Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R 15B) has a response to DFL Assistant Minority Leader (and rumored CD6 DFL possible candidate) Sen. Tarryl Clark (D 15) and her complaints about Gov. Pawlenty cleaning up the mess the DFL Majorities left for him.

Representative Steve Gottwalt (HD15A St. Cloud) in response to Senator Tarryl Clark (SD15 St. Cloud) complaining about the Governor performing his Constitutional duty to balance the budget since the DFL controlled legislature did not.

"The bottom line is this -- and I just listened to Gov. Pawlenty make many of these same points over lunch:  Since 1960, the average state biennial budget increase has been 19 percent.  State spending is growing at an unsustainable rate and Sen. Clark's only answer is to heap more taxes and regulations on struggling Minnesotans, pushing more of them into government programs.  How many jobs has Minnesota lost because we are ranked dead last in terms of small business climate?  How many jobs has Minnesota lost because we are the land of 10,000 taxes (and growing)?  We remain among the highest taxed states in the nation.  Virtually all the states outperforming Minnesota in terms of job creation and economic growth have LOWER taxes and LESS regulatory burden than Minnesota.

By the way, Sen. Clark, where were you and your majority caucus during five months of legislative session?  Where was your plan? Where was your solution?  That was your opportunity to solve the budget deficit by setting good priorities and living within your means instead of raising taxes.  You and your caucus refused to use that opportunity, and from the start decided to "go it alone" balancing the budget by growing state government and jacking up taxes on Minnesotans who've seen their "revenues" dry up.  Talk about hypocritical!  And just a reminder, Sen. Clark, Gov. Pawlenty signed YOUR bills, and took responsibility for doing what you and your caucus could not:  Cut state spending to live within our means.  Your failure to lead created the very situation about which you complain so loudly!

Minnesotans and Americans are waking up to the nightmare being visited upon them by an out-of-touch Democratic majority that only knows how to tax-and-spend, grow government and raise taxes in a mistaken attempt to achieve better living through government (a.k.a. socialism).  It is time to show them the door!

Representative Steve Gottwalt, 15A - St. Cloud