Before state lawmakers left the Capitol for a weeklong break, they passed an omnibus agriculture bill âÄî the first and only budget bill to get the OK from the Minnesota state House, Senate and governor.
As many are still recovering from their Easter feasting-induced food coma, we would like to fervently remind MinnesotaâÄôs politicians that now âÄî more than ever âÄî is the time for compromise.
Today, Republicans will kick it into campaign mode and fly around the state to garner support for their budget plans. Not to be outdone, Gov. Mark Dayton plans to hold town hall meetings to rally support for his proposals.
During the first half of the session, Minnesotans could stomach the inane grandstanding and reluctance to budge from certain ideals. As a government shutdown looms, itâÄôs time to move beyond partisan bickering and end the $5 billion budget deficit.
RepublicansâÄô valiant effort to have an all-cuts âÄúliving within our meansâÄù budget is bunk. Their plan falls more than $1 billion short of balancing the budget.
Thus far, the GOP has underestimated DaytonâÄôs determination to hike taxes on MinnesotaâÄôs top earners âÄî a category heâÄôs squarely in after banking $671,724 last year. A willingness to increase taxes is needed because, letâÄôs face it, revenue is key.
In fairness, this idea isnâÄôt completely lost on Republicans. Numerous leaders in the GOP say revenue could be found in a mix of fees, surcharges and the closing of tax loopholes that currently almost exclusively benefit the wealthy. ThatâÄôs a good beginning.
Neither side is going to be entirely thrilled with what ends up being passed. ThatâÄôs no secret, so the faster compromises are made, the happier weâÄôll all be.