That’s why I’m disappointed with an amendment in the Minnesota Senate by none other than Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller:
The original omnibus proposal by chair Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) [PIM item] would have imposed across-the-board income tax increases that sunset in 2014. Pogemiller’s amendment changes the sunset provision by causing the new rates to blink off, or to be reduced, in the event that any February revenue forecast prior to 2014 indicates that the state’s general fund will be balanced as of June 30 of that year.
Sure, it sounds great politically. Pogemiller is sending the message that we’re only raising taxes because we’re in a crisis, and we’ll undo it as soon as possible. The problem is that our budget crisis won’t really be over when the recession ends. It will only end when we start regularly taking in more revenue than we spend on a regular basis. That means higher taxes and fewer services — not just in this biennium, but for decades.
they need to be replaced. No if ands or buts.
this is the time when we need leaders and politicians who aren’t worried about the next election cycle or the party.
but fixing the problem.
we need people who are willing to say, I will run and serve only 1 term if thats what it takes to fix these problems.
but as long as people worry about the next election cycle we won’t have any meaningful changes.
You cannot continually grow a budget past either GDP increases or inflation increases….period. Its just that simple. We already spend too much money on pubic services and those high costs are not a result of “increased services” but rather the high costs to deliver said services, and the basic government inefficiency. Public sector jobs, all of them, should be paid in relation to the JOB being performed, NOT the length of employment. There should NEVER be a “career” government job, in my opinion. Government jobs should be entry level jobs (OK, NOT literally…there are some high skill positions) in terms of pay, etc. Do we need Master Degree Elementary teachers? Do we need $90,000 per year bus drivers? Do we need $65,000 per year DMV clerks? Do we need $50,000 per year parks and rec workers? The NUMBER ONE cost to government is LABOR….direct labor. And that labor is paid at such a high level for the work performed, with guaranteed increases and good benefits, that most people see the incentive to maintain the public sector job forever. Is ANY society BEST served with the vast majority of people seeking low-skilled, high paying, non-incentive government career jobs?
The amendment? Its the best idea Poge ever had. Why NOT sunset tax increases that exceed the normal rates of inflation? Is your goal to have government be the highest growth sector in America? You do know, I am sure, that it currently is.
Money equals power and freedom. Who should have the power and freedom? Government?
Not posting comments? Site is goofy.