Minnesota families have felt the impact of a struggling economy. We live in a world where spending beyond our means is not an option. We balance our budgets by cutting expenses to pay for essential needs. Food on the table. Clothes for our kids. The roof over our head.
State government must do the same.
The state has a major budget deficit and the need for a long-term solution can be found in one place: spending. We must reduce the size of our bloated government. This will naturally reduce government spending.
To end budget deficits, you need to cut spending. Trim the fat. When a family experiences a change in its income, that family adjusts its budget accordingly. If they have less money, they spend less money. This simple form of money management is completely lost on state government. Standing in the way of real reform is how government balances its budget. It spends first, and then seeks the funding.
A healthier fiscal future demands that we get our spending under control now. The elimination of wasteful government spending starts with the elected officials who are the watchdogs of the state taxpayer dollar.
As governor, I will stop the spend-and-tax cycle by calling first and foremost for a balancing of the budget. I will not accept a spending bill until the deficit no longer exists. I will not support tax increases that place the burden for excessive spending on taxpayers. I will drastically reduce the size of government through elimination of duplicative programs and services within state agencies, and the employees who provide them.
We must define what government does, and then we must prioritize.
We can invest in our priorities by making smart choices. We must reduce the size of government by eliminating excessive and unnecessary bureaucracies, and spending will reduce naturally.
