Invest in people, not just tax relief

Posted 3/15/01

Invest in people, not just tax relief

To the editor:

Elected leaders are debating budget priorities for Minnesota right now. The Governorís biennial budget devotes an estimated 89percent of the available ìsurplusî ($2.4 billion, FY 2002-03) to tax cuts and rebates. Calling it a ìsurplusî assumes Minnesota has no unmet needs. People know better. Nearly three out of four Minnesotans favor investing some or most of this $2.4 billion portion of the stateís resources in people, infrastructure, and public services.

President Bush is trying to do the same thing on a Federal level. According to an analysis by the Center for Tax Justice, more than 60 percent of the Bush tax cuts would go to the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans. Taxpayers in the lowest 60 percent of the income scale would see only 12.7 percent of Bushís tax cuts. Most Americans want a more balanced approach, with more limited tax rebates and cuts, some applied to national debt, and some used to meet critical needs in our country.

We need to speak out against massive tax cuts. This is the season of Lent, a time we should reflect on the needs of others and reduce the clutter in our own lives. In last Sundayís scripture readings, the Apostle Paul warns us, ìTheir end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their ëshame.í Their minds are occupied with earthly things.î In this weekís Gospel, Christ tells us the parable of the fig tree, ìleave it and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.î Let us invest in our stateís greatest resource, its people, created in Godís image, that they may bear fruit in the future and that all may live abundantly (not just the few).

We can do better. Minnesota expects more CAMPAIGN, representing over 100 organizations from the non-profit, faith and labor communities across the state, invites you to join thousands of Minnesota voices to send a unified message: As a Minnesotan, I expect investments in people and communities, not just tax relief! What about the affordable housing crisis, what about higher education, what about the lack of affordable child care and health care for our stateís children, what about the homeless, what about the least of Godís brethren?

ÝRobert G. Walz
North Branch