Statement by Dan McGrath - TakeAction Minnesota

My name is Dan McGrath. I am the Executive Director of TakeAction Minnesota. Welcome to Christ Lutheran Church and thank you for taking the time to hear a different side of the budget story – one that has been missing in the past few weeks.

TakeAction Minnesota is an alliance of organizations and individuals representing over 350,000 REAL Minnesotans who are struggling with the economic downturn and who share a common commitment to social, racial and economic justice.

Four months ago our nation experienced a political sea change. At that time we didn’t think the economy could get much worse. Voters rejected the politics and policies of the last 8 years which had rewarded the wealthiest few at the great expense of most Americans.

As our economic picture has continued to darken, we have heard different conversations in Washington and here in St. Paul.

In Washington, the conversation is about how to get our national economy moving again, how to create jobs, how to save homes, and how to help people get back on their feet.

Within the walls of our State Capitol, all we hear about are cuts, cuts and more cuts. Cutting taxes for corporations and cutting programs for Minnesotans reeling from job losses and home foreclosures through no fault of their own.

At his inauguration last month, President Obama said that the question we should ask “is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works.” So why is the debate here in Minnesota about how best to shrink government?

Governor Pawlenty’s budget plan is short-sighted and guarantees that state government WILL NOT work for Minnesotans who are feeling real pain. Contrary to what the Governor would have us believe, we know that Minnesotans value the safety net that core government programs provide – especially in tough economic times like these.

We're constitutionally mandated to balance the books -- and that will happen by the end of session. But a debate only about “how to balance the ledger” -- as we pit one essential service versus another, one neighbor against another -- is insufficient.

We are economically and morally obligated to get people back on their feet and to provide a sustainable path for economic recovery for future generations.

State leaders should be debating how our budget will restore ECONOMIC SECURITY, FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY for Minnesota families. That's what Minnesotans are asking for. That's what we want the Governor and legislative leaders to figure out.

We believe a different conversation is needed. One that is about what is possible if people pull together to FAIRLY share the burden of the problems we face. We have the INGREDIENTS to restore economic security, fairness and opportunity for Minnesotans in our midst. We've done it before and we'll do it again. All we have to do is pour them out and start stirring.