The Taxpayers Legaue of Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Phil Krinkie

Phone: (651) 294-3590

Legislative Leaders Complain About Unallotment but Vote to Increase Spending on Arts and Entertainment

ST. PAUL - While difficult decisions are being made on reducing state government spending in order to balance the state budget, special interests are about to receive millions in taxpayer dollars to spend for their pet projects. Thanks to the recently passed constitutionally dedicated sales tax increase for arts and outdoor entertainment, these groups will see an increase in spending while funding for health care and other state services are being reduced due to the $6.4 billion state deficit.

"This is the problem with constitutionally dedicating tax dollars for special interest spending," said Taxpayers League of Minnesota President Phil Krinkie. "When there is a deficit and you dedicate tax dollars for certain types of special interest programs, you remove funds that could be used to help balance the state budget."

"There are meetings being held around the state and at the capitol to discuss how reductions in state spending for some programs will hurt people, yet various arts programs are about to receive a $98 million increase in state funding," added Krinkie. "The legislature capitulated to special interests to place the sales tax question on the ballot and now they are complaining about the lack of state resources."

The constitutionally dedicated sales tax increase is effective July 1st 2009. The arts and outdoor entertainment finance bill was passed during the 2009 legislative session and would spend over $396 million.

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A list of questionable spending projects can be found here.