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PRESS RELEASE FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE: “NO SPECIAL SESSION, NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN – GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SAYS HE WILL BALANCE STATE BUDGET”
By Ryan Flynn | May 14, 2009
Saint Paul – At the State Capitol this afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty said, “Politics as usual around this place is over. The people of Minnesota expect and deserve timely and decisive action. I will not let the legislature’s work spill over into a special session. We are not going to waste taxpayer money with a costly overtime or have a state government shutdown, especially in this economy. My preference would be for DFL legislators to work with me on a reasonable budget solution, but if they can’t get that done I will take executive action to balance the budget.â€
“A key principle is that the DFL-controlled legislature shouldn’t spend more money than the state has available,†Governor Pawlenty said. “Unfortunately, they have done just that and now I’ll fix it.â€
Over the past week, DFL majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate passed budget bills that leave a $3 billion shortfall between spending and revenues.
Governor Pawlenty announced today that he would use line-item vetoes during the upcoming period and his unallotment authority in July 2009 to bring the state budget into balance.
“Passing a balanced budget is the legislature’s most fundamental job. Unfortunately, so far this year the DFL majority has failed to get the job done,†Governor Pawlenty said. “In January, I outlined a balanced budget that prioritized important areas like public safety, military and veterans, and K-12 education. Now we’re in the final days of this legislative session and it’s time to let the people of Minnesota know that this will be resolved. It should get done on time and I’m saying it will get done on time.
“If the DFL cannot balance this budget without reaching into Minnesotans’ pockets and increasing our already uncompetitive taxes in ways that will kill job growth, I’m prepared to make the tough decisions they’ve avoided and take action to balance the budget.â€
The Governor said final decisions have not been made regarding possible impacts to state programs, but areas could include government-subsidized health care programs, welfare, and other social services; K-12 and higher education; and local government aid. In addition, state employee layoffs could be used to save additional funds. In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle has said approximately 1,100 state employees could be laid off as part of their budget cutting measures, along with 16 furlough days over the next two years.
A compromise offer from Governor Pawlenty to DFL legislative leaders earlier this week incorporated a House DFL position (a larger K-12 education shift than proposed by the Governor), a Senate DFL position (no funds included for the budget reserve, the Governor proposed $250 million for the budget reserve) and a reduction in a proposal that the DFL indicated they didn’t support (agreeing to use only half of the tobacco appropriation bond funds). Even though the Governor was willing to move in their direction in all three areas, DFL leaders rejected the offer.
Governor Pawlenty has also compromised during this legislative session by showing a willingness to work with DFL legislators regarding their proposed fee increases for the courts system, their lower levels of funding for K-12 education and their lack of interest in the Governor’s proposals to reduce business taxes to grow jobs and spur investment.
The Governor stated that he is unwilling to raise taxes on Minnesotans, especially as the state looks to grow jobs and recover from the economic recession. DFL legislators have proposed numerous tax increases this session, including:
§ New top income tax rate of 9 percent, which would be fourth-highest in the nation
§ New top income tax rate of 9.25 percent
§ Across-the-board income tax increases
§ New sales tax on Internet downloads, including music
§ Elimination of the local property tax cap, enacted just last year
§ Higher taxes on beer, wine and alcohol
§ Higher taxes on cigarettes
§ Allowing counties to increase the sales tax by 0.5 percent
§ Eliminating home mortgage interest deduction
§ Eliminating deduction when a person donates an organ
§ Eliminating elderly or disabled income subtraction
§ Eliminating child and dependent care credit
§ Eliminating exemption for Minnesota state and municipal bonds interest income
§ Eliminating long-term care credit
“I’m willing to work with the DFL on a reasonable plan, but I’m not willing to let them squeeze more money out of taxpayers and further burden job creators and employers in the midst of the toughest economy in more than 60 years,†Governor Pawlenty said. “One way or another, we will get the budget situation resolved, keeping taxpayers and families first in our minds.â€
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This is a great move by the Governor.
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Topics: Uncategorized | 17 Comments »
17 Responses to “PRESS RELEASE FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE: “NO SPECIAL SESSION, NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN – GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SAYS HE WILL BALANCE STATE BUDGET””
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May 14th, 2009 at 5:12 PM
So, he’s willing to work with democrats, he just won’t use the method they (and a majority of the voters) suggest, which is a mixture of budget cuts and new taxes.
