Dear Neighbors,

A lot has happened at the Legislature since my last communication.  Let me try to give you a brief update on events at the Capitol.

Budget Deficit
The February budget forecast revealed good news for the state.  The budget deficit decreased in size from $1.2 billion to $994 million.  This change is the result of a $25 million increase in revenues and a decrease in spending.  The decrease in spending is largely due to larger than expected federal reimbursements for Medicaid.  General Fund spending in fiscal year 2010-11 is now expected to total $31.1 billion.  State economists believe the economy will only improve from here on out.

Become An Election Judge

This graph clearly shows the unprecedented growth in spending over the past decade.   We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

Click on the graph for full size.

Earlier this week, Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) sent this e-mail to her SD43 constituents:

Dear Friends,

With the 2010 Legislative Session fast approaching, my office has assembled a 2010 Legislative Questionnaire that will allow us to find out where our community stands on the issues currently facing the Minnesota Legislature.

I am hopeful that each of you will take a few moments to share with me your thoughts and opinions on issues that will be discussed in the upcoming session. Simply click on the link below and you will see instructions on how to complete the online questionnaire.

https://surveys.senate.mn/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=l2LH774

Best regards,

Terri

Sen. Bonoff's multiple-choice questionnaire predictably has plenty of options for raising taxes, but unexpectedly also contains options like "Take no action and allow the market to continue its course." And there are no questions relating to light rail transit, which has always been high on Bonoff's wish list.

I urge you to complete Sen. Bonoff's questionnaire, particularly if you live in SD43. It will enable you to state a position on specific legislative action that the Legislature will likely be considering this session, including the budget deficit, the Vikings stadium, and a racino at Canterbury Park. If your answer is "none of the above" to a particular question, why not call, e-mail, or write Sen. Bonoff (or your state senator if you live outside SD43) to voice your opinion?

Originally posted at North Star Liberty, comments welcomed