books.
"The lack of leadership by the Senate DFL is very disappointing," Governor Pawlenty said. "They know how to do the easy part – spending money – but they don’t know how to govern or balance the state budget."
During the legislative session, the DFL has criticized the Governor for causing property taxes to go up because of the reductions in aids to local governments that were part of the budget crisis solution.
Property taxes are based on local spending decisions. Many cities and counties made very responsible decisions and limited their tax increases, some did not. State government doesn’t set local taxes.
Property taxes had been increasing prior to Governor Pawlenty’s election. The increases in 2004 and 2005 were in fact lower than the years prior to his first budget. (2004 and 2005 are the only property tax years impacted by Governor Pawlenty’s first budget, passed by the legislature in June 2003).
Another DFL criticism has focused on fees. As a percentage of the state’s total revenue, fees were 3.4% in FY03, prior to Governor Pawlenty’s budget proposal being enacted. In FY05, fees are 3.6% of total state revenue.
"Senate DFLers said today that they’re avoiding gimmicks. But saying you’re going to spend $1.4 billion more without identifying the source sounds like the mother of all gimmicks to me," Governor Pawlenty said. "At the same time, their alleged concern about property taxes seems could be remedied. If Senate DFLers are worried about property taxes, I invite them to join with me to support tools like the Taxpayer Satisfaction Survey, levy limits or a property tax freeze." Source: Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty, April 20, 2005
~ Lack of leadership part of an ongoing pattern exhibited by Senate DFL ~
Saying that true leadership includes holding government accountable, setting priorities and spending smarter, Governor Tim Pawlenty assailed the spending proposal outlined by Senate DFLers this morning at the Capitol.
Governor Pawlenty said that he was "astonished" that Senate DFL leaders would stand in front of a sign that said "Honest Solutions" and then refuse to say how they would pay for their projected $1.4 billion in increased spending over Pawlenty’s budget.
"The DFL is obviously going to increase taxes. They should at least have the courtesy to tell us whose pockets they are going to pick." Governor Pawlenty said. "Minnesotans are smarter than that. They know that the Senate DFL can’t help themselves when it comes to spending other people’s money. They say yes to every spending lobby and special interest in the state. But they’re apparently afraid to tell us who will be stuck with the bill."
Pawlenty chuckled at Senator Dean Johnson comparing himself with "a cardinal at the conclave." "If he’s a cardinal and the DFL’s a conclave, then the chimney is blowing black smoke," Governor Pawlenty said.
Senate DFL Leader Dean Johnson did offer a few proposals that he said were under consideration. Those included a Senate DFL plan to put a sales tax on clothes, a cigarette tax increase, a gas tax increase, "surcharges," and "rollbacks." The Senate DFL proposal would spend an estimated $1.4 billion more than the Governor’s proposed budget for FY06-07 (see attached spreadsheet).
Today’s announcement is part of a pattern of failure exhibited by the Senate DFL. This is the third year in a row that Senate DFLers have been unable to put together a complete budget solution.
In January 2003, Governor Pawlenty dealt with a FY03 deficit of $356 million through unallotment, after legislative leaders were unable to come up with a solution.
In the 2003 session, Senate DFL leadership failed to pass a final budget proposal. After negotiating budget details, Senate Republicans passed the FY 2004-05 budget with the help of only three Senate DFLers.
In 2004, with the state facing a remaining deficit of approximately $160 million for FY04-05, the Governor again took administrative action by himself to balance the books.
"The lack of leadership by the Senate DFL is very disappointing," Governor Pawlenty said. "They know how to do the easy part – spending money – but they don’t know how to govern or balance the state budget."
During the legislative session, the DFL has criticized the Governor for causing property taxes to go up because of the reductions in aids to local governments that were part of the budget crisis solution.
Property taxes are based on local spending decisions. Many cities and counties made very responsible decisions and limited their tax increases, some did not. State government doesn’t set local taxes.
Property taxes had been increasing prior to Governor Pawlenty’s election. The increases in 2004 and 2005 were in fact lower than the years prior to his first budget. (2004 and 2005 are the only property tax years impacted by Governor Pawlenty’s first budget, passed by the legislature in June 2003).
Another DFL criticism has focused on fees. As a percentage of the state’s total revenue, fees were 3.4% in FY03, prior to Governor Pawlenty’s budget proposal being enacted. In FY05, fees are 3.6% of total state revenue.
"Senate DFLers said today that they’re avoiding gimmicks. But saying you’re going to spend $1.4 billion more without identifying the source sounds like the mother of all gimmicks to me," Governor Pawlenty said. "At the same time, their alleged concern about property taxes seems could be remedied. If Senate DFLers are worried about property taxes, I invite them to join with me to support tools like the Taxpayer Satisfaction Survey, levy limits or a property tax freeze." Source: Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty, April 20, 2005
4 Comments:
You shouild ask Pawlenty why he refuses to hold accountable the bush admin, tom delay, senator frist, and the many many other republicans in teh state and on the national level. If pawlenty is so adamant about holding governemnt accountable, he cant only hold the dems accountable, he ahs to also hold the repubs accountable. Ask pawlwenty to ask Rep mark kennedy to return the 10,000 dollars he recieved from tom delays PAC that is under investigation for illegal fundraising. If he does that, I might take him seriously, until then, I am just going to laugh in his face.
Gosh, what should one expect from the Dimwit-Fascist-Looter party?
Apparently, from the Republican party, we can expect more name calling instead of any of them actually holding their own parties politicians to the same standard they claim to hold the Dems. When you get a clue leslie, come back.
Leslie, do you know what a fascist is?
Definition: Big Government controlled by Big Business, creating crisis to pull the patriots together and condemning anyone who doesn't agree with them. Sounds like Bushie and the Neo-Cons.
Just a thought,
Earl
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