Senator Sean Nienow- A [Full] Shutdown is Not Necessary

The following is an email sent by Senator Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge) to some constituents on Thursday morning:

As I write this, Legislative leaders are meeting with Governor Dayton attempting to reach a full and final budget compromise that we can pass before the looming July 1^st deadline.  This email lays out where things are currently at and what the next couple of days might look like…..

THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL MATCHES A LARGE PART OF THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET

We passed several budget bills and subsequently made additional offers that bring the budget proposals near 100% agreement in major portions of the overall state budget - probably much more than half the budget.  However, when it comes to the various different portions of the budget the Governor has stated “Until I agree to everything, I won’t agree to anything” – a stance that led the Pioneer Press newspaper to say “This is not compromise. This is hostage taking.” http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_18348254. It’s possible that he might change his position on that, but not likely.

DOUBLING STATE SPENDING EVERY 5 YEARS IS NEITHER RESPONSIBLE NOR SUSTAINABLE

The Legislative budget proposal would increase spending over the last budget by about 6%, a reasonable spending increase using current resources – and it would not require tax increases.  The Governor has proposed increasing spending 15-20%, and currently proposes a tax increase of about $2 Billion in order to spend that much more.  Spending increases of that level would double state spending every 5 years.  Doubling the state budget every five years would not be responsible, nor is it sustainable.

Despite all the talk of “only taxing the top 2%” of income earners, the MN Dep’t of revenue determined that under the Dayton plan taxes would increase on EVERY income level. In the same report they determined that 59% of Gov Dayton’s proposed tax increases on corporations would not ultimately come from the corporation but would come from lower wages and higher prices for you and me!  You can read that report here: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/HF1231%28sf0925%29_Incidence_Analysis_1.pdf

Whatever the final budget agreement looks like, it cannot be with spending increase levels that would double state spending every five years.

IF THERE’S NOT A FULL FINAL AGREEMENT BEFORE JULY 1^ST A SHUTDOWN IS NOT NECESSARY

Last Friday I personally delivered a plan to Governor Dayton, a backup proposal that would prevent a shutdown if he has not “agreed to everything” and so then “won’t agree to anything” this proposal would prevent a shutdown while a full final agreement is being worked out.  You can read my letter and proposal to the Governor here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/58637545/Governor-Dayton-Letter-Don-t-Allow-Gov-t-Shutdown-Lights-On-Proposal

Briefly the proposal would continue funding Public Safety functions at 100% of current levels, and all other budget items would receive 90% of current funding.  This would 1) Guarantee that a shutdown doesn’t happen and keep state employees and services in place  and  2) Pressure would remain for the Governor and Legislature to reach full final budget agreement.  However, this bill cannot be passed unless the Governor calls a special session for that.  We are all here at the Capitol, ready for the Governor to call a special session – either for a final budget agreement or my proposal to prevent a shutdown.

I still hold out hope and expectation that a final budget agreement will be achieved before July 1st, and that it will be at increase levels that WOULD NOT double state spending every five years.  However, if the Governor has not been able to "agree to everything" I will make sure to remind him of my proposal - to prevent a shutdown - but it would require him to call the Legislature back to pass it. We cannot pass my proposal unless the Governor does that.

With 12 hours to a government shutdown it is less and less likely that a deal could be reached. While people across the state hope for a consensus to be reached, if a shutdown were to happen it would benefit all Minnesotans for a 'lights on' bill to passed. We at MRN implore Gov Dayton to immediately call a special session and allow our legislators to get back to work.