Tony Sertich

A responsible solution to Minnesota’s budget deficit starts with being upfront, honest and transparent with Minnesotans.  Those who would argue about whether we have a spending problem or a revenue problem are missing the bigger issue – what we really have is a lack-of-jobs problem.  Already this year, Minnesota has lost nearly 30,000 jobs.  Projections in 2009 show us on pace to lose another 77,000 jobs, meaning things are likely to get worse before they get better.

Clearly, the recession is already too long and sustained to avoid budget cuts. But if we really have our eye on the future, it’s short-sighted and disingenuous to take other options off the table, including significant changes to the way government operates, and revenue increases to close the gap. No state leader in Minnesota history faced with a deficit of this magnitude has balanced the budget without new revenue as part of the solution, whether they called it a tax, fee, surcharge, fine, or passing the burden onto local units of government by way of higher property taxes.

Lawmakers have a responsibility to do more than simply get the budget back in the black.  We also have an obligation to lay the groundwork for an economic recovery that will lead to a stronger and more prosperous Minnesota.  That means making sure our schools are equipped to produce highly skilled workers, tuition is affordable, our transportation and infrastructure systems are sound, and our energy policies will reduce our reliance on foreign oil and create new jobs.

The choices we make now will determine how Minnesotans live and work in years to come, and they rightly should have a say. In addition to bringing in business leaders, government officials and workers at every level, economists and educators, we need to hear from those who will be affected by the decisions we make.  The Minnesota House of Representatives has set up a webpage so you can have a say in how we confront Minnesota’s projected budget deficit.  Visit it now at http://www.house.mn/ to share your ideas.  And as the Governor prepares his budget, we’ll be taking his proposals to every corner of the state to hear from Minnesotans.

This is difficult and serious situation, brought on by the worst economy our nation has seen in since World War II. But Minnesotans are no strangers to difficult challenges. In the 1980’s Minnesota lost more than 100,000 jobs – many in Northern Minnesota - during one of the worst recessions in our nation’s history. State leaders then took a long view, making decisions that allowed us to recover and perform better than we had before.  Now Minnesotans are counting on us to do it again.