Do you care? and does it affect you?

[NceegVaj]

Legislative Update: Government Shutdown

As you know, Minnesota is experiencing a government shutdown.  Because Republican legislative leaders continue to refuse to compromise with Governor Dayton, thousands of Minnesotans are out of work and millions of Minnesotans are unable to utilize or access services that they depend on.  I extend my sincere apology for the impact this shutdown has on you, your family, and all Minnesotans.

Unfortunately, the shutdown was not necessary. During the final days, Republican leaders injected divisive social issues into the negotiations, refusing to compromise whatsoever.  Governor Dayton and the Democrats worked for a proposal that would protect the middle class and our state’s future.  The Democratic compromise would only raise taxes on Minnesotans earning more than $1 million per year. Only the richest of the rich would be affected. This amounts to 7,700 people, or 0.3 percent of tax filers in Minnesota, and only about half of those impacted are actually residents of Minnesota.

Under current law, middle class Minnesotans pay more in state and local taxes as a percentage of their income than the richest Minnesotans.  Republicans have repeatedly refused to ask the wealthiest of Minnesotans to pay their fair share of taxes.  Instead they attempted to demand a ban on life-saving stem cell research, an unconstitution al restriction on a woman’s right to choose, and a Wisconsin-style law to attack equal pay for workers. The refusal of Republicans to work for a compromise, and the insertion of extremist demands into the budget indicates an unwillingness to work together to reach a solution so that Minnesota can resume operation.
 
I remain committed to a fair compromise. That means finding common ground on a plan that asks all Minnesotans to share in the solution. The alternative is complying with Republican demands for drastic and job killing budget cuts, just so millionaires don’t have to pay even one dollar more in taxes.  This would cause students to be unable to afford the rising tuition at our colleges, property taxes to continue to skyrocket for middle class families, and 144,000 Minnesotans to lose their health care.
 
If you have additional questions about the government shutdown, please feel free to contact my office.

Thank you,

John Lesch

[sammyxiong]

Legislative Update: Government Shutdown

As you know, Minnesota is experiencing a government shutdown.  Because Republican legislative leaders continue to refuse to compromise with Governor Dayton, thousands of Minnesotans are out of work and millions of Minnesotans are unable to utilize or access services that they depend on.  I extend my sincere apology for the impact this shutdown has on you, your family, and all Minnesotans.

Unfortunately, the shutdown was not necessary. During the final days, Republican leaders injected divisive social issues into the negotiations, refusing to compromise whatsoever.  Governor Dayton and the Democrats worked for a proposal that would protect the middle class and our state’s future.  The Democratic compromise would only raise taxes on Minnesotans earning more than $1 million per year. Only the richest of the rich would be affected. This amounts to 7,700 people, or 0.3 percent of tax filers in Minnesota, and only about half of those impacted are actually residents of Minnesota.

Under current law, middle class Minnesotans pay more in state and local taxes as a percentage of their income than the richest Minnesotans.  Republicans have repeatedly refused to ask the wealthiest of Minnesotans to pay their fair share of taxes.  Instead they attempted to demand a ban on life-saving stem cell research, an unconstitution al restriction on a woman’s right to choose, and a Wisconsin-style law to attack equal pay for workers. The refusal of Republicans to work for a compromise, and the insertion of extremist demands into the budget indicates an unwillingness to work together to reach a solution so that Minnesota can resume operation.
 
I remain committed to a fair compromise. That means finding common ground on a plan that asks all Minnesotans to share in the solution. The alternative is complying with Republican demands for drastic and job killing budget cuts, just so millionaires don’t have to pay even one dollar more in taxes.  This would cause students to be unable to afford the rising tuition at our colleges, property taxes to continue to skyrocket for middle class families, and 144,000 Minnesotans to lose their health care.
 
If you have additional questions about the government shutdown, please feel free to contact my office.

Thank you,

John Lesch

Great Nceegvaj, don't screw up it again, now that you've started a "professional" and "serious" thread.

What do YOU think of this shutdown, especially in light of the following protests by the Minnesota Asian American community?

http://www.hbctv.net/

[NceegVaj]

Great Nceegvaj, don't screw up it again, now that you've started a "professional" and "serious" thread.

What do YOU think of this shutdown, especially in light of the following protests by the Minnesota Asian American community?

http://www.hbctv.net/

Personally, I don't care because it does not touch my immediate family but for the general and all purpose it serves nothing more than politics.  MN legis needs to agree to disagree on certain items and pass a budget.  It matters to NGOs, and other people who relies on gov't to go about their life.  For that, I do care.

[sammyxiong]

Personally, I don't care because it does not touch my immediate family but for the general and all purpose it serves nothing more than politics.  MN legis needs to agree to disagree on certain items and pass a budget.  It matters to NGOs, and other people who relies on gov't to go about their life.  For that, I do care.

I'm glad to hear that this shutdown doesn't have any affect on your immediate family. Unless you count yourself as among the top 1% of Minnesotans, you might want to do a quick check down the list of all state services that you and your immediate family benefit from.  Here's that list:

http://wjon.com/shutdown-list-minnesota-services-affected-by-government-shutdown/

Still not affected, at all? If so, good for you.

You said that this shutdown "serves nothing more than politics"? Politics is everything, therefore, it serves everything, and everyone is affected in some way.

We have a shutdown because Minnesotans, just like the people they voted for, cannot agree, cannot compromise on some fundamental questions about HOW to do things.

Politicians aren't entirely to blame for this shutdown. The fact is, all Minnesotans are to be blamed. After all, they were the ones who gave money, campaigned for, and voted for these politicians. Yes, the people of Minnesota, in a democratic system of government, gave their consent to those who represent their views, wishes and dreams for their version of a better Minnesota.

