On Feb. 16, Governor Pawlenty released his proposal to address the State’s $1.2 billion dollar projected deficit. Pawlenty wants to cover this shortfall with cuts in state spending. He pledged again to veto any balanced approach that Democrats put forth that included a combination of cuts and tax increases.
Pawlenty wants to cut $250 million in Local Government Aid (LGA) to cities and counties, including:
- $458,464 in cuts to Houston County
- $389,715 in cuts to Fillmore County
- $127,965 in cuts to Caledonia
- $153,325 in cuts to Chatfield
- $15,142 in cuts to Canton
- $36,911 in cuts to Hokah
- $62,435 in cuts to Houston
- $207,304 in cuts to La Crescent
- $51,035 in cuts to Lanesboro
- $44,895 in cuts to Mabel
- $98,955 in cuts to Preston
- $113,298 in cuts to Rushford
- $72,684 in cuts to Spring Grove
Of course what this actually means is that local services like road repair will not be done or local governments will be forced to raise property taxes to pay for these expenses.
The Governor can pledge “No New Taxes” but the reality is that his reductions in aids to local government have constantly caused property tax increases over the last seven years.
In addition, Pawlenty proposes $347 million in cuts to state health and human services programs - projected to adversely impact 40,000 Minnesotans, $47 million in cuts to higher education, and $181 million in cuts to state agencies.
Then to top it off the Governor, who has constantly bashed the Obama Administration for the federal stimulus spending, is relying on $387 million in additional Medicaid funding in the stimulus bill to balance one third of the state’s projected deficit.
Democrats in the Legislature will be putting forth a balanced proposal of spending cuts and revenue increases that the vast majority of Minnesotans would support.
The real question is will Republican legislators in the House, like Greg Davids, continue to support the Governor’s cuts to schools, healthcare and local government aid? Or will Greg Davids and other Republicans work in a bipartisan manner and join Democrats in overriding the Governor’s vetoes?
Ken Tschumper
Former representative
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