Reducing Spending Isn’t Partisan Politics

Minnesota lawmakers at the State Capitol in St. Paul are wrapping up their third week in session and several pieces of legislation addressing our state’s $6.2 billion budget deficit have already been taken up by select committees.

This week, the House Tax Committee passed a proposal that would reduce the state budget by $1 billion, in part, by reducing payments that cities receive through a program known as Local Government Aid (LGA).  Such payments are based on an antiquated program derived nearly 40 years ago.  Also, included in this proposal and that passed out of committee is a bill that would end the state government’s tradition of spending what is left in an agency’s budget at the end of a budget cycle, saving approximately $200 million.

Other items brought up and passed in committee include a bill that would reduce the state’s overall workforce by 15 percent over a four-year period and another that would freeze state employees’ pay indefinitely.

Some are already crying alarm over these proposals, indicating that lawmakers supportive of these proposals are playing “tea party politics.” It goes without saying that folks making these comments are unreceptive to the idea of lowering deficits through reductions in spending.  But more amazing than that is the warped sense of reality that some liberal Minnesota lawmakers have over at the Capitol.

If they would just take the time to look outside our “frozen tundra” and check around, the realization would quickly set in: reducing spending and streamlining the government isn’t a partisan issue.

Take for instance the recent actions by the Governors of both New York and California in addressing their budget deficits.  In New York, the Governor is considering reducing the state workforce by 15,000 workers and has already called for a 20 percent reduction in the number of state agencies and departments.  In California, a similar story is taking shape, with the Governor’s budget calling for an 8-10 percent cut in pay for most state employees.  Also included would be a reduction in welfare spending by half and a 20 percent cut from the state’s university system.

So, again, I ask my Minnesota liberal friends, are we truly being honest with ourselves and most importantly with our constituencies across the state when it comes to spending?

Heck, if you didn’t know better, recent comments by Minnesota liberal lawmakers would lead you to believe that the Governors of New York and California are now actual bona fide members of the tea party movement.