By Phil Krinkie
ST. PAUL -- For months now, the air waves have been filled with hype and hyperbole from Minnesota's gubernatorial candidates explaining how they're going to come up with billions in revenue the state badly needs.
Their positions range from "tax the rich" to "redesigning government" to "expanding the tax base." The verbal exchange seems to be endless.
And the three major candidates for governor certainly have made themselves available for many debates across the state, logging more hours in front of a microphone than Jerry Lewis during his annual Labor Day weekend telethon.
But something has been missing from the current public policy debates. I'm talking about the candidates who actually get to vote on proposed budget solutions: the legislators.
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Maybe you've seen a lawn sign or two, particularly if there was a primary election in your neighborhood. Maybe you've had a local legislative candidate knock on your door, especially if you live in a swing district, where the outcome of the election is actually up for grabs.
But where, oh where, are those vocal, outspoken legislative leaders we heard from every day during the past legislative session just four months ago?
On Nov. 2, all Minnesota voters can cast a vote for two legislative candidates, one for the state House and one for the state Senate. These 201 members of the Legislature will shape the next two-year budget (2011-2012).
These are the men and women who'll set the course for Minnesota's future. But you'd never know it based on the lack of media coverage of these important campaigns.
The time-tested axiom in the halls of the Capitol goes like this: "The governor proposes, and the Legislature disposes."
Yes, governors often "win out" in the end on many of their major agenda items, but there's a lot of horse trading that happens before any budget deal comes together. From tax increases to budget reforms, each piece of legislation still needs at least 68 votes in the House and 34 votes in the Senate before it can get to the governor's desk.
It's a simple fact that the legislative process inevitably changes the governor's budget proposal. The key question that should be on every voter's mind is: "Where are the budget proposals from House and Senate legislative leaders?"
With just eight weeks to go before the general election, it's high time the public heard from the respective caucus leaders, both Republican and Democratic, about their proposed budget solutions.
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Come January, the newly elected Legislature and governor will embark on one of the most important budget debates in recent Minnesota history.
This election promises to be fascinating. Not only will we elect someone new to the state's top elected job, but it's also possible that we'll vote new majorities into either the House or Senate -- and maybe both.
Under one scenario, Minnesota would have former Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton at the helm, pushing higher taxes on Minnesota and Minnesotans. In contrast, GOP candidate Tom Emmer has stated that he opposes any new taxes to close the state's budget gap.
What would the response be from the Legislature? How many legislative candidates support passing big tax increases? How many have other, realistic plans for raising sufficient revenue?
We won't learn the answers unless the media jumps in, ends its obsession with gubernatorial debates and starts pressing for at least some comments or ideas from legislative leaders.
Now is the time for every legislative candidate to tell us where they stand on the issue of tax increases or otherwise raising revenue.
If a candidate does favor tax increases, what taxes are they willing to increase by how much?
If they have a plan for raising revenue in another way, what is it-where's the dough going to come from?
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During the next eight weeks, the media should shift some of its attention to our current legislative leaders and candidates to get a clearer picture of budget solutions that have even a chance to reach the governor's desk.
It's time for legislative candidates to speak up.
A former Republican legislator from Lino Lakes, Minn., Krinkie is president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.
