Governor Dayton's Budget

February 16, 2011

Governor Dayton's Budget

. The Governor's budget proposal is fair, responsible and balanced.
It's an honest look at our state's fiscal needs that addresses the historic
deficit he inherited from the GOP and makes thoughtful reforms to build a
better Minnesota.

. The Governor's proposal does exactly what he said he'd do all
along: it invests in education and public safety and protects the middle
class.

. The Governor's budget contains no property or income tax increases
on the middle class. Period.

. 95% of all Minnesotans will not pay a dime more in taxes. Governor
Dayton's plan simply asks the richest of the rich to pay a bit more to help
us maintain essential services and create a more prosperous future for our
state.

. Investing in Minnesota's future starts with investing in our young
people. There is no question - to compete in a global economy, we have to
have an excellent education system in Minnesota. It's an investment with a
proven return and a jobs plan for the next century.

State Legislature

. Governor Dayton is keeping his promise to Minnesotans. Now, the
Republicans can either get on board, or produce the all-cuts budget they
promised.

. The Republicans asked for this job and now they're in control in
the legislature. It's time for them step up and show us their plan, rather
than trying to pull a bait-and-switch.

. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over
again and expecting a different result. We've had eight years of Governor
Pawlenty's cut-here, tax-there budgets and we're worse off for it. Governor
Dayton's plan is an honest approach that doesn't rely on temporary shifts,
one-time money or other Republican gimmicks.

. The Republican majority has done nothing but break their promises
- from holding children and seniors harmless to their ability to produce an
all-cuts budget.

. The Republican majority's only "jobs plan" is to eliminate jobs
instead of create them.

Legislative District 5B Special Election

. Yesterday, Minnesotans elected DFL candidate, Carly Melin to the
Minnesota House of Representatives. This race was the first successful step
in regaining a DFL majority in the House of Representatives in 2012, a
majority that - like Carly Melin - will always stand for and with working
Minnesotans.

. Carly Melin, is ready to get to work in the state legislature - to
fight for workers, protect union rights and support policies that will bring
jobs to the rural economy.

. Carly is a strong leader, who supports the governor's bonding
proposals which will bring jobs to the local economy through infrastructure
investments in local schools and communities and create new construction
jobs.

. Carly will passionately support Polymet Mining, Essar Steel, and
other new innovations in mining and natural resources to grow the local
economy while protecting the environment.

President Obama's Budget

. President Obama's budget invests in measures that will help
America to win the future - particularly education.

. Education investments will put America in a position to out-build,
out-innovate, and out-compete nations around the globe. Investments in
schools will help us prepare students for 21st century jobs and give them
the skills they need to be successful.

. Engineering, critical thinking, and problem solving are things our
kids need to learn to be successful in the future, and that's why President
Obama is:

o Preparing 100,000 science, technology, engineering, and math teachers
during the next ten years.

o Continuing the highly successful Race to the Top program and fixing the
No Child Left Behind program in a way that will prepare all students for
college and careers.

o Maintaining the maximum Pell Grant award to help millions of American
students obtain higher education.

o And it's why he set the goal to have the highest proportion of college
graduates in the world by 2020 - a goal that we're on track to reach.

. But America also has to take responsibility for our deficits and
make room for the investments that will ensure America's success in the 21st
century.

. President Obama has called for an annual domestic spending freeze
lasting five years, which will cut the deficit by more than $400 billion
over the next ten years and reduce domestic spending to its lowest levels
since President Eisenhower.

. That spending freeze will require making some difficult choices,
but President Obama is serious about putting America's fiscal house in order
while ensuring that we don't sacrifice America's future.