Capitol Corner: Governor wants to slim down in more than one way

Posted 3/7/01

Capitol Corner: Governor wants to slim down in more than one way

By T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

Gov. Ventura said the last time he weighed himself he had shed 28 pounds ñ the governor is noticeably slimmer.

Instead of eating lunch, he drinks water and fruit juice and runs, Ventura said. Heís turning 50 this summer and though thatís not a big deal he doesnít want to weigh 250 pounds or more when hitting the Big 5-0.

ìIíd rather be about 220,î he said, speaking in his office last week.

So the governorís own belt tightening is on track. And Ventura believes his efforts at state fiscal belt tightening are making progress too.
This is harder to weigh.

Ventura has been assailed by the powerful education lobby for underfunding K-12 and higher education in his state budget. School districts warn of teacher layoffs and U of M President Mark Yudoff talks of additional spending ending where it might begin.
The governor is unrepentant.

ìIíll be the cannonfodder,î he said.
ìBut at least Iíve got people talking about it. At least Iíve got people talking a look (at education funding),î said Ventura.

Ventura asks such pointed questions as how much funding is enough? K-12 funding was dramatically increased last session, he explained.
Where are the improvements? he asked. Somebody give me a number of how much money is enough? he rhetorically pleads.

Beside adamantly defending his state budget, the governor makes a strong pitch for his tax reform package, a package commonly acknowledged as bold and inventive.

Very near the heart of the tax reform package ñ a package the governor said will lower property taxes, make local government more accountable, and put in the state in good stead to meet the new century ñ is the expansion of the state sales tax.
ìIf thereís a tax to love, thatís the one I love. Because I get to chose to pay it,î Ventura said.
Critics have called the sales tax regressive, but Ventura argues that expanding the sales and the accompanying state takeover of basic K-12 funding that heís proposing is especially kind to senior citizens.

These are the people driven from their homes by rising property taxes, he argues. Taking education off the property taxes, keeping property taxes down, will help seniors keep their homes, he explained.

But few in the Legislature express eagerness to expand the sales tax to services. House Republicans, for one, argue that it would be politically tough to sell to the public in times of budget surpluses.

Ventura counters by saying that now is the time to reform tax policy. The stateís strong economy allows for such adjustments, he argues.
Both sides are probably correct.

Ventura said that last weekís February economic forecast which depicts a slowing economy wasnít a surprise ñ was expected and considered.
Other than requiring some minor adjustments, his budget and tax reform package remain vital and intact, he explained.

He hopes he can work with the Legislature to achieve his goals. He wants to build bridges, he said.

ìThe decisions I make, though they (lawmakers) may not always agree with them philosophically, at least they know they come from my heart,î said Ventura.

ìAnd my intention is to do whatís best for the people of the state,î he said.

There are worse motives.