state + local

Go figure Gov. Dimwit and his happy cohorts wont get as much money because of a slowing economy (didnt Obama just say the economy was improving, these Dems need to get their stories straight), and so the Dems answer "we need to raise taxes" because see when the government needs money they steal more from us, but where am i supposed to get more money? oh wait South Dakota where most of Minnesota's business will probably end up. Hey Dayton, i know yo have never had to do a personal budget, but try cutting back on spending instead of taking more from me

"..prompting DFL Gov. Mark Dayton to offer a budget proposal that included a menu of tax increases and new spending." New spending--Just as soon as Mr. Dayton voluntarily pays Minnesota income taxes on his South Dakota trust fund money.

Let's see. You need 1.1 billion. So you tax 1.1 Billion. Ooppps. You add another 1.5 billion in spending. How do you balance the books? You blame it on the Republicans and add another 1.5 billion in taxes. I'm sure there will not be a recession after all is done.

The state’s health care costs consume a giant share of the state budget and are largely to blame for the continued increase in state spending. Actually about 12 billion goes to running the state, 12 billion to education and the remaining 12 billion to health and human services which pays welfare, section 8 housing, food stamps and nursing care for the elderly. It also pays Mncare. Health care costs are a small part of the state budget.

Gov. Goofy II wants to impose more regressive taxes on the people who can least afford them in order to "balance the budget", "pay back the schools," right? And this is to be mitigated by that paltry $500 property tax rebate; oh yeah, how many poor people own their homes? Yet he then increases spending far faster than inflation. And how does this make sense again?

I guess Minnesotans are hoping for the best while the conservatives are praying for the worst. Such nice boys.

Very simple answer - evenly divide the deficit between spending and revenue. If the gap is $1 billion, decrease spending by $500 million and increase revenue by the same amount. If the gap is $1.5 billion, do the same (decrease spending by $750 million and increase revenue by the same amount). No need to increase revenues by an amount that is more than the spending (as Dayton's budget proposal currently does). Or EVEN BETTER, simply decrease spending by the amount of the deficit and do NOT increase revenue (taxes!). What's not to like about that?

This guy is as clueless as the DC people....Poor leadership in MN and in DC

It's funny how we're having budget problems even thought Minnesotan's pay a ton in state income and other taxes. South Dakota has NO STATE INCOME TAX and is doing fine. It's a spending problem Mr. Dayton and you don't need to raise taxes on us even higher.

Well it could of been worse. If you recall back in the initial negotiations for this budget, the GOP wanted to keep the budget at $32B and Dayton wanted a $37B budget. Thanks for holding the line GOP. We thanked you by voting you out of office. Go figure.