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1. Bloated Borrowing Bill Gets OK’ed by Liberals
2. Two Weeks, Two Bills, Two Vetoes
3. Just Say No to Phone Books
4. Government Gambles on Racetrack Slots
5. Roads vs. Rails – Roads Lose Again
1. Bloated Borrowing Bill Gets OK’ed by Liberals
Liberals succeeded in pushing an unsustainable and unaffordable $1 billion bonding bill through the legislature late Tuesday night. The DFL finished drafting the bonding bill behind closed doors with little public input in conference committee around 1 a.m. Monday and voted to approve the bill less than 24 hours later.
Within the billion dollar borrowing bill, the DFL gave no money for renovation of the Minneapolis Veterans Home or Moose Lake Correctional Facility, but includes numerous pork projects including:
- $1 million for the Theodore Wirth Park Winter Recreation Area
- $2 million for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- $11 million for the Como Zoo
- $16 million for Minneapolis Orchestra Hall
- $16 million for Ordway Performing Arts Center
Even before the vote was taken, Governor Pawlenty warned he would veto the bill.
ACTION ALERT!
Remember, once the bill is sent to Governor Pawlenty a veto override can be brought up at anytime! So, please contact Republican House members and ask them to support Governor Pawlenty’s veto of this bloated spending bill!
Contact information can be found here for all GOP House members.
2. Two Weeks, Two Bills, Two Vetoes
With little more than two weeks into the 2010 legislative session, the DFL- controlled House and Senate have pushed two major spending bills through the process. The first to reach Governor Pawlenty’s desk was a $283 million “fix” for the General Assistance Medical Care program, which was met with an immediate veto.
The second, a billion dollar pork-laden borrowing bill, which passed the House and Senate conference committee earlier this week, will meet a similar fate after legislators refused to downsize the bill.
“I’m stunned by the total lack of discussion about the budget,” said Phil Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League and 16-year legislative veteran. “How can lawmakers be so blind to the fact that the state is on the path to bankruptcy?”
Krinkie added, “Resolving the $1.2 billion budget deficit is job one, digging the budget hole deeper is just fiscally irresponsible. Governor Pawlenty put a balanced budget proposal on the table last week, which should be the legislature’s focus, not spending money the state doesn’t have.”
Thank Governor Pawlenty for his opposition of these two budget busters at
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3. Just Say No to Phone Books
Amidst a budget crisis and economic recession, Rep. Paul Gardner, DFL-Shoreview, has taken the time and paper to craft a bill that would require phone book publishers to print on the cover directions for how residents can say no to further unsolicited deliveries.
In order to ease taxpayers’ anxiety over the growing number of yellow pages in the state, the legislation will mandate that directions should explain how to opt out either via a phone call or at a website address.
To read more click here.
4. Government Gambles on Racetrack Slots
In a backdoor effort to build a Vikings stadium, State Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, and Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, announced a plan that they say will infuse $125 million a year into the economy by allowing slot machines at horse-racing tracks.
Dubbed the "Jobs, Family and Economic Development Fund" legislation, better known to taxpayers as “Wilf Family and Viking Player Fund,,” would allow slots and video gambling at Shakopee's Canterbury Park and Running Aces in Columbus, bringing the state an estimated $125 million a year.
The money would be split five ways. A cut would go to recreational and athletic facilities, possibly including the Vikings. Other slices would be for early childhood education, rural development, bioscience and the state's general fund.
To read more click here.
5. Roads vs. Rails – Roads Lose Again
News that construction of a St. Croix River bridge south of Stillwater is being put on hold due to lack of funding was quickly followed up with an announcement that $35 million in federal stimulus will instead be granted to St. Paul’s Union Depot. The federal government has decided that restoring the Depot’s glass-ceilinged concourse and terra cotta details is more important than rerouting vehicles from Stillwater’s worn out lift bridge.
No one is sure how much it will cost to restore Union Depot, but preliminary estimates put the price tag close to $240 million, including money already spent to buy the land.
Officials have cobbled together a combination of funds – taxpayer-backed loans from the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority and the state – but a huge chunk of the expected work remains unfunded.
To read more click here. |
