state + local

Mr. Dayton is essentially accepting an offer he previously rejected. The shutdown is therefore reduced to nothing but political theatre. There is also the issue of the hardship that was perpetrated on the state workers. What a colossal waste of resources and taxpayer money.

Total State Expenditures History directly from the Minnesota Spending and Management Department archives www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/report-spend/nov10.pdf :

1990 = $10.0 billion…

1995 = $13.5 billion…

2000 = $17.6 billion…

2005 = $23.3 billion…

2010 =$ 28.4 billion

Over 20 years that is a 184% increase in Minnesota State Spending !!!

In the last 20 years the government’s consumer price index from bls.gov/cpi/ has increased by a total of 66%.

… So the bottom line is that Minnesota state spending over the last 20 years has increased by 184% while inflation was at 66%,

What do we get for our money… Overpaid state workers; A vast number of people on entitlements; And Bogus social programs that benefit no one.

Unfortunately the Democrats do NOT like to deal with facts… It confuses them… They are much more comfortable with propaganda, innuendos and rhetoric !!!!

Borrowing to pay off debt in an economy that is not growing and has shown instances of retracting. An economy that relies heavily on retail jobs for its funding. What is 30% of $11,700 ? I ask that question because that is the prevailing yearly income for a majority of new jobs being created in today's economy. Not downsizing the size of a publicly funded entity when all private companies have down sized? It's not like Minnesota has investments in private companies and is making its own money. Minnesota acquires its money through taxation and there are 400,000 unemployed Minnesotan's and those that are employed are buying less. These two factors alone make borrowing money to pay off debt one of the most dumbest, insane moves available. Government does not have the means that private businesses have to increase its revenue stream, furthermore government is for the people, not about generating revenue. Minnesota is completely backwards and I'm moving my business and jobs to another state. More than likely Colorado. Good luck Minnesota

The GOP bullies won. Assuming they are wise enough to accept the conditions. They probably won't? Nice job in that case Governor! Again, reiterating the point that he will compromise where Republicans will not.

Well the republicans almost got me.I have been a lifelong democrat who has been leaning conservative for the last few years.But what I see is another smoke and mirror pony show,kick the can down the road,let someone else deal with it.Since when is borrowing money a way to fix the budget,and delaying payments to sshools.You were elected to fix the budget,and run the state better.What I see is the same crap that happened in the previous years...nothing to deal with the real issues.Then to say you might not be able to get the votes to pass the budget.BULLS-IT!!!!!! Iam joining with other minnesotans who are pissed off and fed up........Pass this budget,and get minnesota back to work.If you don't,we will deal with you at the state fair and come election day also.

MN GOP: do not take this deal. MN has way too many government employees (and usually in the areas where they are needed least, ie Department of Commerce or the MN Department of Human Rights. These bloated and useless agencies should be gutted to bare bones. They do nothing but harrass businesses and drive up transactions cost for everyone in the state). If we cant start cutting the MN state workforce now, it will never happen as their union lobby will become more powerful and more entrenched. Its fine to leave out the social policy requirements. In the end, that matters very little to the bulk of Republicans in the state. ITS THE TAXES STUPID. The $500,000,000 in new projects is even acceptable so long as it goes to infrastructure like roads and not the Mark Dayton Center for Bisexual Farm Studies located in the Iron Range or some other worthless pet project the state does not need.

Why on earth would the Catatonic Kid not accept a necessary workforce reduction? We are currently witnessing the fact that 90% of the workers and functions of state government really aren't needed, and we should actually THANK this fool for demonstrating that fact to us. The private sector has eliminated a lot more jobs than 15% under Obama, and the state can certainly do the same.

BOTH SIDES - Sign it. Get MN back up and running. Start working on fundamental differences tomorrow. You have less than 360 days so you better get started now.

This is not a solution. No structural changes in Government? Borrow against future revenue? Take money from schools? A pox on both your houses.

Please remember this during the next elections. You would think rebublicans would have learned from the housing crisis that borrowing money that you cannot pay back is bad idea. Welcome to the State of Minnesota a new subsidiary of China. Vote them all out of office the bums!