Borrowing bill too big, misguided priorities
Another of the top issues this legislative session was the government borrowing bill. Despite facing a nearly $1 billion deficit, the Democrat majority was intent on borrowing a billion dollars as one of their first legislative actions. Its sheer size and lack of priorities misrepresented the needs of Minnesota citizens.
“This bill funded sculpture gardens and volleyball centers, yet left out money for roads and other important infrastructure projects. At a time when Minnesota government must focus on needs, this bill was full of wants.”
In the end, Governor Pawlenty pared the bill down to a more reasonable $680 million worth of projects. But Representative Zellers knows that government projects are not the answer to economic recovery.
“Recovery will come from the free market and the hard-working people of Minnesota, not from government projects. Our job in St. Paul must be to give them the tools they need to fire up Minnesota’s economic engine,” said Zellers.
Pork projects eliminated:
$4.5 million for “natural areas”
$3.5 million for a sports center
$2 million for a sculpture garden
$2 million for a nature center
$1 million for a snow maker
$2.2 million for an arts center
Numerous “cultural centers”
Representative Zellers played the key role in getting these wasteful projects out of the debt bill, protecting taxpayers from more waste.
