Late last week, Governor Dayton and Republican legislative leaders struck a “framework” budget deal that would close a $1.4 billion budget gap and end the longest government shutdown in state history. Unfortunately for Minnesota, progressive new revenue was not part of this deal.
The 2011 budget fight illustrates the extremes to which Republicans have gone to hurt Minnesotans. The GOP has put a set of impossible choices in front of the Governor, refusing to compromise because multi-millionaires are more important to them than everyone else — even their own constituents.
Throughout negotiations, which shut our government down for two painful weeks, hurting tens of thousands, Republican legislators have refused to put the economic security of 99%+ of Minnesotans ahead of protecting the richest 7,700 individuals. The GOP plan creates an even bigger problem for 2013, closing the $1.4 billion gap by increasing Minnesota’s debt load and fiscal instability with K-12 school payment shifts and borrowing against the state’s tobacco revenue stream.
Both will have to be repaid with future dollars adding further to our state’s economic distress.
The GOP has consistently championed government that works for Minnesota’s richest individuals and corporations. Their proposed deal forces the poorest Minnesotans to sacrifice even further while the wealthiest remain untouched. It shifts funds from our state’s classrooms into additional profits for the banking industry.
We recognize that ending the shutdown is critically important. Thousands of Minnesotans must get back to work and earn paychecks again. State-subsidized health care for 140,000 Minnesotans must be protected. Mental health services have to be delivered and housebound seniors deserve to have personal care attendants visit them.
But the shutdown is a symptom of a much larger problem that continues to eat away at our state — Minnesota’s revenue crisis. While the budget deal struck yesterday may end the shutdown, the immediate crisis, our state is not out of the woods. We need a long-term structural solution to our revenue crisis.
Without progressive taxation, future shutdowns and drastic cuts to state services remain on the horizon. That’s why we need to elect a legislature in 2012 that will work with our governor to make permanent, progressive revenue increases a reality.
Here in Minnesota, we’ve led the fight for progressive new revenue longer than any other state. And despite the budget deal now in place, Governor Dayton remains committed to permanent revenue increases which would provide long-term financial stability for Minnesota. The missing piece is a legislature that shares the governor’s vision for fiscal stability. Legislators willing to do what’s fair for Minnesotans. Legislators choosing to raise revenue to protect our future.
That’s something we can do something about, starting now. Please join us in this fight to elect a progressive legislature as we move into the 2012 election cycle.
