State Government Shutdown: Minnesota's Mess

The state of Minnesota's government shut down today due to an impass on fixing a $5 Billion budget deficit.  The governor wanted to increase taxes and cut spending.  The legislature wanted to just cut spending and not increase taxes.

Here is the governor's finger pointing statement:



I found this statement amusing:

Governor: "Our American Revolution was very much about fair and just taxes, where the middle class was over taxed while the very rich went tax free."

My Rebuttal: So his answer is to tax the rich more so the overtaxed middle class feel better? I don't hear of any tax relief for the middle class in this speech.

Instead of promising to continue working toward a budget solution the good governor engages in class warfare.

He states that he cannot accept a Minnesota where:

• People with disabilities loose part of the time they are cared for...
• Young people cannot afford the rising tuition and University of Minnesota...
• Elderly widows are denied at the "At Home" services...
• Where local governments have to further slash their firefighters and police forces...
• Where special education is being cut...

"...So millionaires do not have to pay one dollar more in taxes.  That is not Minnesota."

This speech highlights struggles that are going on in many other poorly managed states in the country.  I am grateful that Utah is not one of them.