As workers protest, Minnesota government shuts down

Seide definitely has the right idea. It’s far past time for the Republicans to act responsibly and not solely for their corporate masters.

The conservatives are getting their way again – they want the government to shut down.

But I believe in what the Governor is doing and we all need to stand with him.

We want our state back.

Labor must rise again!

It is the Labor movement that built this nation, that shed its blood even here in the streets of Minnesota during the strikes of the 1930s.

Go LABOR!

Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN

Stand with our Governor. He is standing for our values that have traditionally funded our state in a meaningful way for everyone.

This whole mess is squarely on the Repugnicans shoulders. Their “no taxes” mantra is so childish – they took their ball and went home. What a bunch of small-minded jerks.

Republicans want to restrict gov’t spending to reduce the deficit and force gov’t to spend no more than it receives. That sounds just terrible, completely unrealistic. So what does Dayton do? Shuts down gov’t and in effect, restricts gov’t spending far more than republcans wanted — at least until the stale-mate ends. I’m not so sure Dayton doesn’t know what he’s doing.

The state and the nation are doing the same thing.

I understand the GOP’s side but they have not moved one inch and Dayton has comprimised on several issues. Time for the GOP to sign it off and get things moving.

An increase of tax by 2% of the wealthiest means they will almost pay as much as the rest of us. Same reason when you buy a 1k CD you get a certain % for return. If you buy 100k cd your interest return is much higher. It takes money to make money.

Hold in there Dayton. The longer the Repubs hold out the less of them there will be after the next election.

Stand strong, Governor Dayton, we are with you, against the selfish, greedy, ruling elite and their lackey republican dolts!

Paul,

Where do you suppose the 2% tax on the wealthiest originates?

The taxes paid by the wealthiest are collected at the register why you and I buy the products they sell to make themselves wealthy.

I suspect most CEO, CFO, corporate president and senior VP pay and benefit packages (for those making over $250,000 a year) are negotiated in processes so far removed from product pricing that one has little to do with the other. This argument, like so many offered by fiscal conservatives and their apologists seems designed to convince the working poor and middle class at their own expense to protect the wealthiest. Unfortunately Faux news is doing it’s job.

Praise Jebus, God hates the poor, Amen.

HG,
Its an increase on income tax not sales tax.

Fed tax originated in the early 1900′s where the top 1% were charged fed income tax. There were a lot of small steps until the 1940′s when everyone started being charged fed tax. This is the point where the armed forces needed to be supplied to defeat the enemies of our democracy and freedom.

Taxes started with churches. Not sure which denomination started it. It was a way to upkeep the church and help the poor.

The idea of giving gifts at christmas was the wealthy buying gifts for those less fortunate than them.

Are you seing a trend here. I do not beleive in giving until it hurts but giving is the underlying theme.

Paul,

Giving isn’t confiscation.

Punishing acheivement is no way to encourage others to strive for it. The wealthiest pay more than there fair share and in most cases they pay a much if not all of other’s share.

HG,
I disagree.

Its a lot easier to double a million dollars than it is to double 100 dollars. It takes money to make money. You could call it a sin tax!

It is no sin that it is easier to double 1 mil. than 100.

But it was fun to say.

Oh, how the Minnesota GOP longs for the days of Dickens….

Hold on Dayton, you’re limiting spending every day the stale-mate continues!

As a liberal, I personally don’t see why we need to pay for everyone’s abortions.

That aside, the Republicans have a lot of nerve holding the people hostage for $17 million out of a whopping $5 billion gap.

They are not as morally superior as they make themselves out to be. They need to get off their desperate soapbox and save it for a non-crisis.

What if this is about limos, party buses, cocaine, and drink? Not about upholding God’s word and loving their neighbor and honoring elders who need food, living spaces, healthcare and buses to get around.

So they let people die when they are old and feeble, rather than when they are fetal. I get it!

The above got posted on the wrong article – belonged on the SEIU shutdown article!

