MN Balancing Budget on Backs of Poor

By Deb Konechne

St Paul, MN - Low-income protesters, chanting "Tax the rich," and, "Stop the war on the poor!" filled the state capitol building throughout the 2003 legislative session. Minnesota, like 40-plus other states around the country, faced a massive budget deficit. With the first announcement of the $4.5 billion shortfall, the Welfare Rights Committee came out swinging.

"Poor and working people did not create this budget crisis, and we are not the ones who should pay for it. We call on Governor Pawlenty and all politicians to immediately halt their plans to balance the budget on the backs of poor and working Minnesotans. We say, tax the rich! Let those with the most ability to pay, pay for the budget crisis," demanded Trishalla Bell of the WRC.

The Welfare Rights Committee worked with many trade unions, including locals of AFSCME, the United Food and Commercial Workers, and the Service Employees International Union, to resist attacks on working people and the poor. "We came together with our union sisters and brothers to speak out against any cuts to jobs, wages, welfare, health care and public services," stated Kim Hosmer of WRC.

Despite WRC's months of protests, consistently confronting politicians and packing committee hearings, legislators proceeded with their plans to solve the deficit with budget cuts. "Minnesota politicians chose the disastrous path of slashing the social safety net for low-income and working Minnesotans in order to protect tax breaks to the richest Minnesotans!" Hosmer added.

"The Minnesota legislature, headed up by right-wing Republicans, carried out an agenda that is racist, sexist and anti-poor!" said Debra Howze of WRC. "They targeted poor women and children, immigrants, working people, people with disabilities and communities of color."

Even though much of the welfare budget is federal money separate from the state general fund, Governor Pawlenty proposed drastic changes to welfare. "Pawlenty and House Republicans used the budget crisis as a cover to push through the largest cuts to welfare in the history of Minnesota," stated Howze. Welfare cuts include a $50 monthly cut to families in subsidized housing, $125 monthly grant cut to families with disabled members (for each member receiving SSI), family cap, 100% sanctions, cuts to emergency assistance and cuts to education.

"Politicians pushed through welfare cuts that will push our families deeper into poverty, create homelessness and hunger and more trips to the emergency rooms. They make it harder for us to accomplish the things we need to get off of government aid. The politicians are criminals! They chose to do crimes against the poor in order to keep their vow to not raise taxes." said WRC's Angel Buechner.

Minnesota democrats, similar to democrat-led legislatures in other states, participated in the budget cutting efforts. "Democrats in Minnesota never came out fighting, they only introduced tax legislation late in the game, and quickly gave in to the Republican 'no tax' strategy. We hold the them responsible for their outright complicity in slashing the social safety net," stated Linden Gawboy of WRC. Governor Palwlenty's budget passed because of an agreement reached with the leaders if the democrat-led Senate, where the Senate leadership guaranteed the needed votes.

"Governor Pawlenty is waging a class war while stealing from the poor! Who is Pawlenty working for anyway? He's only looking out for his own interests and those of the richest. He's willing to climb over peoples' bodies just so he can get to the top of the heap. What a creep!" said WRC's Tracy Furney.

"The Welfare Rights Committee was in the front lines of this war against the poor from the beginning, and had a huge impact that took place around the budget. We are proud of the great work we've accomplished in the fight for our people," Furney continued. The WRC produced and aired an anti-Pawlenty commercial over three hundred times around the state. "The commercial exposed Governor Pawlenty and right-wing republicans for their evil plan to destroy people's lives while making others richer!"

The Welfare Rights Committee vows to continue their fight. "The Welfare Rights Committee is a strong, hardcore committee and we will keep fighting to the bitter end until we see results that support the poor and working people of Minnesota," stated Buechner. Gillie Townsend of WRC added, " If the poor can't get no justice, then the rich will get no peace!"