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Minnesota Shuts Down
n an echo of the national budget fight, [Governor]Dayton wanted to raise taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of Minnesotans. Republicans wanted to close the gap with spending cuts and accounting shifts."I cannot accept a Minnesota where people with disabilities lose part of the time they are cared for by personal-care attendants so that millionaires don't have to pay $1 more in taxes," Dayton said at 10 p.m. Thursday when it became clear that a deal would not be reached. Supposing we allow the rich to contribute up to two dollars a year. Would that make you happy? Suppose we tax rich politicians at 75% before taxing anyone else... Republicans called on the governor to convene a special session so that a stopgap measure could be passed and a shutdown avoided. He refused. Me? I'm not going to work an extra hour to keep 20,000 people working and the State Parks open. I've done my part! It's Bush's fault! "We have been working tirelessly to meet Gov. Dayton's funding requests that, in many cases, we matched 100 percent of the way," state Senate President Amy Koch (R) said in a statement Thursday night. "Unfortunately, Gov. Dayton has chosen to prioritize his rigid, tax-and-spend ideology, rather than prioritize the best interests of Minnesotans as we move into the holiday weekend." Some of that on both sides - ideology over pragmatism... Negotiators came close to an agreement, with Democrats proposing $35.8 billion in spending over the next two years and Republicans asking for $34 billion. But the budget for health and human services, which constitutes about a third of state spending, proved a sticking point. Republicans offered a deal that included layoffs of some state workers and teachers along with some unrelated measures they have been unable to pass, including a voter ID law and abortion restrictions. Maybe that's what queered the deal. State parks will not open on what is normally the busy July 4 weekend, and the state's Department of Natural Resources has estimated tourism losses of $12 million for each week the government is closed. "It's awful," said Lori Peterson, a visitor from Illinois. Her family is headed to Minnesota for an annual fishing trip without the necessary -- and now unobtainable -- fishing licenses. "We're talking about going to Canada next year." I've already used the 'Shattered Nation Longs to Care About Stupid Bull$shit" graphic, Lori. Do we still have a femto-violin? Besides, who is going to arrest you for catching fish without a license, you moron? Posted by: Bobby 2011-07-02 |
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