How do we solve our current economic problems? Is it by cutting public services, laying off public employees or reducing state spending? Our governor would have us believe it is by doing all of the above. He would
have us believe the only way to solve our $4.8 billion budget deficit is by tightening our belt.

At first glance this sounds logical. After all, if we are experiencing a deficit in our personal finances, we attempt to spend less. That may work for individual's finances but it will never work for state government.

If state government cuts public services, lays off public employees or reduces state spending it will only make the economic crisis worse. A reduction in public services and fewer jobs means more hardship for working people. This economic crisis will not be solved by cutting government spending.

To repair Minnesota's economy we need to balance the budget, put middle class families first and focus on the right priorities. Priorities such as reducing government waste, eliminating programs that don't work,
fixing our broken health care system and restoring fairness to our tax system. In short, investing in state and local communities.

Instead, Governor Pawlenty is proposing drastic, unnecessary cuts that harm victims of the poor economy. He, like George W. Bush is putting politics before people, failing middle class families and trying to outsource jobs. He is proposing cutting corporate taxes in half. This will add $1 billion to the deficit. In addition, he has hired 131 highly paid state administrators since the wage freeze was announced.

How did a progressive, prosperous state like Minnesota end up with a $4.8 billion deficit? In the late 90's the highest paid people received a tax cut from George W. Bush and from Governor Pawlenty. This has resulted in a working mother whose salary is $38,000 paying 12.6% in taxes while, a billionaire CEO pays only 9.3%.

If people earning $250,000 paid their fair share in taxes it would result in $1 billion worth of revenue. A 1% tax hike on 1% of the wealthiest people would result in $600 million in revenue. The wealthiest Minnesotans should pay the same percent taxes as the middle class. If the wealthiest citizens paid their fair share, we could afford the public services that Minnesotans want and need.

Cutting public services means layoffs of public employees. Now is not the time for layoffs. Good jobs create an economy that works. Governor Pawlenty needs to follow President Obama's lead by protecting and
creating living wage jobs. Instead he is looking for more ways to help wealthy CEO's while working families are losing their jobs, their homes and their health care. His priorities are simply wrong.

Minnesota's public sector workforce is one of the leanest and most productive in the nation yet Governor Pawlenty is advocating a wage freeze. Governor Pawlenty can't mandate a wage freeze for public employees. Remember, our salary is negotiated by our Union--it is not mandated by the governor.

Every time Governor Pawlenty cuts state spending he takes dollars out of Minnesota's economy. Public investment creates good jobs. Fair taxes is how we put money back in the pockets of hard working families. Fair taxes is the way we jump start the economy.