DFL-controlled House Rules Committee Blocks Budget Reductions
 
ST. PAUL, January 12, 2009 – The Minnesota DFL-controlled House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee today voted down proposals to further reduce legislative spending as the state deals with a $4.8 billion budget deficit.  Four proposals, offered by Representatives Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer, would have saved taxpayers money and shown the public that legislators are not above playing a role in balancing the budget.   Seifert, R-Marshall, said the Legislature should hold itself to the same standard as the rest of state government.
 
"If we are going to be searching in every nook and cranny for ways to save money, it is hypocritical to set our own nooks and crannies off limits," Seifert said.  His proposals included reducing House members' allotment of stationary and stamps, as well as reducing reimbursements for Internet, cell phone and other communications services. 
 
A proposal from Emmer, R-Delano, – initially introduced as an amendment to House's Temporary Rules – would have cut off member housing allowances following adjournment in 2009. The housing allowance, which during the DFL-controlled 2007-2008 legislative session cost Minnesota taxpayers between a quarter and half-million dollars, would be returned to its 2005-2006 level when the Republican majority limited total out-of-session payments to less than $19,000.
 
"Minnesotans are losing jobs and finding it harder to make ends meet.  As they're forced to do more with less, I think legislators can get by with a little less paper and a few less stamps without hurting our ability to stay in touch with the folks back home," Seifert said.
 
"Lots of Minnesota families are hurting. They're out of work, struggling to pay the mortgage and worrying about buying food and clothes for their kids. From my perspective as a person who was elected to make tough decisions to help lead Minnesota back to prosperity, shouldn't elected officials be willing to do our part as well? Apparently the DFL is more interested in the appearance of fiscal responsibility than any actually doing anything about the budget deficit," Emmer said.
 
Seifert said he advocated for and supports the $2.2 million reduction to the Legislature's budget made in December as part of the unallotment process, but added that a large funding increase for the Legislature in 2007 puts the cut in perspective.
 
"The DFL increased the Legislative budget by 16 percent two years ago, a higher percentage than schools, nursing homes and nearly everything else.  If we're going to ask Minnesotans to make sacrifices, Democrats should at least be honest about how they squandered the $2.2 billion surplus two years ago."
 
These efforts to control spending came just one day after attempts by House Republicans to reduce legislator per diem payments, which the DFL defeated..