April 24, 2009: Legislative Report #59

Shifting

As I continue, searching the bills introduced this legislative session, a trend emerges. I call the trend SHIFTING, when legislative leaders introduce a bill that strips resources, or funding from an existing government entity, reallocating said funds to another government entity. From the information I can gather, an example of this practice is House File 2155, introduced by Representative Bob Gunther (R) District: 24A. The bill takes revenue generated from the state taxing of garbage services. Currently, the garbage tax revenue deposited into a fund called an environmental fund. 

Currently about $25,000,000.00 annually is siphoned by the state and placed into the general fund, never seen again for the purpose collected from you. The balance, about $50,000,000.00 annually, distributed between the county and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This bill would divert any current funds directed to the PCA to the counties, helping counties balance projected shortfalls. 

Confused, so are many others. What tangled webs our leadership has spun attempting to keep all the voices at the state capital appeased. Thus the need to replace most of our current leadership with folks willing to change the direction of Minnesota government, follow the constitution and keep government limited to her constitutional purpose.