Tick tock! From One week to adjournment, legislators push budget bills:
Pawlenty and legislative leaders met briefly Sunday, but did not agree on how to erase the state's $935 million projected budget deficit.
DFLers who control the House and Senate say they will start passing budget bills today, even though the governor has threatened to veto them.Â
Put on your political prediction hats and tell us what you think will happen with Minnesota's budget.
This is an open discussion. Your related articles are welcome and your comments may be quoted as part of http://www.mpr.org/your_voice
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Julia Schrenkler
Interactive Producer
Minnesota Public Radio
American Public Media
Objects in Mirror
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Comments: 19
So you hope central corridor doesn't go through... but any predictions, Tim?
I was flagged that Midday today will host an hour about how they're still negotiating at the Capitol. Today 5/12, Noon ET | 11 CT
The other problem we have in Minnesota is progressive taxation. It is wonderful that those nasty wealthy people pay the majority of taxes but unfortunetly their incomes fluxuate more than the modest incomes of average people --- thus the state's revenues keeps rapidly oscillating between giddy surpluses and depressing short-falls.
Try skytraincorp.com/ . They have been around for awhile, trying to get a demonstration project funded by someone. Hopefully they won't give up.
Light rail stops are about 1 mile apart, mostly due to speed, but also due to aggravation of many frequent stops.
Why can't politicians have any spending restraint?
Don't blame that one on Pawlenty. The DFL refuses to compromise on $20 Billion in pet projects. They are just as easily save health care funding as Pawlenty by shifting their priorities in that direction.
The sad truth is the DFL is sacrificing the healthcare fund to generate an issue against the Governor. This is politics at its most cynical.
Sure, that's true Jim, but a highly progressive tax system like ours suffers greater fluctuations.
The big problem with "planning" is motivating the legislature to save surpluses. They do love a spending spree, and they do love to ratchet up the cost of government.
There may be a State that is highly progressive in it's taxes, but I am not aware of which one it might be. Regressive taxes and fees are the only thing passing State Legislatures.
(found a big limb on that one)
Ah heck, I won't make you work, Tim
Income tax 29.5%
Property tax 28%
Excise tax 12% (booze and cigarettes)
Sales tax 20.5%
Fees (other) 7%
Now I certainly admit that the booze and cigarette tax is the most regressive taxes we have since it hits the poorest of the poor the hardest -- but then it is a 100% DFL tax that most progressives applaud.
I guess they just don't care about poor people.
I'm no fan of the other taxes listed.
For instance, a $20 million mansion does not require more school resources than an $90K bungalow in a lousy neighborhood, yet the mansion will be pay a far greater share of government costs than the bungalow.. In reality, the lowest value homes most often require the most government expense in terms of school funding, police protection and social services.