It's a Done Deal PDF Print E-mail
Written by Gary Gross   
Sunday, 18 May 2008 15:56

Here are some highlights from the press conference that literally took place minutes ago:

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY

  • Final deal highlights our common interests for Minnesota
  • Erases budget deficit, leaves some money on the bottom line and lives within our means
  • Provides property tax relief, nationwide leading health care reform, increased funding for nursing homes and schools, tax credits for military veterans
  • Passes a bonding bill that lives within the 3% debt limit

That's a pretty good result considering the numerical odds stacked against the GOP.

SPEAKER KELLIHER

  • This was the most productive session in a very long time.
  • We reduced partisanship and worked hard to get the job done.
  • We produced results.
  • We produced more and better jobs via the bonding and transportation bills
  • We balanced the budget.
  • We provided property tax relief.
  • We helped create a healthier Minnesota through cost containment, quality and access
  • We planned for our legacy (bonding bill in specific Central Corridor and Vermillion)

I don't think balancing the budget is an accomplishment considering they entered with a $2.2 billion surplus. I'd consider that more of a negative. Only a liberal would think that spending the surplus while raising taxes is an accomplishment. I think that people on mainstreet would reject Speaker Kelliher's spin.

As for reducing partisanship, get serious.

SENATOR POGEMILLER

  • We came together to unite Minnesota in a bipartisan manner
  • Heralded the 3/8 constitutional amendment, transportation bill 22 years in making, health care reform that creates access, a cost savings of 15 percent, access for 12,000 Minnesotans ("We are not yet there on universal but we are on the right path)
  • Made cautious statements re: the structural deficit which according to Pogemiller could be anywhere between $1 billion to $2 billion. ("This must be fixed')
  • Added new permanent money for education

Sen. Pogemiller and bipartisan manner in the same sentence? Please. That's insulting.

As for not getting universal health care passed, it ain't gonna happen. We're at 93% right now. Couple that with the House and Senate adopting Steve Gottwalt's amendment giving insurance agents a finders fee for enrolling people already eligible for taxpayer-subsidized health insurance and you're within whispering distance of covering everyone without passing universal health care.

MINORITY LEADER SEIFERT

This was a bipartisan agreement. Republicans helped deliver property tax relief/reform, tax credits for health care and helped live within out means.

Congratulations, Leader Seifert. You kept your caucus together, hardly a foregone conclusion after the defections on the transportation bill. You kept the DFL's feet to the fire, forcing the DFL into true bipartisan negotiations.

Here's Gov. Pawlenty's press release on the budget agreement:

Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders have agreed on a plan to balance the state budget without raising taxes while providing significant tax relief for Minnesotans. The agreement erases a projected $935 million deficit and includes the Governor's plan for a property tax cap and tax relief for veterans and military members.

During several days of negotiations leading up to the agreement, Governor Pawlenty fought for a property tax cap to protect homeowners from rapidly increasing property taxes. The agreement includes a cap that will limit cities and counties to an increase of 3.9 percent per year. Governor Pawlenty's property tax cap and related relief is projected to save taxpayers $78.5 million in 2009 and $460.5 million over the next three years. Also, cities and counties will receive additional aid.

"Minnesotans deserve tax relief and a state government that lives within its means," Governor Pawlenty said. "This agreement delivers both. I want to thank legislative leaders from both parties for their hard work and willingness to seek out solutions. The result is a balanced budget, a strong property tax cap, additional tax relief, reduced government spending, no additional taxes, health care reform, a new state park and new facilities at the Minneapolis Veterans Home."

Highlights of the overall package include:

  • Property tax cap of 3.9 percent, plus household growth, for three years
  • $25 million in property tax relief through the property tax refund program which provides direct relief to homeowners and $60 million in local government aids and credits
  • Tax relief for veterans and members of the military, including a new tax credit of up to $750 per person annually for those who served more than 20 years or were disabled in service, a doubling of the existing overseas deployment tax credit to $120 per month deployed and an exemption from state income taxes for drills and similar activity
  • An overall reduction in state government spending and a balanced budget for FY 2008-09
  • Progress toward resolving the projected budget deficit for FY 2010-11
  • Total bonding within the state's 3 percent debt service limit,including funding for Central Corridor, a nursing facility at the Minneapolis Veterans Home and Lake Vermilion State Park
  • Nation-leading health care reform that includes increased transparency, pay for performance, required e-prescribing by 2011 and tax credits
  • Increased funding for K-12 schools and nursing homes

Thanks to Gov. Pawlenty's vetoes and Leader Seifert's keeping the caucus together in sustaining Gov. Pawlenty's vetoes, Republicans can now talk about holding fast to the principles of fiscal restraint.

Not only that but the amendments offered, particularly those offered by Reps. Buesgens, Gottwalt, Emmer, Brod, Seifert and Garofalo, we've got a positive list of things they can run on. I can't emphasize this enough: It's great to say we stopped bad things from happening but it's vital that we can say that we have a positive reform-minded agenda to run on.

Comments welcome at LFR.