Cutting programs is not the only way to fix the budget and can be problematic,” said newly-elected State Representative Bobby Champion, (DFL-58B). “Everything must be explored,” he said, responding to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s State of the State annual message to the Legislature last Thursday.
“We have to think of creative ways to balance the budget. We have to continue building the quality of life for Minnesotans, not diminishing it,” Champion said.
Pawlenty tried to sound cooperative and bi-partisan describing the state of the state as challenged and requires that solutions to these challenges come from both sides of isle. He called on both Democrats and Republicans to address the “historic challenges facing Minnesota” not along party lines, but as Minnesotans.
The Republican governor said Minnesotans cannot be so in love with the past that we miss the future. “The old ways aren’t cutting it anymore,” he said. “Hope and fear are both at the table. People are sitting at their kitchen tables asking how they are going to fix the car; how they are going to pay for college …”
Pawlenty the said the same emotions must be at the tables at the Legislature and asked that Minnesota lawmakers do not add to their constituents’ burdens by increasing taxes.
This statement received robust applause by Republicans and little response from Democrats. Champion and fellow freshman legislator Jeff Hayden say they will work hard to ensure the budget is not balanced on the backs of the poor and people of color.
This session, Minnesota legislators will have the daunting task of addressing the $5.5 billion shortfall in setting the budget for the next two years. According to Champion, understanding the state’s complex budget will “be critical as we face the difficult task of resolving the looming shortfall.”
Champion said one of the best ways people can prepare
themselves for the forthcoming budget cuts is to be equipped with the language
and tools used by people at the hosted town hall meeting last Tuesday with a
focus on understanding the state’s budget.
State Financial Analyst Bill Marx presented the raw numbers. Marx said the majority of the state’s general fund dollars come from individual income tax (46.7%) and sales tax (27.9%). These general fund dollars are spent primarily on K-12 education (40%), Health and Human Services (27.6%).
The state is facing a deficit, said Marx, because resources generated by the state have not kept up with the cost of funding programs.
Addressing the health and human services programs, Pawlenty
said, “These important programs have become really expensive and the costs have
become unsustainable. We have to trim the programs an there’s no easy way to do
this.”
The town hall was hosted by the Minneapolis Urban League in partnership with the Minnesota Council on Black Minnesotans and the Northside Policy Action Coalition. “We are facing the greatest financial disaster,” said Cheryl Morgan Spencer a Minneapolis Urban League representative. “This pipeline is an attempt to address and put to rest some of the fears many Minnesotans have. We have to talk about how bad it is, but at the same time, talk about how bad it isn’t. The forecast may be gloomy, but we have to make a commitment to stand and work together ...our constituents need help.”
“Those of us who live and work on the Northside of
Minneapolis know there is never enough resources.
“Everything will be examined,” said Champion. “We have the responsibility to you to examine
what’s place on the table –even the ideas of generating revenue.
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