As the hours ticked down to the end of the 2005 regular legislative session, members of "Minnesota's Watching" called on Gov. Pawlenty and lawmakers to seek fair and open solutions to the state's budget crisis.
"Minnesota's Watching" is a coalition of nonprofit, faith and labor groups that have banded together to support adequate funding of education, transportation, health care and other important services. Through "Minnesota's Watching," citizens have been monitoring action at the state Capitol and communicating their concerns to lawmakers.
The coalition is particularly concerned about Pawlenty's last-minute offer to agree to raise cigarette taxes if legislators approve some of his policy proposals ? such as vouchers to fund private schools and a state-supported casino.
"We're glad that the governor has recognized that increased revenue needs to be part of the solution" to the state's budget shortfall, said Marcia Avner, director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. "But we need a fair tax solution."
Cigarette taxes, which fall disproportionately on lower-income people, are not a fair form of taxation, said Wayne Cox, director of Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice.
"We need more revenue, but we need it from those who have the most ability to pay," he said. The fairest way to provide more money in the state budget would be to roll back some of the tax breaks awarded in recent years to the wealthiest Minnesotans, he said.
Members of "Minnesota's Watching" also are concerned about Pawlenty's effort to mix budget solutions with complicated policy issues ? such as school vouchers, Avner said.
"It's a sneaky way to bring in the issues he wants without fair, open and public dialogue," she said. "We need clean negotiations" on the budget.
What's at stake is more than funding of state services for the next two years. "We need to keep Minnesota the No. 1 place to live and work," Avner said.
No budget agreement appeared imminent on Monday, the last day of the regular legislative session, and both Pawlenty and legislative leaders said a special session is likely.
For more information
For more on the state budget and other legislative issues, visit the Workday Minnesota special section, Legislature 2005
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As the hours ticked down to the end of the 2005 regular legislative session, members of “Minnesota’s Watching” called on Gov. Pawlenty and lawmakers to seek fair and open solutions to the state’s budget crisis.
“Minnesota’s Watching” is a coalition of nonprofit, faith and labor groups that have banded together to support adequate funding of education, transportation, health care and other important services. Through “Minnesota’s Watching,” citizens have been monitoring action at the state Capitol and communicating their concerns to lawmakers.
The coalition is particularly concerned about Pawlenty’s last-minute offer to agree to raise cigarette taxes if legislators approve some of his policy proposals ? such as vouchers to fund private schools and a state-supported casino.
“We’re glad that the governor has recognized that increased revenue needs to be part of the solution” to the state’s budget shortfall, said Marcia Avner, director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. “But we need a fair tax solution.”
Cigarette taxes, which fall disproportionately on lower-income people, are not a fair form of taxation, said Wayne Cox, director of Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice.
“We need more revenue, but we need it from those who have the most ability to pay,” he said. The fairest way to provide more money in the state budget would be to roll back some of the tax breaks awarded in recent years to the wealthiest Minnesotans, he said.
Members of “Minnesota’s Watching” also are concerned about Pawlenty’s effort to mix budget solutions with complicated policy issues ? such as school vouchers, Avner said.
“It’s a sneaky way to bring in the issues he wants without fair, open and public dialogue,” she said. “We need clean negotiations” on the budget.
What’s at stake is more than funding of state services for the next two years. “We need to keep Minnesota the No. 1 place to live and work,” Avner said.
No budget agreement appeared imminent on Monday, the last day of the regular legislative session, and both Pawlenty and legislative leaders said a special session is likely.
For more information
For more on the state budget and other legislative issues, visit the Workday Minnesota special section, Legislature 2005