Emmer’s plan and reaction to it
Republican Tom Emmer released a budget plan that spends only what the state is set to collect in revenue over the next two years. Emmer released a budget plan that outlined his budget targets but didn't detail specific cuts, saying that should be worked out with the Legislature.
His proposal for the next two years cuts spending for higher education, aid to cities and counties, and state agencies. He would also slash projected growth in health and human services programs by nearly 3 billion dollars . Emmer said his plan is the most specific of the candidates running for office and holds the line on taxes.
Reaction to his budget plan was swift.
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Katharine Tinucci, Dayton's deputy campaign manager:
"Rep. Emmer's plan will cut funding for Higher Education by 14%, K-12 Education by 14%, and Local Government Aid by 33%. He will thus cause huge increases in property taxes, higher college tuitions and seriously damage the quality of education throughout Minnesota. Furthermore, his drastic cuts in funding for Health and Human Services will restrict access to essential health care for those most in need.
By contrast, Mark Dayton will invest in better education and new jobs. He will protect middle-class taxpayers by making our tax system fairer, while Tom Emmer will raise property taxes and Tom Horner will expand the sales tax."
Hibbing Mayor Rick Wolff, president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities:
"Tom Emmer's plan to cut $1.1 billion in property tax aids and credits would continue the status quo policies that have nearly doubled property taxes over the past eight years on families and businesses. Under Tom Emmer's plan, we'll all feel the pain when we dig deeper into our wallets to pay more for the services that keep our communities strong: police, fire protection, libraries, parks, snow plowing, senior centers and more. Strong, affordable communities are what have made Minnesota the envy of other states for decades, and that appears to be a legacy Tom Emmer's plan would dismantle."
Donna Cassutt, Minnesota DFL State Associate Chair:
"Representative Emmer has conveniently ignored the nearly $2 billion Governor Pawlenty borrowed from the schools, but has not forgotten about his friends in big business. By refusing to pay back the $1.8 billion owed to Minnesota's schools, Tom Emmer will devastate K-12 education. By slashing vital health and human services, Tom Emmer will jeopardize the well-being of Minnesota's children and senior citizens. By making sure that only big corporations receive tax breaks, Representative Emmer will be forcing property taxes sky high for middle class Minnesotans. Minnesotans deserve more."
Chris Coleman, mayor of St. Paul:
"Tom Emmer's budget plan is a continuation of the last eight years under Tim Pawlenty's disastrous fiscal management, which has left Minnesotans struggling in the face of the largest property tax increase in a generation. The Emmer plan will result in huge tax increases, severe cuts to core public safety services and drastically change the quality of life our residents want and deserve."
Tony Sutton, Republican Party of Minnesota chairman:
"With Minnesotans making the necessary sacrifices to balance their budgets, it is time for the government to do the same. To that end, Tom Emmer crafted a plan which draws down the $6 billion projected deficit for FY 2012 - 2013, and focuses taxpayer resources on essential services.
Firm in his conviction that Minnesota cannot shoulder the higher tax burden which Mark Dayton and Tom Horner have proposed, Tom Emmer has put forth a plan that won't raise taxes. To address the current deficit, Tom Emmer seeks to stabilize runaway Health and Human Services spending, reform Local Government Aid, and put bureaucracy around the state on a much needed diet."
Minnesota Medical Association President Benjamin Whitten, M.D.:
The physicians of Minnesota are deeply concerned about Tom Emmer's proposal to cut Minnesota's health care safety net by an additional $2.25 billion. We know that nearly 75 percent of state Medicaid spending is spent on services for people with disabilities and the elderly. We also know that state spending on health care is being driven by increased enrollment in state programs (particularly in the economic downturn), an aging population, and increased use of the health care system.
Without knowing all the details, the impact of a proposal like this is that something will have to give. The state would have to either cover fewer Minnesotans or fewer services or lower payment rates for care. These options would increase the ranks of the state's uninsured and reduce access to doctors, hospitals and clinics.
Cutting people off the state's balance sheet will not eliminate the cost of treatment. It will just result in someone else paying for it -- either the hospitals or clinics that treat these patients or the state's employers through higher private sector premiums.