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Republicans Put the Taxpayer First is the title Minority Leader Seifert gave to his after-session summary. I couldn't put it better my self. Here's the text of Leader Seifert's summary:
By the time it came to a close, this past legislative session was the longest session in Minnesota's 150-year history. Along the way came victories that were sometimes small and not always easy to win.
Many of those victories came because of the commitment Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota House Republicans share to protect the wallets of Minnesota taxpayers. We fought back more than $5 billion worth of proposed tax increases by the Democrats that, if passed, would have damaged an already troubled economy. Our commitment led to property tax relief delivered directly to people, not funneled through various levels of government.
House Republicans were also the driving factor behind a funding increase for nursing home workers this year. We were pleased the Democrats joined us to make this necessary and needed investment happen.
We fought against efforts to expand subsidized health care programs that are growing beyond what taxpayers can afford to support. Instead of expanding government, Republicans successfully secured tax credits for uninsured Minnesotans who purchase private insurance. We remain firmly committed to providing affordable and accessible health care through the private market, not a single-payer government bureaucracy.
Despite the clear need to grow jobs and improve the economy, the task of meeting the challenge was left to the cutting room floor. While jobs disappeared and the price of basic living expenses grew, Democrats spent the Legislature's time on bills to allow dogs at outdoor cafes, provide chiropractic care to pets and declare hockey the official state. These misplaced priorities meant they forgot to address our state's greatest need: jobs.
Economic development and job growth should be the cornerstone of our state's future. It is unfortunate that private sector job growth took a backburner to an expensive and explosive growth in government programs and services. Even with this year's budget deficit, the state budget grew by 9.8 percent by the time this Legislature adjourned. Our economic challenges do not appear to be over: A projected $1 billion deficit awaits lawmakers when they return to the State Capitol in January 2009.
Now, the longest legislative session in state history is complete, property tax relief and real health care reform are on the way and Minnesota's budget is balanced because we put the taxpayers first.
Make no mistake about something: This type of property tax relief wasn't in the offing if not for Gov. Pawlenty's and Leader Seiferet's tenacity in insisting that it be including. AS I outlined here and here, the DFL plan was significantly different than did the property tax relief plan that we're getting.
While property tax relief and reform is this session's highlight, it isn't the only significant GOP achievement from these negotiations. Other items on the GOP agenda worth highlighting are getting the tax credit for health care included in the final bill, something that definitely wasn't in the DFL bill. This is genuine free-market reform that will be the model for the nation.
When they first took control of the Minnesota House, the DFL talked about jobs as their top priority. The only jobs bills they produced will marginally increase Minnesota's prosperity but fall far short of what was possible. Had the legislature passed income tax relief, something Rep. Laura Brod advocated, we might've been seeing a much-improved jobs situation right now.
Stay tuned to this blog for more takes on the session that was.
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