Letter: Hamilton: Pawlenty on right track with address

• Rep. Rod Hamilton

Rep. Rod Hamilton R-Mountain Lake

Talk about it

Growing jobs and protecting our kids. These are the two identified priorities that pleased me in Governor Tim Pawlenty’s State of the State address.

I agree with the governor that these are trying financial times, and the only way we are going to make any progress is to grow jobs.

Pawlenty’s address outlined a number of initiatives that would encourage job growth in Minnesota. It includes cutting Minnesota’s business tax rate from 9.8 percent to 4.8 percent over the next six years; providing tax credits in order to grow jobs and small business investment; and providing tax exemptions for qualifying investments in small businesses in Minnesota and for the purchases of capital equipment.

Facing a $5 billion budget deficit, job growth over the next two years is critical. Tax revenues are down because jobs are leaving Minnesota. We have an unfavorable tax climate in our state, and that’s why more and more employers are choosing to business in other states. We have to turn these numbers around.

In solving this budget deficit, Pawlenty favors sparing veterans and public safety programs from budget reductions, while increasing funding for K-12 schools.

Though the deficit will present financial challenges, the governor wants to prioritize our kids by improving classrooms and protecting their health care. But I’d also like to hear more about protecting the elderly and disabled.

Pawlenty’s speech gives us something to think about and digest. We’ll now take his advice, move forward in a positive way, and begin to address the issues that are important to Minnesotans.

I would like to know how his constituents are feeling about the governor’s State of the State Address, as well as how to solve the projected $5 billion budget deficit. I you to contact me by e-mail at rep.rod.hamilton@house.mn, or by phone at 1-800-735-2463, and share your thoughts.

Tags: budget crisis, opinion, rodhamilton, rod, hamilton, timpawlenty, tim, pawlenty, minnesota, budget, legislature, economy