| Last night, on AM950 Radio's "Minnesota Matters - Friday Edition" show, we had State Senator Jim Carlson, DFL, SD-38 on, to discuss how Minnesota, under the "fiscally (non)conservative" Gov. Tim Pawlenty got the state into it's latest budgetary mess.
Well, we also talked about The Sons Of Nixon's Plumbers, a story that's not going away, and we played "False or False Witness!" too - Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive's quote is below the fold, at the very end. But, the bulk of the show was how Gov. TBag deliberately put the State into an unbalanced budget, so TBag could exercise Unitary Executive Power (Nixon would be so proud!).
When the podcast/download becomes available, I'll update and link to it.
In the meantime, Senator Carlson's sheet explaining what we talked about is below the fold.
In a nutshell, here's what happened:
The February 2009 Forecast predicted revenues of $31.1 Billion (rounded). Knowing that number, Gov. TBag proceeded signed Spending Bills of $33.8 Billion (rounded) anyway.
This created a deficit from Governor-approved spending (remember, when TBag signed those spending bills, they were now law) and the Feb 2009 Forecast of $2.7 Billion (rounded). A bill to balance that deficit, HF-2323, was passed and presented to Gov. TBag to sign. Except, TBag didn't sign that revenue bill to balance the budget; he vetoed it.
Upon creating an unbalanced budget, TBag immediately claimed unilateral power to fix the problem he created, and then hit the campaign trail. As to TBag's actions creating an anticipated budget problem, then using powers to deal with unanticipated budget problems? The Court was not amused.
Details below the fold. |
How We got Here - Who Approved the Spending?
Senator Jim Carlson
sen.jim.carlson@senate.mn
(Bold numbers from Senate Research)
FY 2010-2011 General Fund Budget
Projected FY 2010-2011 Resources from February Forecast: $31,113,000,000
(From February Forecast and enacted changes. Includes carry forward of $188 million from FY 2009
and $225 million of increased revenues in enacted budget)
FY 2010-2011 biennial spending contained in bills signed by Governor: $33,789,000,000
(Governor vetoed $387 million, including $381 million GAMC)
New revenue needed for Governor-approved spending: $2,676,000,000
HF-2323 passed for new revenue, but vetoed by Governor May 19, 2009 $2,732,000,000
Governor action July 1, 2009 to unallot his previously approved spending:
K-12 Unallotments/Deferrals: $1,771,032,000
Net Unallotments (Reductions) to Approved Spending: $694,560,000
Revenue Actions (Refund delays, tax reciprocity): $210,700,000
-- Total previously approved spending, now unalloted by Governor: $2,676,000,000
FY 2010-2011 Biennial Budget after unallotment of Governor-approved spending
Projected current law biennium resources, revised by unallotment $31,330,000,000
Spending budget after unalloting previously approved spending $31,330,000,000
November Forecast Review - Presented December 3, 2009
November 2009 Re-forecast of FY 2010-2011 biennium resources: $30,127,000,000
Official FY 2010-2011 Budget deficit (spending exceeds resources): $1,203,000,000
FY 2012-2013 General Fund Planning Budget
Projected FY 2012-2013 Biennium spending per 2009 Governor-signed law: $38,644,000,000
Based on FY 2010-2011 budget obligations signed into law by the Governor
Includes repayment of unalloted education funds of $1,155,894,000
Projected FY 2012-2013 Resources from current law: $33,218,000,000
Forecast November 2009, presented December 3, 2009
Official FY 2012-2013 Budget deficit (spending exceeds resources): $5,426,000,000
Does not include additional budget pressures or inflation
Additional 2012-2013 Budget Pressures and Inflation
-- Re-instate General Assistance Medical Care: $928,000,000
-- Buy back School Property Tax Recognition Unallotment/Deferral: $562,000,000
-- Estimated Planning Inflation: $1,179,000,000
Possible FY 2012-1013 General Fund Planning Deficit: $8,095,000,000
(note: Senator Carlson's sheet is much, Much, MUCH cleaner; the ol' TwoPutter's coding of it? Not so much.)
Oh, and that Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive quote, used during last night's "False Or False Witness!" game?
Here it is:
"Dear Fellow Conservative,
Will you let Barack Obama KILL conservatism?
If you're the type of conservative I trust you are, I know your answer is a resounding 'NO!'
Because you and I have our work cut out for us opposing Obama's outrageous gangster government." -- American Conservative Union mailing, posted on DumpBachmann.Blogspot.com on January 24th, 2010 |