That’s like me offering to sell my car for $10,000 or best offer, but only accepting best offers that are more than $10,000.
May 14th, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Checked out this site tonight to see if there’s talk of the KSTP survey that shows that a majority of Minnesotans don’t think T-Bag should run again or that the FBI is ramping up its investigation of wife-cheater Norm Coleman. Sadly this site doesn’t cite either.
May 14th, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Zelly,
What part of if you don’t like this site go elsewhere don’t you understand? “Minnesota Democrats Exposed” is based on exposing the stupidity of Democrats (and you do present a shining example).
Why don’t you go talk to your DFL buddies and tell them that they need to stop playing games and get down to business.
Thank God we have a governor that will do what needs to be done!
May 14th, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Didn’t the Governor’s original budget get like THREE votes in favor?
I agree that the DFL need to get down to business, but TPaw’s borrow and borrow ideas make his seem frankly, out of touch.
May 14th, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Small Peter:
So, because a site is titled something as stupid as “Minnesota Democrats Exposed,” no one can ever talk about the stupid crap Republicans do?
Gov. T-Bag is being rejected by a majority of Minnesotans — polled by your favorite source KSTP.
And the FBI has expanded its investigation of former senator and wife cheater Norm Coleman.
This is not worth commenting on?
You all are so happy to attack but have nothing but insults when someone questions you and this bullshit site.
Someone has to push back and call you on the shit.
So, what you say? Please tell me more about how pristine the two latest statewide-elected Republicans are doing with the public and/or with law enforcement.
Z
May 14th, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Smelly…uh, I mean Zelly. The democrats were so lazy this year that they never even prepared a budget – said they’d just use the Governor’s instead. So for over 4 months, they did nothing but twiddle their thumbs and now are hoping for a special session at a cost to the taxpayers of over $40,000 a day.
If someone needs to be ‘called on’ for their actions, it’s lazy, do nothing, democrats we have in the legislature.
I applaud the Governor today!
May 14th, 2009 at 11:54 PM
Democrats piss me off!
May 15th, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Happy to help out Zelly:
http://kstp.com/kstpImages/PollPrint1.pdf
Should Governor Pawlenty run for a third term in 2010?
500 Adults
Margin of Sampling Error: +/-4.4%
Yes 41%
No 57%
Not Sure 2%
Total 100%
May 15th, 2009 at 8:15 AM
[...] This post was Twitted by joko0501 – Real-url.org [...]
May 15th, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Thank you Tim for keeping your “veto” pen full of ink. In this socialist state of high taxes can you ever wonder why business growth, i.e. jobz growth is so low? TEREX corp purchased ASV [200 jobs] of Grand Rapids just over two years ago. Now the plant is moving to Mississippi to save money. Wages are equal, but TAXATION is not. Thankx DEMS for driving another business out of state.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:47 AM
Hooray for Governot Pawlenty!! He is doing EXACTLY what needs to be done.
May 15th, 2009 at 11:03 AM
danbrome,
Do you realize how absurd your comment is about borrowing? Your almighty president just borrowed more this year than the first seven years of the Bush administration — combined. But Obama is great for running our country into unprecedented massive debt but Pawlenty is an asshole for using some bonding to solve a small portion of the budget deficit. The absurdity of liberals never ceases to amaze me.
May 17th, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Chris..
With all due respect, please refrain from calling me liberal. I am a moderate Democrat who loves my country and wants to find common ground with Republicans to rebuild the economy.
President Obama was dealt a pretty lousy. His bold action was not only necessary, it was courageous.
May 17th, 2009 at 11:34 PM
He was dealt a pretty lousy HAND.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:05 AM
danbrome,
I’d have a lot more respect for you if you didn’t say such outrageous things like “I’m a moderate.” There is nothing moderate about you. And there is nothing moderate about borrowing more in one year than in the first seven years of the Bush administration – combined. Is the economy in tough shape? Yes. Will massive borrowing and printing money make the economy better? No. If you want to work with Republicans to strengthen the economy then cut business and capital gains taxes as well as personal income taxes for all tax brackets. Letting people and businesses keep more money in their pockets to spend and invest will move our economy. Having the federal government print up trillions and borrow billions will not.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:40 AM
danbrome = Liberal socialist.
Why do I say that? Because even danbrome cannot post one current issue that he has a liberal position on.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:02 AM
danbrome, please list three issues where you do not take a libeal-socialist stance.