Taxpayer Protection Pledge
ATR's Congressional Ratings
An American Agenda: Vote for Your Priorities
Invite Grover Norquist to Speak at Your School or Event
Welcome to Pacific Rim Policy Exchange 2010
INDEX

It's Time for a Spending Cap in Minnesota

From Kelly William Cobb on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 5:54 PM
Add to Reddit Add to Stumbleupon Add to Delicious Add to Digg Add to Facebook Add to Twitter

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s proposed state spending cap took its first step forward on Monday. Following a rally with U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (R-MN-6) in the state capital rotunda, the Minnesota Senate Taxes Committee held its first hearing on a constitutional “Spending Accountability Amendment.” The measure would simply restrain general fund spending to the amount of revenue received during the previous biennium. In other words, the state can’t spend what it can’t already raise.
 
Spending in Minnesota has grown widely out of control. In, 1999 spending and gross state product chained to 1989 levels had grown 65% and 63% respectively – nearly equal. In 2008, just a decade later, chained state spending was at 117%, while GSP was at only 84%. Runaway spending beyond what the economy can sustain has resulted in another $1.2 billion deficit that could skyrocket to as much as $5.4 billion in the coming years.
 
And if there was ever a sign that a spending cap is necessary in Minnesota: three of the four groups testifying in opposition to the spending limit were the Association of Minnesota Counties, League of Minnesota Cities, and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Notice the common thread? They all represent those who feed off taxpayer dollars and always want more.
 
Americans for Tax Reform had the opportunity to testify in strong support of the measure. For a copy of ATR’s testimony, click here.

Permalink | Email | Print

Comments

Gee, Gov. Pawlenty's idea sounds pretty good at first. I guess my only concern is that if this measure ever passed in lefty Minnesota, all their Democrats (or farmer laborers), that they would go ahead and increase taxes as much as possible to allow them enough tax revenues to spend on their pet programs during the following two years.
>> American Delight Wednesday, December 9, 2009 7:23 PM Report Comment

Add a Comment



72104

Add me to the ATR Newsletter list (If you are already on the list, you will not be subscribed a second time.)
Notify me when others comment on this article.