Comments on: Pawlenty proposes spending-cap amendment, but prospects of passing slim

By: Rob Levine

Rob Levine — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:22:39 +0000

Isn’t this TABOR, the thing passed in Colorado? The plan has the effect of strangling the government of funds because each time you cut the budget you ratchet down total spending, making the cut level the new baseline, thus making the government progressively smaller year after year.

By: Mill

Mill — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:01:38 +0000

1960 was before there was a huge surge in public sector spending … the Sputnik scare was being funded with military expansion, funding higher ed expansion … Johnson’s “Great Society” programs expanded social spending, and Vietnam was increasingly expensive.

picking 1960 advantages Mr. Pawlenty’s point, starting the series at the low point just before the surge. it’s not an arbitrary choice

By: need a little more

need a little more — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:39:26 +0000

Conspicuously missing from this piece is the part where this “cap” could be overridden in instances of “unforeseen emergencies” and “to bolster public sector jobs.” Meaning, the terrorists are here, we NEED 20,000 More police! Only the “terrorists” could be anyone- not limited to American citizens protesting their tyrannical government!

What better way to hand over Minnesota to the FEDS than capping our capacity to handle economic conditions at a local level and force the supplementation of our State’s business further via yet more FED funding and privatizing of profits and publicizing of debts. Pawlenty is a FED GOON.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:06:56 +0000

Hmmmmm, why would he pick 1960? I mean, that is 50 years ago. Why would he do that?

Because the country’s population and economy grew rapidly from 1960 to 1980. And government grew with it.

Governor, if you want to make a valid point, why don’t you take the last 5 years? Or even 10 years? Because it won’t yield the big number you want.

If you have such a great idea, why do you have to pull bogus numbers to support it? 1960, 50 years ago, what a joke.

By: Dano

Dano — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:38:37 +0000

Not spending more than you make, what a novel concept! It’s DOA of course…