Red Rock On Air

(Written by MN Senator Tony Lourey (DFL-Kerrick)

Legislators began the 2009 Legislative Session facing the largest budget deficit in Minnesota history.  From the beginning, we advocated and worked for a long-term and fiscally responsible solution to this economic crisis.  In the end, we passed a balanced budget that used significant, but fair, cuts to state programs, provided the increased revenue needed for budget stability, and prioritized the things that make Minnesota a great place to live.  Our approach avoided massive cuts to local police and fire services, and maintained funding for our schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Unfortunately, the governor’s “no new taxes” rhetoric stood in the way of this balanced solution.  He refused our continued attempts for a compromise that would set our state on a path for economic recovery.  In the final days of the legislative session, lawmakers were told that we could either adopt his budget proposal or he would unilaterally make further cuts to the state budget through unallotments.

The governor’s budget proposal simply could not be adopted.  Beyond the fact that it relied on the irresponsible borrowing of $1 billion against future funds, indebted Minnesota taxpayers an additional $800 million to pay off this debt, and made horrific cuts to our state’s most vulnerable citizens, it did not balance.

To restore fiscal stability to our state, a balanced approach of spending reductions and sustainable revenue is needed.  The governor made it clear that he was unwilling to accept any new revenue.  So despite our best efforts to pass a responsible and balanced budget, it appears the governor will now move forward on his own terms, slashing funding from health care, colleges and universities, and local governments.

The governor already line-item vetoed the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program, a cruel action that will remove 30,000 of the sickest and poorest Minnesotans from their basic health care.  This veto will also jeopardize the budget of nearly every Minnesota hospital, and will likely cause immediate layoffs and potential closures.  For example, the Pine Medical Center will lose $182,000 under this cut.  Mercy Hospital will lose $478,000 in funding, Kanabec Hospital $569,000, and Cloquet Community Memorial $1.1 million.  These devastating cuts are not only taking away people’s health care, but their jobs as well.

If the governor moves forward with his unallotment plans, nursing homes will also suffer.  His proposed $5.5 million cut will impede the ability to provide quality care to senior citizens, along with the potential for additional job loss and facility closures.  Locally, for example, the Villa could see a $645,000 cut, and the Inter-Faith Care Center a $766,000 reduction.

Support for local government police and fire protection is also a target of the governor’s unallotment plans.  His recommendation for cutting state aid equates to a $619,000 reduction to Cloquet, a $142,000 loss to Mora, $75,000 to Hinckley, $163,000 to Pine City, $144,000 to Sandstone, $49,000 to Carlton, $101,000 to Moose Lake, $20,000 to Askov, and $14,000 to Willow River.  The governor’s proposal will increase property taxes by 11.5 percent in Greater Minnesota.

I’m deeply troubled that the governor was not willing to compromise and adopt a balanced and responsible budget for the good of his state.  The Legislature wanted a long-term solution that would protect folks’ priorities— a great education for our kids, quality care for our seniors in nursing homes, and medical care in rural areas.  Now the things that Minnesotans hold dear are subject to the governor’s wrath through unallotments.

His willingness to single-handedly dismantle the budget proves that he is putting his short-term national ambitions ahead of the long-term needs of the state.  Unfortunately, the governor has figured out that realities facing your state do not follow you to the national scene, but your political rhetoric does.  So, in the end, Minnesota is being left behind with the governor’s no new taxes pledge.

I sincerely hope the governor comes in off the ledge and accepts a compromise that can work for Minnesota.  We stand ready and we are able to work quickly if called upon.  It is up to him to call us back to do what is right for the state.

I encourage you to contact me with your questions or comments on any issue.  You may call me at 651-296-0293, send an e-mail to sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn, or write to 303 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155.