Star Tribune
Democrats were undisciplined and stubborn. They just want to raise taxes.
By RON CAREY
Last update: May 24, 2009 - 1:05 PM
This legislative session, we have seen a stark contrast in leadership from those at the Capitol.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty offered a balanced budget starting in January. Facing a $5 billion deficit, he worked to set the priorities in state government, incorporated reform and kept Minnesota looking to the future. By not raising taxes, we will be able to attract and encourage businesses to hire more workers so we can emerge from this recession.
On the other hand, Democrats passed spending bills that left the budget unbalanced by $3 billion. In a last-minute stunt, they passed another tax increase to claim they offered a balanced budget even though they didn't have the votes to override a veto. It's a disturbing lack of leadership from the Democrats in charge of the Legislature to fail in their most basic of tasks -- to balance the budget.
Fortunately, Pawlenty will not call a special session and will not allow a government shutdown. He will use the power of line-item vetoes to reduce Democrats' out-of-control spending and will use the process of unallotment to cross the final gap. The decisions he is forced to make because of the Democrats' failure are not easy, but it's exactly the kind of bold leadership we needed in our state. The Democrats, too willing to accept a special session, relish the threat of a shutdown and consistently delay their work to the last minute.
While the Democrats stomp their feet and call Pawlenty names, they have only themselves to blame. They took three months to unveil their tax-increase proposals. They missed their own self-imposed deadlines to pass budget bills. They passed spending bills unbalanced by $3 billion. Then they deliberately passed a last-minute veto-bait tax increase that had no chance of standing.
Democrats refused to sit down with Pawlenty to examine meaningful reforms to state government to reduce the out-of-control rate of growth in large parts of the budget. Instead, they sought to pass the buck to average Minnesotans through myriad tax increases, even though they knew they didn't have the votes to override a veto. Under their proposals, Democrats would have eliminated the home mortgage interest deduction, would have raised income taxes and alcohol taxes, and would have imposed taxes on Internet downloads. No Minnesotans would have escaped the raid on their pocketbooks.
Although Larry Pogemiller and Margaret Anderson Kelliher are fond of accusing Pawlenty of unwillingness to compromise, the Democrats refused to work with Pawlenty. He extended several offers incorporating some of their key priorities and accepting some of their positions, but the Democrats stubbornly refused to give up on forcing Minnesotans to pay billions more in taxes. Raising taxes on working families and struggling businesses during a recession is a recipe for disaster, and Pawlenty was right to stand his ground and say no to more taxes.
In the end, Minnesota will be stronger for Pawlenty's decisive action. The unallotments and line-item vetoes aren't the ideal solution to the budget, but they are the best available tools we have to prevent further overreach from Democrats.
Ron Carey is chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota.
Democrats were undisciplined and stubborn. They just want to raise taxes.
By RON CAREY
Last update: May 24, 2009 - 1:05 PM
This legislative session, we have seen a stark contrast in leadership from those at the Capitol.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty offered a balanced budget starting in January. Facing a $5 billion deficit, he worked to set the priorities in state government, incorporated reform and kept Minnesota looking to the future. By not raising taxes, we will be able to attract and encourage businesses to hire more workers so we can emerge from this recession.
On the other hand, Democrats passed spending bills that left the budget unbalanced by $3 billion. In a last-minute stunt, they passed another tax increase to claim they offered a balanced budget even though they didn't have the votes to override a veto. It's a disturbing lack of leadership from the Democrats in charge of the Legislature to fail in their most basic of tasks -- to balance the budget.
Fortunately, Pawlenty will not call a special session and will not allow a government shutdown. He will use the power of line-item vetoes to reduce Democrats' out-of-control spending and will use the process of unallotment to cross the final gap. The decisions he is forced to make because of the Democrats' failure are not easy, but it's exactly the kind of bold leadership we needed in our state. The Democrats, too willing to accept a special session, relish the threat of a shutdown and consistently delay their work to the last minute.
While the Democrats stomp their feet and call Pawlenty names, they have only themselves to blame. They took three months to unveil their tax-increase proposals. They missed their own self-imposed deadlines to pass budget bills. They passed spending bills unbalanced by $3 billion. Then they deliberately passed a last-minute veto-bait tax increase that had no chance of standing.
Democrats refused to sit down with Pawlenty to examine meaningful reforms to state government to reduce the out-of-control rate of growth in large parts of the budget. Instead, they sought to pass the buck to average Minnesotans through myriad tax increases, even though they knew they didn't have the votes to override a veto. Under their proposals, Democrats would have eliminated the home mortgage interest deduction, would have raised income taxes and alcohol taxes, and would have imposed taxes on Internet downloads. No Minnesotans would have escaped the raid on their pocketbooks.
Although Larry Pogemiller and Margaret Anderson Kelliher are fond of accusing Pawlenty of unwillingness to compromise, the Democrats refused to work with Pawlenty. He extended several offers incorporating some of their key priorities and accepting some of their positions, but the Democrats stubbornly refused to give up on forcing Minnesotans to pay billions more in taxes. Raising taxes on working families and struggling businesses during a recession is a recipe for disaster, and Pawlenty was right to stand his ground and say no to more taxes.
In the end, Minnesota will be stronger for Pawlenty's decisive action. The unallotments and line-item vetoes aren't the ideal solution to the budget, but they are the best available tools we have to prevent further overreach from Democrats.
Ron Carey is chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota.
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