Minnesota governor proposing tax increases, jobs spending

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110209/pl_nm/us_minnesota_governor

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton said on Wednesday he would propose next week higher taxes on wealthy state residents to help address a projected $6.2 billion budget deficit, and urged further investments to create jobs.

In his first "state of the state" address, the Democratic governor also asked business leaders to give his administration two years to turn around Minnesota's budget without "savaging essential public services."

Dayton asked for bipartisan support from the Republican-controlled legislature to resolve the state's fiscal crisis and urged lawmakers to pledge there would be no state government shutdown due to a budget impasse.

"We were left a horrendous fiscal mess, a decade of economic decline, and state agencies poorly managed," Dayton said in a speech to legislators. "All of that must be turned around. All of it will be turned around, but not by tomorrow, and not entirely by the end of this legislative session."

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I wish him luck!

It sounds like a good plan...

I hope that the Republicans will cooperate.

Recommended.

[glinda]

7. Republicans did not clap at that. Are we surprised?

[xchrom]

2. at least he has the courage to talk about a tax rise.

they need the money -- and they can't cut their way out.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. If Dayton can dig us out from under Pawlenty's mess he'll be a miracle-worker

But he's got a lot of opposition in this once-sane state.

[northoftheborder]

4. A rare man of courage.

[glinda]

8. Integrity is the word.

[gratuitous]

5. How will the Republicans respond?

I'd reckon the fiscal mess is no secret to anyone in the legislature. Will the Republicans respond with a good faith effort to fix it, or will they be too beholden to ideology and wealth-worshiping to get off the schneid and start doing something?

[glinda]

9. They have already made it clear what they want. Free range on environment and "no" to Dayton.

MN. is "blessed" to have this man. He loves this State and he is grateful for the opportunities that he has been given. It will be a shame as the Republicans oppose him on every front that doesn't give in to their horrors. Now is not the time for them to be asses. We have an opportunity here.
The House and the Senate both controlled by Repubs.

[GoCubsGo]

6. And, like Illinios...

...Minnesota will be one of the few states that will resolve it's fiscal crisis, without taking it all out on poor people and state employees.

[dkofos]

10. What a concept. Raise taxes to eliminate deficit spending. Hey BO, this is how you do it.

[riverwalker]

11. cleaning up Pawlenty's mess

we got your back, Gov. Dayton.