To the editor:
Last week in his third State of the State address, Governor Mark Dayton outlined three options for dealing with our state’s projected $1.1 billion budget deficit.
Plan A is Governor Dayton’s current budget and tax reform proposals. Plan B is continuing the same old accounting gimmicks and short-term fixes that have left our state with perpetual budget shortfalls. As the Governor said, Plan C is “something better.”
The main point I took away from the Governor’s speech is that he challenged the legislature to refine and build on his proposals. I think that kind of approach is a win-win for Minnesota. Here’s why.
First, the Governor indicated that he is open to compromise. Instead of telling the legislature that it’s ‘my way or the highway,’ he wants elected officials to bring their best and brightest ideas to the table. In today’s political climate of gridlock and gamesmanship, it’s refreshing to hear our state’s top executive leave the door open for alternative approaches to closing the deficit.
Second, the Governor left room for elected officials to gather much-needed feedback from our constituents. As your voice at our state capitol, my most important job is to listen. I depend on your feedback and ideas to make well-informed decisions. I encourage you to take a few moments to fill out my legislative survey at www.house.mn/43A. You’ll find questions on job creation, tax reform, and strategies for cutting our deficit.
With a projected $1.1 billion budget deficit, collaboration among elected officials, citizens, and businesses will be key to putting our state on sound fiscal footing. Solving Minnesota’s perpetual budget shortfalls will not be easy, but voters did not elect us to avoid tough decisions. They elected us to solve the big challenges facing our state.
We may not agree on everything, but we all have a boundless love for this state and a desire to see it succeed. I am hopeful that we can work together and put our differences aside to get the job done.
As the legislative session continues, please continue sending me your thoughts, feedback, comments and ideas. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-5363, by email at rep.peter.fischer@house.mn, or by postal mail at 421 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Peter Fischer
State Representative, District 43A