My Representatives view on Pawlenty's massive budget slash

I join Rep. Jim Davnie in deploring this ham-fisted attack on the poor, as well as the grossly unaccountable and un-transparent way of doing the people's work:

Neighbors,

We are at the point in the session where the largest omnibus bills that have the biggest impact on the state budget have passed the House and Senate and have reached the Governor’s desk.

Thursday, Governor Pawlenty announced that he will unilaterally cut the state budget. Rather than continue to engage in any negotiation with the legislature to responsibly deal with the state’s unprecedented $6.4 billion budget shortfall, the Governor will use broad executive authority to line-item veto and unallot $3 billion from the state budget, putting him in the position of single-handedly making budget decisions for the entire state. No Governor in state history has unallotted even 10% of that amount.

Early in this session the legislature decided transparent decision-making and public accountability must be core values to guide our work. We decided agreements made by all three parties - the House, Senate, and Governor - should be discussed in public and inclusive of a broad representative group of members before being brought to a vote. The Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy has been the forum for those discussions.

Unfortunately the Governor has never attended any of the public meetings that he has been invited too. He has sent his Commissioners to speak for him, which is appropriate but not the same as actually engaging in public discussion about his vision for the state and closing the budget deficit.

Hours after his announcement, the Governor line item vetoed $381 million in funding for General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) for fiscal year 201, starting August 1, 2010. GAMC provides health care coverage for single low income adults. To qualify, an individual must have an income below 75% of the federal poverty guidelines. This is money used to treat veterans, senior citizens, and the poorest people in the state. Many of these people are homeless and may be chemically dependent or chronically mentally ill. Some are able to establish themselves productively as a result of getting the health care they need from this program.

The impact of this cut will be devastating to the individuals who will be losing their heath care but will also be crushing to hospitals like HCMC, which stands to lost $108 million, not including federal matching funds. As a safety net hospital, HCMC gets many uninsured and underinsured patients, particularly through its emergency room. Legally and ethically they cannot turn them away. These cuts will devastate over 30,000 Minnesotans and the hospitals that care for them.

By midnight tonight the Governor must act on the remaining omnibus bills - K-12 and early childhood education, higher education, transportation, agriculture and veterans affairs - signing them, vetoing them, or signing potions of them while line-item vetoing specific spending programs.

This is the most serious budget crisis in Minnesota’s history, and the next 48 hours will shape our future for a generation. It would be far preferable for Governor Pawlenty to work with the Legislature to find a negotiated settlement that is balanced, responsible, and fair. I encourage you to contact the Governor (651-296-3391) to provide him with your input on his plan to balance the budget behind closed doors.

Regards,

Jim [Davnie]