In the July 25 Post-Bulletin, letter writer Lynne Kirklan stated she doesn't believe there was a budget surplus as a result of the previous Republican-controlled budget cycle.
So maybe she could then explain how our state's reserve accounts have been refilled? Or how schools have been nearly repaid the money they were owed?
Don't forget, it was a DFL-controlled Legislature that emptied the state's savings account and borrowed more than a billion dollars from schools when they were in charge four years ago. If not for the taxpayers of Minnesota contributing more than expected to state government — a surplus — where did this money come from? Did Gov. Mark Dayton tap into his personal trust fund and cut the state a check?
The Democrats borrowed $50 million more from schools this year. A recent nonpartisan tax simulation report found that, because of all the new laws enacted by the Democratic Legislature last session, property taxes will increase statewide by $13 million. The revenue department also found that Minnesotans in all income levels would pay more. This is good news for the middle class?
Lynne was right about the DFL pursuing different priorities: gay marriage, forced unionization of day care providers, limiting Second Amendment rights and forcing every Minnesota taxpayer to pay more. That's different all right — and wrong.
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Doug Baker
Lanesboro
