COVERITLIVE.COM

9:03

News Cut (Bob) - So here's the thing. Are we going to hear something new in the tax debate. DFLers are flying around the state today, Gov. Pawlenty is meeting the media around noon. What else is there left to say about the issue of taxes. "We need new revenue!" vs "We're taxed to heavily!"

Is there a more, umm, nuanced approach to the issue? Let's find out.

9:09

[Comment From Jay]
It is long past time when Pawlenty and his GOP colleagues explain to citizens of this state why it is just fine for the highest income earners in the state to pay a tax rate that is lower than those of us in the middle class. There is NO scientific evidence that tells us individuals and business will flee the state or jobs will be lost if tax rate equality is enacted.

9:11	News Cut (Bob) - Since Kerri asked, there's the poll.

9:12	News Cut (Bob) - Should the DFL apologize for its session? Loeffler says they've sent the bills to the governor. "It's not because we didn't send him a complete and balanced budget," she says.

9:13

News Cut (Bob) - Is it disingenuous to say you sent him a bill, when he'd already said he wouldn't veto it?

Loeffler: The governor plans to borrow money to balance the budget. When we presented that on the house floor, only two Republicans supported it. We kept the door open; we were open to new ideas. He wasn't willing to put other alternative on the table.

9:14	News Cut (Bob) - Ortman: Won't be unilateral decisions to cut budget by governor. he's got all sorts of state employees, legislators, and constituents to help.

9:14	News Cut (Bob) - Ortman: The Legislature refused to pass a balanced budget

9:15	News Cut (Bob) - The poll vote button isn't appearing again. let me kill that poll.

9:16

News Cut (Bob) - Ortman: Minnesotans want a divided government. But the DFL was fraught with its own disagreements. The bill that passed before the deadline, only got 36 votes from a 65-member Senate. Sen. Tom Bakk, chief author, did not vote for that bill. So conference committee members did not support agenda and that makes it hard to compromise with them.

9:17

News Cut (Bob) - Loeffler: We were working together. Our bills passed and were signed by the governor. We did send a budget that was balanced to the governor. The governor has not agreed with the proposals sent to him and has decided to use an unallotment authority that is supposed to be an emergency authority.

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