Feb 09 Prioritize A 4-Letter Word For DFL

If last year's legislative session proved anything, it's that the DFL majority looked at the word prioritization like a 4-letter word. That's the picture my adopted state representative Steve Gottwalt paints in this statement:

"Here's a point on property taxes that will surely be missing from the partisan rhetoric when the House Property Tax Relief and Local Sales Tax Committee stops in St. Cloud this week. The best and most sustainable way to decrease property taxes, for homeowners and businesses, is to apply fiscal restraint in government spending at all levels.

"In 2003, Minnesota faced a huge state budget deficit. State spending was re-prioritized, reducing local government aid (LGA) but not classroom K-12 funding, and local units of government were to decide whether a number of government expenditures were important enough to fund at the local level.

"Some assert that those LGA reductions automatically forced up local property tax levies an equal or even greater amount. In 2003, the City of St. Cloud did receive over $2 million less in LGA than the previous year, and received even less LGA the following year. I served on the City Council during that time.

"The truth is, despite receiving significantly less LGA in each year, we made adjustments in the City's budget instead of just raising the city property tax levy to cover reduced LGA. In fact, the City's levy stayed the same ($13 million) in 2003 as it was in 2002 and went up just a small percentage in 2004, totaling less than the rate of inflation for those years (let alone making up for reduced LGA!).

"Living within our means is something families and businesses have to do, and so must government."

I've never made it a secret that I think Steve is a rising star in the GOP. He's obviously a fiscal conservative who isn't afraid of telling liberals that they need to prioritize their spending. He challenged Larry Haws & Tarryl Clark on that last September at the League of Women Voters Education Forum. The result was so stunning that Larry Haws said this:

"Maybe we do need to prioritize."

Democrats don't pass budgets; they pass wishlist-driven spending plans. The difference is best measured in billions of dollars, both in terms of spending increases & tax increases.

Speaking of tax increases, expect State Sen. Steve Murphy, (DFL-Red Wing), to propose the same tax increases as were in last year's Transportation Bill. Sidenote to SD-15 voters: Larry Haws & Tarryl Clark both voted for the $1.5 a year tax increase.)

As for the DFL passing property tax relief, I'm not holding my breath. Their plan last time wasn't property tax relief. It was an income tax increase mixed with LGA & precious little in terms of direct relief to homeowners.

Comments welcome at LFR.