Feb 9

Written by:
2/9/2011 3:34 PM 

We have brought out charts and graphs and data sheets. We have developed and presented them with issue-specific fact cards, which we are now distributing to all legislators on a scheduled basis. We have penned op-ed pieces, and responded to media questions. (The most recent op-ed piece, published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on February 6, 2011, can be found by clicking here. We were interviewed for a feature story in the Minneapolis newspaper published on February 8: “A Fraying Safety Net . . . What happens if programs that help more than a million needy Minnesotans shrink?” where I was quoted as saying: “Many, many homes are on the edge financially because of a decade of rate cuts” in response to a supposition that the state could save $78 million with a 10% cut on nursing home rates. (That story is posted here.) We have taken every opportunity to state our case clearly and to emphasize how we have been “doing out part” for the past years. Now we wait.

We wait for next week—February 15, the date by which Governor Mark Dayton will be releasing his proposed biennial budget. We have been forewarned by leaders that the budget deficit is too big to continue with the status quo—the structural deficit cannot be addressed by increasing revenues alone, even if increased revenues were acceptable to Republican leaders. We have been forewarned that the health and human services budget will take the brunt of reductions because of its growth rate. At the same time, leaders say the budget passed will cover the most frail and needy; that the state will continue to prioritize spending and make sure we pay only for what is essential—not what is nice. I have a hard time believing that the vast majority of the services you provide are NOT essential, and that the people you serve are NOT the most frail and needy of the state’s citizens. So, we will wait and see how those priorities are reflected in the budget released by the Governor, and the “responsorial” budget released by the Senate and House.

We were hoping for a stronger advance glimpse into the Governor’s budget by listening to the State of the State address. Not so much. We learned the Governor feels strongly about avoiding a government shutdown on July 1, 2011—asking legislators to join him in pledging not to shut down the government—in other words, agree to work toward a bi-partisan solution. We learned Governor Dayton has a five point plan for investment (which in my mind means spend but we have no money so I was confused!) to include virtually everything we do today—jobs; education; transportation; health of citizens, environment and community; and transformation of government. There was no specific mention about long-term care, and little about health care in general. We do know, however that he intends to include tax increase proposals in his budget:

Some will criticize me for proposing next week to ask those successful businessmen and women and other wealthy Minnesotans to pay higher taxes.

I ask them for their forbearance during this fiscal crisis, which I did not create, but inherited, and now, with you in the Legislature, must solve.

I ask Minnesota’s business leaders and other most successful citizens to give us two years to turn this Ship of State around. Not by savaging essential public services, upon which you and your employees also depend, but rather by transforming the ways in which government operates here in Minnesota.

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In closing, I ask all Minnesotans for the same forbearance. I ask not to be finally judged by the budget I am required to submit next week.

I ask you to remember that I was not given a blank slate on which to write my best proposals for our state’s future. Neither was the Legislature. We were left a horrendous fiscal mess, a decade of economic decline, and state agencies poorly managed.

Copyright ©2011 Patti