Fiscally Responsible?

DFL Members and the DFL Party appear to be touting what they accomplished in our Legislature this session — spending and tax increases, growing the government once again. This year Rep. David Bly and Co. “gave” us one of the largest tax increases in Minnesota history, spent hundreds of millions on pork and instead of balancing the budget by really cutting state
spending, did a little trimming and left most of the real work for next
session when the state could be another $2 billion or $3 billion in the
hole. Is that responsible handling of the state’s (our) finances?

Should we be concerned about the direction the state Legislature has been
heading since the Minnesota House has been led by the Democrats? Yes! We are experiencing some of the highest tax increases we have ever had. Our current representative has been one of those who supported every tax
increase. Tax increases, especially in times of economic recession, people
losing their homes, and the financial challenges of higher costs for food
and fuel seem unconscionable and out of touch with peoples’ basic needs.

In a year where we can’t even find money in the budget to pay for critical
priority items such as transportation without raising taxes, should we
have been funding very non-critical items like renovating a zoological
garden, playgrounds in St. Paul, or ice arenas?? So next time you fill
up on gas remember, you’re not only paying for increased transportation
costs, but you’re also helping our legislature divert funds to pay for a
Polar Bear Exhibit in Duluth, paying off the Target Center, and paying for
new athletic fields in Richfield.

Now a DFL defender may rightly point out that most of these items are
being paid for with bonding. However, when the Republicans offered to pay
for transportation with bonding, the DFL said it wasn’t fair to make our
children pay for our spending. If our children shouldn’t help pay for long
term critical infrastructure like roads, how is it that it is fair for
them to pay for things like a $800,000 fish tank for the State Fair???

The MN DFL needs to be honest with the Minnesotan taxpayer, which is more important….roads or a canoe portage?? We need our state government to live within its means, just like the rest of us. Would smaller government
and less taxes help your family, your businesses, your budget?

~ by maddmedic on July 28, 2008.