Let's be content for state government to live paycheck to paycheck, almost.
That's the message delivered from Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposals (recently) to cover the state's projected $1.2 billion shortfall for its 2010-11 budget.
Pawlenty followed a familiar political pattern ... in his budget solution. He wants deep cuts to Local Government Aid and health care and services for the poor. He relies on one-time (yet-to-come) federal money. And he cuts some corporate and small-business taxes.
Combined with no mention of tax or fee increases, those ideas reflect similar political strategies Pawlenty has coveted for other state deficits. They also fit nicely with his not-so-subtle presidential ambitions and that he will not be around when his short-sighted solutions expire.
Yes, his plan solves only the most dire short-term fiscal problems. And, yes, it does so by passing on the cost of public services to other levels of government and other governors and Legislatures, which ultimately means the pocketbooks of every rank-and-file Minnesotan.
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Look no further than LGA. Pawlenty's proposal seeks to cut $250 million statewide. ....
And what about repaying that $1.8 billion he "borrowed" from public schools?
It also must be noted that Pawlenty, who has gained national recognition for bashing President Obama's stimulus spending and long governmental reach, now doesn't just welcome but counts on $387 million in yet-to-be approved federal Medicaid money so he can cut the equiva-lent amount in state funds. ...
As Minnesotans are seeing, the structure of their state government is such that revenues and costs are not in balance, especially in bad economic times. So the real question before this Legislature, largely controlled by the DFL, is how will it respond?
At a minimum, the Legislature must offer detailed ideas that plug the immediate $1.2 billion gap. Ideally, though, legislators from both parties should offer reforms of state costs and revenues so that in 2012-13 and beyond the idea of living paycheck-to-paycheck -- almost -- is a thing of the past instead of state business as usual.
-- St. Cloud Times
