As promised, Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed the state budget bill today, saying it would raise taxes on 122,000 filers and would do little to solve the pending budget crisis in the next two-year period.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher's issued a quick response to the veto:
The Governor can't keep pushing this problem away with his veto pen. Ultimately, he has to work with us, Minnesota's elected representatives, to balance the budget.
Our balanced plan more than met the Governor. He remains caught in a fiscal straight jacket of his own making. This is the time for him to negotiate. We will not compromise on our kids and schools, care for the elderly and disabled and the overall safety of our communities.
The text of the governor's veto letter:
Dear Speaker Kelliher:
I have vetoed and am returning Chapter 340, House File 2037.
As you are aware, Minnesota and the nation are experiencing historic economic challenges. Minnesotans are concerned about their jobs and the jobs of their family members, neighbors and friends. Minnesota is already one of the most highly taxed states in the nation. The DFL proposal to add a fourth tier income bracket at a rate of 9.1 percent would give Minnesota the 5th-highest income tax rate in the country. It would also disproportionately harm small business owners and hamper job creation in the state. The bill would raise taxes for approximately 122,000 files, with an average tax increase of $2,800 in 2010.
Moreover, it is nonsensical to increase taxes on job providers merely weeks after I signed a bill to provide tax incentives for Minnesota businesses to grow jobs. This behavior sends a confusing and mixed message to companies looking to produce jobs in Minnesota.
The bill also does very little to address the budget deficit in the next biennium, leaving a nearly $5 billion deficit for the next Legislature and Governor to address. It is irresponsible leadership not to sincerely attempt to address this critical issue, as I did in my February budget proposal.
I look forward to working with you on an appropriate budget solution that does not raise taxes on Minnesotans and significantly reduces the budget deficit in this budget cycle and the next one.
Sincerely,
Tim Pawlenty
Governor
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Comments (4)
Dear King Timmy,
Please read this very very slowly. The tax increase would be approximately $478 on married couples making over $200,000. Not all married couples making that amount are job providers. Even if they are, it is "nonsensical" and "pathetic" to believe and additional $478 per year in income taxes would stop a job provider from creating a job. They may, however, decide to relocate to states that provide better services.
Signed,
A Citizen disgusted by Pontificating Pawlenty
Nothing I enjoy to read more than one persons evaluation of what amount of additional taxation constitutes a level amounting to "nonsense" for another person.
The citizens of MN have the 2006 Dems to thank for the 2010 session. Tpaw was perfectly beatable in 2006; the whole country voted out any repub that supported anything Bush said/did. But not MN! Why? The 2006 Dems put up Hatch. He could not hide his true personality until election day; he threw a fit; Tpaw looked reasonable, a neighborly kind of guy. The Dems knew Tpaw loved to play king, but they once again put up a less than marginal candidate. So, all you local govt leaders, those needing health care, schools, etc thank the 2006 Dems for this mess. Will 2010 be any different, or will Emmer be our next king? Was gov goofy the last dem gov?
@steve moore: Compared to Tpaw, Arne Carlson was the last dem gov.