“That aside, the Republicans have a lot of nerve holding the people hostage for $17 million out of a whopping $5 billion gap. ”

First, there are more areas of concern in the budget than just abortion spending. Your statement assumes this is the abortion funding alone is what republicans want to curb.
Second, both parties are responsible for shutting down gov’t.

HG,

I didn’t say abortion funding alone was what Republicans want to curb. I’m saying why even try to hold this up over $17 million in abortion funding at all.

And you have your opinion about both parties being responsible; I have mine.

I stand by what I said. They are letting poor, elderly, and disabled people die because they don’t want to tax the rich. MN GOP acts like they hate poor people, the way they were going to cut the programs.

It wasn’t held up just over abortion funding. To what extent abortion funding played a role is unknown.

This shutdown is the result of two sides disagreeing. There are two parties responsible for this shutdown. Dayton is one of them.

Would it kill you just to be honest?

——————————————————————————–

Oh, spare me with the killing us to be honest shpiel.

If they are focusing on abortion politics when Governor Dayton is trying to get a budget passed, they are holding up budget negotiations over abortion politics.

I already said it wasn’t just over abortion funding.

What have you against honesty?

They’re not “focusing on abortion”, they’re including it in the list of cuts.

This isn’t about me being dishonest. Your “would it kill you to be honest” implies I’m a liar, which I am not. I may not have every fact, but I don’t make things up. This is a habit of yours, this honesty attack. Could you use another method of communication on here?

My point was a fair tax policy involving the very rich is superior to the Republicans going after every non-wealthy person they can think of, to save money.

As a matter of policy, the GOP is protecting the rich.

However, I know for a fact not every Minnesota Republican is averse to responding to the needs of poor people. Some of them do listen and adjust the budget bills in favor of those less fortunate.

I didn’t read the final rejected budget in detail, either.

I hope both sides can come to an agreement. And I hope they preserve the safety net and also the basic things the poor and less poor alike use, like public transportation and education.

HG,

You twisted things around on me when you called me dishonest.

I was correct all along. Apparently, the GOP pushed for a ban on abortion restriction (for abortions at 20 weeks), not just a ban on taxpayer funding for abortions. You tried to make it into just a funding issue.

So, regardless of your or my opinion on abortion, they used the budget crisis to push their political agenda. And now how many employees are out of work because of it? 23,000?

You are too quick to call people liars. I think you should get your own facts straight before you try stuff like that.

Anon,

My apologies. I never intended to present the abortion funding alone. I was initially responding to your comment about the 17 million in abortion funding.

That the GOP tried to include abortion restrictions is typical politics. I’m sure both sides were bartering. I do agree however that abortion restrictions are best left for another debate.

Fair enough, HG!

Why can’t Republicans admit they love the rich and hate the poor?

As a Republican, I believe that this GOP jackassery has to stop. First they need to stop their religious persuasions from entering the public domain, raise taxes, end tax loopholes, and cut spending. Lastly, I do not believe that there should be a tax refund.

Ideally, our state should fund education, infrastructure, parks, and utilities, as well as provide economic incentives for people to get work. Health-care will have to be restructured, as it will only continue to rise, costing more in the short, and long-run.

I know this does not sit well with many people, however, eating healthy, taking care of our neighbors, and ourselves will lower health care costs.

From the MNProgressive site, forwarded by a friend.

Let’s examine a few of the items they included in the memo Gov. Dayton received at 8PM, June 30, from the GOP.

Collective bargaining reform
Cloning language
Unborn Child Protection Act
Ban on taxpayer funding of abortion
Photo ID
Prevailing wage reform
Tort reform
Redistricting bills

To even begin final negotiations Gov. Dayton would have had to agree to:

eliminate collective bargaining for teachers
ban all cloning
sign anti-abortion bills that were before the legislature this session
sign vote suppression legislation passed by the legislature
sign bill to reduce or eliminate minimum wage
agree to tort reform
accept the Republican’s redistricting plans.

Not sure these things belong in a budget bill, now do they….?

[...] Taxpayers Paying Heavy Price for Unnecessary Shutdown Tweet ShareFriday’s government shutdown in Minnesota is a tragedy for the 22,000 mostly state public service workers who were told to stay [...]