Minneosta Funding Blues

03/17/2007

Paul Munnis

When a State has unmet needs and must grow then the task of proposing solutions falls to State government. Normally the Governor proposes his solutions and the Legislature approves, modifies, or provides alternatives. One way or another, the needs of the State are met.

Last biennium Pawlenty proposed turning Minnesota into a State whose revenue needs were met by gaming revenue. When that proved unacceptable then a rasher of fees, tax increases, and fund shifting occurred to cover the shortfall, but not before government was gridlocked and had to shut-down.

This year it’s even worse, Pawlenty isn’t proposing anything. He is letting the Legislature pick a solution and is threatening to veto the solution if it means new taxes or added fees. Of course by law the only solutions open to the legislature are fees or taxes and so we are facing another grid-lock and government shut-down over funding – something nobody wants to happen except for Pawlenty.

Even though he claims he is off the “No New Taxes, bandwagon -- his actions say otherwise.

Now there is no question that roads, healthcare, and schools are needs and not frivolous wants. It is also true that most Minnesotans want to see some relief in the property tax increases in our State by shifting the tax burden onto the under taxed rich and onto corporations not paying their fair-share of taxes. Pawlenty opposes such a shift and says he will reject it.

What is a poor legislator to do?

The answer seems to be to just ignore Pawlenty and do what is right. If Pawlenty can’t sign-off then the ball is in his court to propose a workable alternative remembering that the needs of our State must still be met. The Legislature must then decide if the Governors proposal is workable. If it is then we will all wonder why Pawlenty wasn’t forthcoming with it earlier in the legislative cycle. If it is not a workable solution then the Legislature has two choices, over-ride his veto or pass emergency legislation to keep government going until the gridlock can be resolved. That later solution is destructive since while it is going on the costs of the solution rises, the needs are not being met, and the calendar for road repairs and rail construction is evaporating.

What we are seeing is poor leadership from a Governor who is putting special interest groups ahead of State needs. It is unacceptable and citizens regardless of their Party need to let Pawlenty know that it is time for him to act more responsibly. Governors propose and Legislatures dispose.