Pawlenty Scoffs at Middle-Class Minnesotans’ Concerns

11/15/2007

Confronted with Job Losses, Property-Tax Increases, Education-Funding Shortages, and Crumbling Roads, Pawlenty Writes Off Minnesotans’ Concerns


St. Paul, MN (November 15, 2007) As Minnesotans are faced with increasing job losses, skyrocketing property taxes, school-funding shortages across the state, and a crumbling transportation infrastructure, the DFL Party said today that middle-class Minnesotans deserve real leadership from Governor Pawlenty to get things done for this state by supporting transportation-funding and tax bills that create jobs, improve our roads and bridges, and reduce property taxes.

“Governor Pawlenty’s politics are destroying Minnesota. His opposition to progress is sending property taxes up, sending away businesses and jobs, and starving our schools and our roads and bridges, all while he protects tax breaks for his rich and the powerful friends,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez.

“The Governor never should have vetoed the tax bill,” said State Senator Tom Bakk, Chairman of the Minnesota Senate Tax Committee. “That bill provided thousands of good paying construction jobs, permanent jobs for many Minnesotans, and substantial property tax relief.”

“Vetoes aren’t leadership, and Tim Pawlenty isn’t leading — instead he just keeps writing off the challenges that middle-class Minnesotans face every day, like soaring healthcare costs, unemployment, crowded schools, and crumbling roads and bridges,” continued Melendez. “Instead, he and President Bush stand in the way of common-sense proposals that will help Minnesotans create jobs, educate our children, and rebuild our transportation infrastructure. In Tim Pawlenty’s Minnesota, will all suffer the consequences.”


Pawlenty Scoffs at Middle-Class Minnesotans’ Concerns:


Governor Dismissed Concerns of Real Minnesotans. After hearing that unemployed IBEW electrical workers had testified to their discontent with the governor’s policies, Pawlenty responded, “’What my DFL friends don't understand is you can't government your way to prosperity. You have to have a real economy,’ he said. ‘So their answer is ‘We'd have a better economy if the governor would spend more government money on projects and raise taxes?’” [WCCO (AP), 11/14/07]

Minnesota Lost Nearly 27,000 Jobs in Four Months. Minnesota lost nearly 27,000 jobs in the last four months, with 6,600 jobs lost in October 9,200 jobs in September. [Star Tribune, 11/13/07]

In May, Minnesota’s Unemployment Rate Jumped Above National Rate for First Time in 31 Years. In May, the state’s 4.6 unemployment rate, up from 3.9 percent the year before, surpassed the nation’s 4.5 percent rate, which was the first time in 31 years that the Minnesota jobless rate was higher than the national rate. [Star Tribune, 6/13/07]

Economy, Mortgage Crisis Worries Minnesotans. “According to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll, 70 percent of Minnesotans are either “very” or “somewhat” worried about the fallout from the mortgage lending woes on the nation’s economy.” [Star Tribune, 10/6/07]

Vetoed by Governor Pawlenty, Tax Bill Included Mall of America Expansion, Promised 6,000 Jobs. “The state Department of Employment and Economic Development estimates that construction of the project will create 3,700 to 5,860 jobs, primarily in building-related industries. The project will generate $179 million to $315 million in personal income each year during construction.” [Star Tribune, 6/27/07]

Cities Across the State Are Facing Deficits and Property Tax Increases. St. Paul will raise their property tax by almost 15 percent in 2008, while Minneapolis could raise property taxes as much as 8 percent. In Greater Minnesota, Pawlenty’s veto of the tax bill cost Bemidji $437, 739 in state aid for 2008 and Mankato lost $750,000 in 2008 with the tax bill veto. [Star Tribune, 9/17/07; Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 9/24/07; Bemidji Pioneer, 7/25/07; Mankato Free Press, 9/14/07]

School Funding Decreases Lead to Historic Levy Asks. From 2003 to 2007, total state aid to Minnesota public schools fell by $869 million after adjusting for inflation in school costs. This amounts to a loss of about $1,000 per pupil over the four-year period. As a result, 99 school districts went to voters this fall to pass additional funding to educate our kids, and only 67 percent of them passed at least one question. [Workday Minnesota, 11/4/07; Star Tribune, 11/8/07]