Pawlenty blasts DFLers for not specifying tax increases
Governor Pawlenty is criticizing Democrats in both the House and Senate for not saying which taxes they plan on increasing to balance the budget. Pawlenty's criticism comes one day after House DFLers released a plan that relies on a $1.5 billion unspecified tax increase to balance the budget. Senate DFLers are relying on $2 billion in tax increases but have only said there are considering options like taxing income and sales tax on the internet and music downloads. On his weekly radio show, Pawlenty said Democrats should provide greater specifics.
"If you're planning on raising taxes, say specifically which taxes you're going to raise so we can have the debate. it's not like they haven't been thinking about this for months. We've known about the deficit since last November. They obviously are trying to avoid it because they don't want to take the heat for proposing the tax increases. They want to pop it out in April or May when the session is winding down."
Democrats in the House and Senate say they want to let the Tax Committees in their respective bodies come up with the best options to raise taxes. Pawlenty's budget primarily relies on one-time money and spending cuts to balance the budget.
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Meanwhile...
DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich and
GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert
GOP Rep. Kurt Zellers (updated) will be on MPR's Midday to talk about the House DFL budget plan.
UPDATE:
Sertich responded to Pawlenty's criticism on MPR's Midday:
DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich said the House Tax Chair will determine which taxes should be raised.
"There's a difference between the executive branch and the legislative branch. When the governor wakes up in the morning and looks in the mirror, he pretty much can decide what he wants to do as executive of the state of Minnesota. There are 134 members in the House and 67 members in the Senate and we have to come to some sort of an agreement and we don't want to supercede that. "