[Winona Online Democracy] Craig and others on line
Has the DFL Senate Majority bought into the DFL Minority House Plan for without the Senate signing on it would seem more of a pipedream than a proposal with any merit of passing? It is even more interesting that the DFL House Minority would try to soft peddle the plan by throwing in a tax cut, to punish the fat cats, and buy votes of the skinny cats, when most proposals the public seems willing to be willing to accept is to hold the line by reducing spending or by increasing user taxes or fees for those things which some feel represent added value for which they are willing to pay more. Government jobs and non profit job compensation, not manufacturing jobs, seems to be the only thing that has been doing well and growing in Minnesota in the past few years. It is time the put balance back not throw fuel on the fire! Any tax increase is another incentive to leave Minnesota, another machine to replace a manufacturing company worker, another foreign company that just increased sales or another pay cut to stay competitive. The freight charges on a container of goods from across the ocean to Minnesota is less than a truckload delivery from the west coast! That's the real world like it or not. Paul Double [EMAIL PROTECTED] [Winona Online Democracy] Rep. Pelowski suggested this be share with the WOD group. Craig Brooks -----Original Message----- From: Gene Pelowski [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 12:08 PM To: Craig Brooks Subject: Re: House DFL Budget Plan FYI Rep. Gene Pelowski "Please note the impact on LGA, Nursing Homes and Education. This is a balanced approach to addressing the budget crisis and shares the pain rather than have Greater Minnesota bear the burden of the cuts and property tax increases." HOUSE DFL UNVEILS BOLD TAX-CUTTING BUDGET PLAN Proposal cuts taxes for most Minnesota taxpayers, restores funds to education, protects public safety House Democrats have developed a plan to solve the state's budget deficit while reducing income taxes for Minnesota families with incomes of less than half a million dollars - and also protecting education and public safety. "This is a bold new direction for Minnesota," House DFL Leader Matt Entenza said. "Not only do we prevent the most devastating budget cuts sought by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Republican lawmakers, but we restore the element of fairness to our tax system that has all but disappeared. The Governor said everyone would have to share the pain. But his plan spared the tiny fraction of Minnesotans with ultra-high incomes while placing all the pain on the working family, the senior, the Main Street business owner, the farmer and the college student." Key elements of what's called the "Balance and Fairness Plan" unveiled today include: * Education funding at all levels from pre-school through college is held harmless. All of the cuts proposed by Gov. Pawlenty are avoided - and so are the increases in local school property taxes and college tuition that would have followed those cuts. * Cuts to the criminal justice system that would have impaired fair and speedy trials are restored. * Cuts in aid to cities and counties are reduced to a minimal 5 percent, only about one-fifth of what the governor proposed - a level that can be absorbed without forcing phenomenal city and county property tax increases. * Cuts in senior programs like Meals on Wheels and nursing home funding are fully restored. * Recovering income tax revenue from individuals making more than a quarter of a million dollars a year and households with incomes of more than half a million dollars a year. And by lowering income tax rates to ensure households at all levels on the economic ladder pay an equal share, this plan also creates an income tax cut for virtually all Minnesota taxpayers. The House DFL plan also adopts several elements common to both the Senate DFL and Republican-authored budget plans, including use of funds from the tobacco endowments and the various payment adjustments and shifts. "Republicans are attempting to use this budget crisis to undo 30 years of progress in Minnesota, rolling back senior services, health care, environmental protection, consumer protection, worker protection and efforts to make the tax system fair and balanced," Entenza said. "This budget crisis is a serious problem and not a time for imposing a conservative social agenda in the guise of a budget-balancing plan." In dozens of town meetings across the state, legislators heard consistent and repeated pleas from citizens to protect the things that made Minnesota a great place to live and work, Entenza said - "and this plan is deeply rooted in our shared belief that Minnesota can continue to be a place where we extend our hand to our neighbors." But the most important fact about the House DFL budget plan is that it is honest, Entenza said. "The Governor promised 'no tax hikes' but in recent months he's carved out exceptions for local property taxes and fees. He promised to protect education and seniors, then cut both," Entenza said. "Our plan is up front about where the pain will be felt. Our plan is up front about where we will cut. That may be the boldest and most innovative feature of all." -30- Comparing the Plans... CATEGORY HOUSE DFL PLAN GOV. PAWLENTY'S PLAN HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLAN E-12 Education Funding NO CUT $546 million cut $546 million cut Higher Education NO CUT $361 million cut $311 million cut Meals on Wheels; nursing homes; prescription drug program NO CUTS, full funding for these senior services Eliminates funding for Meals on Wheels; cuts nursing homes by $150 million; eliminates expansion of drug program Slight increase in funding over the Gov. for Meals on Wheels; cuts nursing homes by $88 million; eliminates expansion of the drug program Aids to Cities and Counties 5% reduction 19.6% reduction 17% reduction Tax Plans Income tax cut for families making under $500K/year! Local property tax increases; cigarette tax increase Local property tax Increases; cigarette tax increase Ethanol Producer Payments 5% reduction 50% reduction 35% reduction Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. 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