April 10, 2003 -- NEWS RELEASE -- State Representative Al Juhnke
rep.al.juhnke@house.mn
281 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
651/296-6206
3951 Horizon Hills Circle, Willmar, MN 56201
320/235-4442
DFL BUDGET PLAN RESTORES SCHOOL, SENIOR FUNDING, MINIMIZES AG CUTS
A budget-balancing plan crafted by DFLers in the Minnesota House would protect schools and senior programs from cuts, minimize cuts in local aid and ethanol funding, and even provide an income tax cut for all Minnesota families with incomes of less than $500,000 a year, according to Rep. Al Juhnke.
"This is the most innovative, fair and balanced budget proposal on the table," Juhnke said. "It's the only one that truly protects education and seniors. It's the only one that minimizes the pain to
Rural Minnesota. And its most unique feature is that it actually reduces the tax burden for virtually all Minnesota households."
Key elements of House DFL plan unveiled Thursday include:
* Education funding at all levels from pre-school through college is held harmless. All of the cuts proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty are avoided - and so are the increases in local school property taxes and college tuition that would have followed those cuts.
* Cuts in senior programs like Meals on Wheels and nursing home funding are fully restored.
* Cuts in ethanol support are reduce to 5 percent - a penny a gallon, compared to the 50 percent, 10-cent cut sought by Gov. Pawlenty. The plan also reduces cuts to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and other farm-related programs.
* Cuts to the criminal justice system that would have impaired fair and speedy trials are restored.
* Cuts in aid to cities and counties are reduced to a minimal 5 percent, compared to the more than 20 percent cut sought by the Governor. That level of cut can be absorbed in local budgets without
forcing phenomenal city and county property tax increases.
* Recovering income tax revenue from individuals making more than $250,000 a year and households with incomes of more than $500,000 a year. And by lowering income tax rates to ensure households at all levels on the economic ladder pay an equal share, this plan also creates
an income tax cut for virtually all Minnesota taxpayers. The tax changes will "blink off" when the budget deficit is covered.
"This reflects the priorities of Minnesotans," Juhnke said. "It ensures the budget crisis will not devastate schools or nursing homes. It distributes the tax burden equally across all classes. Best of all, it is fair to Rural Minnesota - unlike the plans put forward by the governor and legislative Republicans."
NOTE: A chart is added here comparing the DFL, GOP and Governor's budget plans.
