[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: A Hypothetical Question for the DFL

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
A Hypothetical Question for the DFL
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1243139871.shtml


   Roughly speaking, we had a $6 billion budget shortfall this biennium,
   a third of which will presumably be covered by the "stimulus" funds.
   The DFL budget bills cut this by another $1 billion, $3 billion to go.
   Unable to resolve a House - Senate divide on a tax bill raising up to
   $2 billion, the DFL leadership threw together a stop gap $1 billion
   tax increase, leaving $2 billion presumably "saved" by accounting
   shifts.
   The Governor vetoed the tax increase, and is now using his line item
   veto and unallotment powers to close the gap. Since he wasn't getting
   any usable advice from the DFL Legislature, he is welcoming input from
   everyone, as he should.
   The DFL leadership, such as it is, now on the outside looking in,
   their noses pressed against the glass, is saying that we just don't
   understand. When the sky begins falling on July 1, we'll be sorry we
   listened to Mr. Pawlenty, who isn't a nice person according to their
   [1]editorial submission to the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

     "Seeking input from citizens now is at best a half-hearted attempt
     to inform the public of the decisions he has already made, or at
     worst, is an effort to make Minnesotans complicit in his
     irresponsible actions." -- House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher
     and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller

   I have a hypothetical question. If the DFL could live with just $1
   billion in new tax revenue, would would have happened if revenues were
   $32 billion instead of $31 billion? Would the DFL still have sought a
   tax increase?
   You bet your posterior they would, maybe even a larger one judging by
   their attempt to raise taxes by $5 billion when we had a surplus.
   No, the DFL's tax increase wasn't there strike a "fair" "balance" in
   closing the gap. Truth be told, they didn't even like their smaller $1
   billion package, carefully controlling the flow to avoid committee
   hearings and floor debate. The goal, all session long, was to get at
   Pawlenty. How about I put it this way:

     "Seeking more taxes from us was at best a half-hearted attempt to
     placate the usual DFL suspects, or at worst, an effort to make the
     Governor complicit in their irresponsible legislation."

References

   1. http://www.startribune.com/opinion/45789917.html