It’s interesting to see Minnesota’s political leaders are finding other ways to solve the state’s enormous budget problems than adding taxes.

Thursday, March 28, 2002

It’s interesting to see Minnesota’s political leaders are finding other ways to solve the state’s enormous budget problems than adding taxes.

On Friday, the House passed the last piece of it balancing-bill legislation.

The bill, which passed 76 to 57, would cut $38.9 million in state government expenditures through June 2003 and an additional $26.9 million in 2004 and 2005.

Gov. Jesse Ventura has criticized the cuts for the Legislature since the start, primarily because he feels the House is protecting itself from any financial responsibility.

Recognizing Ventura’s ducking of hard issues, he shouldn’t be the one throwing punches.

When the bill passed, lawmakers were quick to give themselves credit for "downsizing government."

Unfortunately, these were the same lawmakers in the House who, earlier in the month, agreed to make cuts in health insurance and welfare benefits to Minnesotans receiving General Assistance, a welfare program for people with mental or physical health problems who don’t have children.

The passage of both bills may demonstrate the political priorities for lawmakers. The "downsizing of government" bill was the last place they looked to cut expenses.