ST. PAUL -- Gov. Mark Dayton wants to tweak the state budget to return some funding to emergency health care programs for the poor, enact programs to produce jobs and fight an invasion of Asian carp.
In all, the Democratic governor today called for $60 million more spending in the current two-year budget, funded by closing what he calls loopholes in corporate tax law and increasing fees.
Highlights of the governor's plan include:
• $35 million to give a tax credit for employers who employ veterans, students and unemployed Minnesotans.
&Ubull $2 million to increase veterans' program spending.
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Highlights of the governor's plan include:
• $17 million to restore some health-care funding for the poor, especially emergency care such as chemotherapy and dialysis, that was cut last year. About 1,000 Minnesotans would receive added emergency benefits.
Highlights of the governor's plan include:
• $4 million more to fight invasive Asian carp.
Highlights of the governor's plan include:
• $3 million to keep the Willmar Specialty Health Systems facility open through June 30, 2013; its funding now is slated to end at the end of this month.
Highlights of the governor's plan include:
• $542,000 for the White Earth Nation human services programs.
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Rep. John Persell, DFL-Bemidji, said he is especially pleased that Dayton wants to help veterans.
"As a veteran myself, I know how difficult the transition back to civilian life can be," Persell said. "Given the sacrifices they have made to defend and protect our freedoms at home, we ought to do all that we can to support our vets and their families."
For much of the increased spending, Dayton would do what many Democrats have proposed: reduce tax breaks corporations with foreign operations may receive.
"It is up to the Republicans whether to help Minnesotans or locate jobs over the ocean," Dayton said.
"It's a non-starter," said Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, issued a strongly worded statement: "Gov. Dayton's supplemental budget is a surprise and a shock. We have managed Minnesota's budget well in the past year from a $5 billion budget deficit to over a $1 billion surplus and the first thing the governor wants to do is raise taxes. Embarrassing."
The plan would fund fighting Asian carp by raising hunting, fishing and boat fees.
A group of conservation groups will announce Tuesday that they support raising hunting and fishing fees. The state's Game and Fish Fund will go into deficit next year without new revenues.
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The state's two-year budget tops $30 billion.
Don Davis works for Forum Communications Co., which owns the Herald.
