July 1 (Bloomberg) -- Minnesota's government shut down today, idling thousands of state workers, after Democratic Governor Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders failed to resolve a budget stalemate at the start of the new fiscal year.
Dayton said Republicans refused to accept his proposal to raise taxes to close a $5 billion deficit, and he wouldn't approve a budget balanced solely by cutting spending. The two sides are $1.4 billion apart, he said.
Dayton, a first-term governor, proposed raising income taxes for individuals with $150,000 in annual taxable income, and couples earning $250,000, to generate $1.8 billion more for services, according to a May 16 letter to lawmakers. The proposal would raise taxes on 1.9 percent of Minnesotans, the letter said.
Republicans oppose tax increases and said the budget could be balanced with $3.6 billion in spending cuts, Jodi Boyne, a spokeswoman for the House Republican Caucus, said in an interview.
"We are making promises to our kids and our grandkids on spending that we are not going to be able to pay for," Kurt Zellers, the Republican House speaker, said during a press conference last night after the two sides met throughout the day, as they had every day for the past week.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...-75L91U9RCV7A0N6686OE1ML8PS.DTL#ixzz1QrkBfKFu
Minnesota Government Shuts Down Over Budget Stalemate
Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by InTheLight, Jul 1, 2011.
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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preachinjesus Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I'm all for shutting down governments. That means non-essential people aren't around.
It also means they stop spending our money like a trust fund kid at a college kegger.
Shut 'em all down. The only things we need are police, fire, utilities, and defense. -
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I don't know how it is where you live. But where I am, the government is constantly "repairing" roads that aren't broken, building bridges and overpasses that are not needed, and generally trying to spend every dollar they can.
A 1 year hiatus would be nice. -
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It's no secret that many conservatives have a hatred for the Federal Government. What is surprising however is how so many of them will bring harm on their own selves to satisfy this hatred. -
Great job Mr. Governor in ensuring the poor would suffer. Hopefully the folks of MN take notice and vote you out or maybe they can find a way to get you out so someone who knows what he is doing will get into the office. -
It will be interesting to see who the people of Minnesota find guilty of this fiasco. Polls should be out in next few days.
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preachinjesus Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Over a longer term situation there might be concern for this but the issue isn't real for now.
Actually. imho, most of our roads, bridges, and infrastructure is in pretty good shape. We don't need the endless toying or fixing them. Right now the best thing for Minnesota, for the US, is a government shut down. We've got a bloated and bloviated system that needs refining.
It isn't about "hatred for government" it is about belief that government is best when government is least.
About half the agencies and personnel in any government aren't needed. Times like this, where we can shut it down for awhile, are good things. -
InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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preachinjesus Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
So you'd be in favor of shutting down food safety inspectors, water quality inspectors, customs agents, illegal drug enforcement and interdiction, immigration services, air traffic control, prison systems, drug quality regulations, emergency disaster responders, the US patent office, etc. etc.? -
1. The rich had money but weren't spending it.
2. The Tariff act of 1930 raised tarrifs on goods and taxes on those goods
3. The Fed failed to react to the situation
We see today the Administration and the Dem congress were talking of tax hicks for the rich and middle class and
1. Less money is being spent by the wealthy
2. Taxes being raised in 2007 to 2008
3. The Fed kept interest rates lower
number 3 helped keep us from going into a depression but number 1 and 2 drove us deeper into recession and the threat of higher taxes on the rich continues to curtail spending -
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
What taxes were raised on the wealthy in 2007 and 2008? Certainly not income taxes, capital gains taxes or estate taxes. So which ones?
I'm more interested in your assertion that taxes trickle down and that poor people are harmed by taxes on the rich. -
Note: The Fed has no business in education. that responsibility belongs to the State or Commonwealth
So you want to penalize 6 men are trying to do the right thing?
Also, I realize many Congressman are millionaires - some are not- and if they do not get their paycheck they cannot pay their bills.
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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