Dayton vetoes $1 billion budget cut bill
Friday, February 11, 2011 at 7:00 am
- 7 Comments
Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a bill to cut $1 billion from the state budget Thursday evening saying the bill was unconstitutional and would result in higher property taxes. To bolster his argument, Dayton turned to an unlikely source — former Gov. Tim Pawlenty. At a press conference, Dayton said it was the earliest veto a governor has made during a legislative session since 1939.
In his veto message, Dayton wrote, “The Minnesota Department of Revenue estimates that your bill would increase property taxes by $428 million in the next biennium: $322 million by cutting aid to local governments, and $106 million by reducing renter refunds for property tax relief.”
Dayton called increases in property taxes the most “regressive and unfair” of all the state’s taxes.
He also said that the GOP had not outlined where it wanted $100 million in spending cut from existing agency budgets. “Instead, you would abdicate your responsibility to make those difficult spending choices and your power to determine those cuts to an appointed official of the Executive Department,” he wrote. “That is both inappropriate and unconstitutional.”
Dayton also said disagreed with the piecemeal approach to fixing the budget deficit, citing a veto letter signed by Pawlenty last February.
“I told them that I thought it was unwise and that they first permit me to submit my budget,” Dayton said at a press conference. He’s required by law to submit that budget on Tuesday.
“This bill would affect the lives of Minnesotans, and with virtually no public input,” he said. “I don’t understand why there a rush to judgment on decisions that have such large consequences for so many Minnesotans.”
He said the projected increases in property taxes under the bill demonstrates a need for revenue. “I think this action today proves my case, revenue increases are going to be needed.”
He added, “The legislature is acting with extreme rashness and something this important to raise property taxes, slash education funding aid to local governments” needs to be debated in committee meeting with public input, he said.
Here’s Dayton’s veto letter:
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter7 Comments
Comment posted February 11, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
Then only reason Dayton can say with certainty that cuts to LGA is because those cities have democrat mayors who have to buy votes to get elected.
Comment posted February 11, 2011 @ 3:11 pm
cuts to LGA translates to property tax increases (I meant to say).
Comment posted February 11, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
I love you Dayton.. Lets put your veto pen above Gov. T Baggs in the Historical Museum… Our next VETO will be making Minnesota a “right to work” (right to outsource) state… Let that pen sing Mr Dayton.. Let it Sing…
Comment posted February 12, 2011 @ 9:40 am
Well well
Have to admit that I, for one am delighted.
I didn’t think he had the cajones.
Comment posted February 14, 2011 @ 11:56 am
Republicans know they cant cut 6 billion. They have to raise the money somewhere but want to take this piecemeal approach to make themselves look like they succeeded.
Comment posted February 14, 2011 @ 1:05 pm
Dayton’s first official act is to VETO cuts in bloated gov’t spending, while his state is on a collision course with a $6.2 BILLION dollar deficit. We are headed for collapse, just like California.
Meanwhile, next door, Scotty Walker is getting it done, and appears on track to have the pork cut out by spring. Wisconsin, do you mind if we trade you and send Dayton over there?
Comment posted February 15, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
Eric, you can always move out east to live amidst the cows. Try reading Dayton’s veto letter; it is only three pages long – a quick read. For some reason, this letter does not load on my browser from this page; an alternative URL for this is at http://www.scribd.com/doc/48602885/vetoletter.
Eric, try applying some thought as well as reading more carefully before spouting off your mouth like that. The veto letter will confirm what this article said:
> He also said that the GOP had not outlined where it wanted $100 million in spending cut from existing agency budgets. “Instead, you would abdicate your responsibility to make those difficult spending choices and your power to determine those cuts to an appointed official of the Executive Department,” he wrote. “That is both inappropriate and unconstitutional.”
Given the Republican legislators’ irresponsible handling of people’s business so far this session, I won’t be surprised if Governor Dayton has to wield the veto pen more often than Pawlenty ever did. I also won’t be surprised if we end up with a slew of constitutional amendments on the 2012 ballot as those legislators shirk their responsibility to work with the governor and those across the aisle to find common ground on issues that affect all of us Minnesotans.
As for California’s ongoing fiscal problems, it is a consequence of the referendum process that has revised the state constitution so many times with unintended consequences including the requirement that the state legislature pass a budget by 2/3 vote.
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