(OPINION) Latz: GOP Passed a 'Beg, Borrow and Steal' Budget

After a 20-day state government shutdown that forced thousands of employees out of work and cost the state millions of dollars, Senate Republicans finally passed a two-year spending plan on July 19 that borrows nearly $3 billion to cover the majority of the state’s $5 billion deficit. While I’m disappointed that Republicans’ refusal to compromise resulted in such a fiscally irresponsible budget solution, I respect Gov. Dayton for doing everything in his power to end this shutdown and get Minnesotans back to work. Unfortunately, we will be paying for the Republicans’ beg, borrow, and steal budget for decades to come.

I was not happy with the overall budget deal, particularly how the additional revenue was obtained. I did, however, vote for one budget bill that I found to be palatable. I voted yes on the Judiciary and Public Safety bill as it was very close to the governor’s original budget and had fewer cuts in the key areas of human rights, the courts, public defenders and juvenile programs. Although it still transferred funds from the Fire Safety Account, the amount of transfer was cut by more than half.

I also voted yes on the bonding bill, which passed with bi-partisan support. Heavily focused on preserving and renovating current public building assets, it will promptly provide 15,000 jobs. The bill included provisions that I worked to include: funding for the U of M Physics & Nanotechnology Building, corrective language for the Perpich Center for Performing Arts and the re-authorization of money for the Glencoe railroad switching yard to move blocking operations out of St. Louis Park.

I supported the bipartisan passage of the Legacy Funding Bill and a bill to address the stability of government worker retirements and pensions (including police, firefighters and teachers).

Unfortunately, the rest of the budget areas still had drastic cuts and significantly reduced effectiveness of our transportation system as well as other programs. I voted no on these bills: K-12 Education, Transportation, Jobs & Economic Growth, Environment, Energy & Commerce, and Taxes. The K-12 bill had the massive school funding shift, borrowing from our kids’ education to pay for our current spending.  The Tax bill had the foolish tobacco bonds in it, which will cost $1.2 billion to borrow $700 million. I was particularly disappointed in the Higher Education bill with its massive cuts to the U of M and MnSCU systems. Students and their parents will pay higher tuition (read “tax”) to make up many of the cuts.  Educating more students with less money is a true “job killing” bill.

I have included a brief summary (Editor's Note: Click on the PDF to the right for the summary.) of what was included in each of the bills. I have also included the bill log that lists the Senate and House file for each of the bills if you would like to look them up at www.senate.mn to read them in detail. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.