Pawlenty vetoes tax bill
"Ultimately, he has to work with us, Minnesota's elected representatives, to balance the budget," said DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher in a news release issued moments after the veto. "He remains caught in a fiscal straight jacket of his own making. This is the time for him to negotiate."
Kelliher, the DFL endorsee for governor, said that "We will not compromise on our kids and schools, care for the elderly and disabled and the overall safety of our communities."
It was not immediately clear early Tuesday whether Democrats will attempt to override Pawlenty's veto. DFLers fell far short of the numbers needed for an override in their initial votes and Republicans say they intend to support the governor.
The veto was reminiscent of earlier face-offs between the outgoing governor and DFL leaders -- and perhaps a harbinger of what may lie ahead this week as legislators try to resolve the budget crisis before adjourning Monday.
Though Pawlenty and DFLers averted a veto showdown in February over a then-$1 billion building projects proposal, the tension between DFLers and the governor -- a Republican presidential aspirant -- has been mounting and actually goes back to last year's controversial end to the legislative session.
In the final days of last year's session Pawlenty, employing a budgetary tool known as unallotment, made unilateral spending cuts as he and DFLers reached another political impasse. Days later, the governor's veto on health care and tax increases were sustained when DFLers could not corral enough votes to override the governor.
But Pawlenty's unallotment move led to a Minnesota Supreme Court challenge. That ended last week when state's highest court ruled against Pawlenty in a 4 to 3 decision.
The ruling landed a $3 billion deficit in legislators' laps with time running out and DFLers and Republicans still pointing fingers of blame.
The latest showdown began Friday when the Minnesota House declined to ratify Pawlenty's unallotment cuts from last year while the governor convened an emergency cabinet meeting to brace for major state government cuts.
The chasm continued Monday when both the House and Senate, on close votes, passed the budget-balancing packages with the tax increase.
In a long day of debate Monday, that at times became pointed, Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park, said that few Minnesotans wanted a budget fix that relied entirely on tax increases -- or budget cuts -- and instead wanted a "blend" of both.
"That's common sense," Simon said. "That's what I think Mr. and Mrs. Minnesota want. But we have this cult-like devotion to 'no-new-taxes.'"
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Just one of you give me a legit answer as to why my 52,500 salary should be taxed at a higher rate than someone making 113,000. I've love to hear the "logic."
You need a new tax preparer. Minnesota's income tax rates for married filing jointly are 5.35% ($33,220 and below). 7.05% up to $131,970 and 7.85% over $131,971. If you are single, then go to the Minnesota Department of Revenue to see the applicable rates.**********
Are Republicans Worried About Deficits or Not?
From 1981 to 1993 and 2001 to 2009, absolutely not. The bigger the shortfall, the better. Why? Because they were covertly trying to bury the federal government in debt... and if the states suffered too, so much the better. Massive collateral damage to the general US economy? Not a problem! Pawlenty has become the perfect Republican goon, trying to emulate his brainless hero, George W. Bush (as GWB tried to emulate Reagan.) Most people would be embarrassed by this level of damage to the US economy, but not these guys. They want to WIN! They don't give damn about anything but political power, and since they use it to screw everything up... well, WHO caused more damage to the US: Osama bin Laden or these so-called 'conservative' 'Republicans'? The 'Republicans' by several orders of magnitude. As long as THEY have political power, whatever mess the rest of us try to live in... is just paradise. Impeach Pawlenty.***************
Dictator
He's doing what he thinks he has to do for his national image. Screw the state!****************
NO NEW TAXES = Jokes on MN
As the quality and scope of government under Tim P's mismanagement shrivels and services to state residents dissipate the anti-governor continues his assault upon the poorest populace in the state. Taxing the richest to help offset the problems created by Republicans is only part of the solution. The other parts dear readers will be to vote in the upcoming election for a governor who understands that government is created to serve the residents of the state, not the corporations or the rich who live separate lives from the majority of us.****************
gobush
The democratic party is no longer the party of Truman and JFK, just as the republican party is no longer the party of Teddy Roosevelt and Eisenhower. The GOP has been hijacked by jingoistic, war mongering, religious zealots who exercise no better fiscal constraint than their liberal counterparts. TPaw is being obstructionist and he's grandstanding to appear worthy of a presidential bid in 2 years.***************
Message to Governor Pawlenty:
RESIGN IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT!!!!****************
The conservative posters seem to have missed
The line in the article that says "Democrats insist they are dealing with a governor who refuses to negotiate, that they have given him more than 85 percent of what he wants and yet he has refused to budge." Is a 15% compromise not adequate to you? You then truly are, the party of 'no'.*****************
Governed by the unserious
The best republicans can come up with is that individuals making over 100k a year are living paycheck to paycheck and couldn't possibly afford a MARGINAL Tax increase? It doesn't pass the laugh test.********************
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