State Capitol, St. Paul
The budgetvetoes made during the session by the Governor and those included in theGovernor's unallotment plan fall disproportionately on the poor, sick, andvulnerable. We have not been a state that balances its budget this way. We lament that we are getting ready to turnthis corner and urge the Governor, our head of our state; to reconsider thedirection he has indicated he will go in unalloting certain parts of thelegislature-approved budget.
Can we beMinneosta and abide rationing health care by denying general assistance medicalcare to those living in poverty? We must speak the truth of we see Minnesota called to be andwe will work for reform that controls costs and makes health care affordablefor everyone.
We can now seein stark terms what damage we will do to children, families, and adults havingidolized the no-taxes pledge. The unallotment plan is exactly the trade-off forvetoing the tax bill; for not raising revenues—revenues that could be raised fairly bysimply rolling back tax cuts on those who have not needed to struggle throughthis recession nor have been asked yet to sacrifice to solve our fiscal crisis.
We are only one ofthree states in the country that have budget deficits that didn't raise taxesthis year: Minnesota, Georgia, and Louisiana. Not really the states wegenerally share a column with. In MN the top 10% of the state pay under 10% ofincome in all taxes, the lower 10% pay 22% of income, when you count all taxes.
Some have said,"Let the churches do it." Well, we're talking about $236 million inhuman services funding cuts alone. We have about 4000 congregations in Minnesota including justabout everyone. That's about $59,000 per congregation? We have long passedplacing medical care needs on the faith community. (Well maybe if everyonetithed at 10 %?) But only about 60% of our Minnesota population is a member of a religiousestablishment. So how would all those who are also moral persons, wanting tocare for your neighbor be a part of that?
We lament that we are getting ready to turn this corner and urgethe Governor to reconsider the direction he has indicated he will go inunalloting in the legislature-approved budget.
Therefore,that is why we are holding a vigil on Tuesday,
Calledto be a Faithful Minnesota: a Witness of Lament,
Tuesday,June 30, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
State Capitol, St. Paul
Gather at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, 105 University Avenue, St. Paul, by 10:15 am. We will process in asomber, funeral-like procession beginning at 10:30 am. Please wear black andbring old flowers and notes to the governor expressing your faith-based concernabout these budget decisions.
A delegation willdeliver the cards and letter to the Governor's office.
Details at theMinnesota Council of Churches website.
