Saturday, July 10, 2010

Will the Gov or anyone else Listen?

This week candidate Audrey Britton (Minnesota House 43A) Sent a letter to the Governor. The state of MN is facing very serious budget problems and someone needs to be talking about a solution now.



Britton writes to Governor requesting mandated budget submittal
July 9, 2010

Governor Tim Pawlenty
Office of the Governor 130 State Capitol
St. Paul, MN 55155

Dear Governor Pawlenty,

According to Chapter 5 of HF 886 that you signed into law March 2, 2009, you are required to submit a balanced budget for 2010 and 2011, and to provide for a balanced general fund budget in fiscal years 2012 and 2013. My understanding is that the budget, due Jan. 28, 2010, left a structural deficit of $2.5 billion. The session ended with a $3 billion deficit and a $5-7 billion deficit is forecasted by November.

It now appears that the state may not be able to meet its financial obligations without short-term borrowing. This is a fiscal crisis for our state, a concern that rises above partisanship and concerns for political careers.

Since launching my campaign in May 2010, I have knocked on 2000 doors and have heard from hundreds of voters who say that fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget ranks among their top concerns. I am confident that this concern extends beyond Medicine Lake and Plymouth, to voters all across Minnesota.

It is time to move beyond partisanship. We need a willingness to take a long-range, strategic and comprehensive approach to budgeting. One-prong, simplistic approaches make for good sound bites but are having a devastating effect on our State. We cannot cut our way, tax our way—or borrow our way—out of this predicament.

I ask that there be no more postponing in addressing this matter. As a candidate, I do not have the resources and staff afforded to you as governor to develop a comprehensive and fiscally responsible budget. Please use the resources given to your office by the citizens of Minnesota to provide some real, long-term solutions to this fiscal crisis.

Sincerely,


Audrey Britton
Candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives (43A), Plymouth and Medicine Lake
(612) 807-0311

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