Simple principles for a state budget
I am often asked how I determine which way to vote on certain issues. The answer is pretty simple: I ask myself a few easy questions that keep me pointed in the right direction. For example: what is best for my district and the people I represent; will it make people’s lives easier; or how does it impact some of the issues I consider fundamental, like protecting life, defending Second Amendment rights, and keeping government spending in line. You get the idea.
When it comes to the state budget, there is even more to consider. The state budget is a complicated, $46 billion web of programs, priorities, and goals. You can’t just pick and choose winners and losers on a whim when you have so many issue areas that need funding; the only way to guarantee success is by clearly identifying a few core principles you will use to make decisions, and then sticking to those principles.
This week, my Senate Republican Colleagues and I did just that by unveiling a few core principles we will use during this year’s budget process. This is what we came up with.
You’ll notice that there aren’t specific policies here. That is by design. My dedication to the issues important to you, like child care fraud, health care costs, or roads and bridges, has not softened. Those discussions will come once the February revenue forecast is released.
Instead, think of these as guideposts that we will apply to each area of the budget.
They are pretty straightforward:
- Take care of people: Senate Republicans care about people and it will be our first principle in putting together the 2019 budget. That includes kids in childcare, students, veterans, seniors in the nursing home – and everyone in between.
- Protect the taxpayer by living within our means: We have a healthy surplus and the most robust rainy-day fund in the history of the state. There is no need to ask Minnesotans for any more tax revenue. We can take care of people without renewing the sick tax. We can make roads and bridges a priority without raising the gas tax.
- Control spending and hold government accountable: State government should not grow at an unsustainable, unreasonable rate like we have the last eight years (39% growth in the general fund). Our job is to set priorities and make the tough choices to fund them.
- Be transparent and get done on time: Senate Republicans will move the budget through the process in a timely and transparent manner. We will introduce separate bills for each part of the budget, hold open hearings for bills so the public can keep track, and negotiate in good faith before final adjournment.
These are simple, commonsense ideas that everyone should be able to get behind, and sticking to them will help us finish session in an orderly fashion.
I would love to hear your feedback. Please feel free to contact me at 651-296-0284 or Sen.John.Jasinski@senate.mn.
This column originally ran in the Owatonna People’s Press