If anyone thinks they can wash their hands clean by blaming those elected representative s at the negotiating table, they should realize that they would almost certainly do the exact same things to protect their own beliefs when they are at that same table! You put any two highly charged, completely politically opposite Minnesotans together, and they would mostly likely have the same arguments, the same divide, the same impasse.

There is a way to solve this issue, only if the 99% of Minnesotans who are not millionaires but the struggling working class and poor, would wake up, realize that their overwhelming numbers of interests are being pitted against the interests of a few (who of course is supported by their own elected representative s)...and say NO to those who continue to exploit the masses to serve their corporate interests.

But here's the problem. Even though 99% of Minnesotans are the working class and poor, almost HALF (50%) of them fully supports the ideas and visions of the top 1% of Minnesotans who, with money and power, somehow have an equal voice at the table in deciding the fate of this state, as the 99% of us.

The most disturbing fact is that these 50% of Minnesotans who are working class and poor are ones who want's government out of their lives, to leave them be, to be less regulated, to take care of themselves as they see fit, and if people need help, there's always prayers and God on their side of course, that's just the American way. But these are the same ones who are shameless about taking from state and local government funds, whether it's their paycheck, roads and bridges or police and fire, and assistance to the poor and sick in our communities. These are the same ones who are now complaining the most about all the services that are shutdown. But...but, didn't they want government to stay out of their way? They can be on their own, can't they? The state government is very small now, why are they still complaining? They want much more smaller government than this shutdown?

You see? It's not just the politicians, it's the people!

[NceegVaj]

I'm glad to hear that this shutdown doesn't have any affect on your immediate family. Unless you count yourself as among the top 1% of Minnesotans, you might want to do a quick check down the list of all state services that you and your immediate family benefit from.  Here's that list:

http://wjon.com/shutdown-list-minnesota-services-affected-by-government-shutdown/

No, it does affect EVERYONE, more or less, even millionaires.  Whether we care or not is another story.  The shutdown is not perpetual so why worry if you are NOT relying on gov't services on a daily basis?

[sammyxiong]

So, after you scanned through that list of state services, is it still true that the shutdown "does not touch" your immediate family?

You see, this is part and parcel of the problem, when many working class  folks and the most vulnerable segments of our community continues to be blinded by the rhetoric of the 1% of Minnesotans and their supporters...a nd believes, and insists that they are somehow above the fray, or have the luxury to choose whether they care or not about things like this shutdown. Like I said, some wants government out of their lives, yet complains that this shutdown of government services is just unfair to them and causes them great pains. This is the crux of the problem!

You said, "The shutdown is not perpetual so why worry if you are NOT relying on gov't services on a daily basis?"

So, those who should worry are the ones who rely on government services on a daily basis, and who might these folks be? Most likely the working class and poor, who make up 99% of Minnesotans, the rest (1%) should be able to whether this temporary ("not perpetual") storm without a problem. No big deal. Really? For some in our community, the poor and the elderly, a day, a week without assistance can seem like a lifetime. And it does matter quite a bit, no such a luxury to choose.

[NceegVaj]

So, after you scanned through that list of state services, is it still true that the shutdown "does not touch" your immediate family?

You see, this is part and parcel of the problem, when many working class  folks and the most vulnerable segments of our community continues to be blinded by the rhetoric of the 1% of Minnesotans and their supporters...a nd believes, and insists that they are somehow above the fray, or have the luxury to choose whether they care or not about things like this shutdown. Like I said, some wants government out of their lives, yet complains that this shutdown of government services is just unfair to them and causes them great pains. This is the crux of the problem!

You said, "The shutdown is not perpetual so why worry if you are NOT relying on gov't services on a daily basis?"

So, those who should worry are the ones who rely on government services on a daily basis, and who might these folks be? Most likely the working class and poor, who make up 99% of Minnesotans, the rest (1%) should be able to whether this temporary ("not perpetual") storm without a problem. No big deal. Really? For some in our community, the poor and the elderly, a day, a week without assistance can seem like a lifetime. And it does matter quite a bit, no such a luxury to choose.

No, it does not affect my immediate family.  It will if this is going to be longer than 6 months.  Eventually I will need those services.  Like I said, it affects even the millionaires.  Bu not so for the short term...and we know the compromise will come soon.  Otherwise you will have mad people on the street.  Nothing new.

[sammyxiong]

No, it does not affect my immediate family.  It will if this is going to be longer than 6 months.  Eventually I will need those services.  Like I said, it affects even the millionaires.  Bu not so for the short term...and we know the compromise will come soon.  Otherwise you will have mad people on the street.  Nothing new.

Good for you that this shutdown does not affect your immediate family at all. Not too many people I know can say that. We're talking the following services, and this is a list from 2 weeks ago:

- State parks: 66 state parks and six recreation areas are closed indefinitely. Gates are shuttered and campgrounds are dark.
- State lottery: Ticket sales have ceased. People with winning tickets in hand can’t redeem them for cash.
- Hunting, fishing licenses: If you don’t have it by now, you can’t get one. But the DNR will still enforce the law.
- Highway rest stops: Most are closed. Three that partner with local agencies will stay open, including: Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center, Park Rapids Area Welcome Center and the Floodwood rest area.
- Driver’s licenses: Driving tests are not permitted, but licenses can be renewed at a driver’s license agent office.
- License tabs: State DVS offices will be closed, but deputy registrars could renew plates. City and county offices can also distribute tabs and renew plates.
- Road construction: All non-emergency projects have been stopped.
- Services for the blind: A radio reading program, training to walk with a cane and services to provide magnifiers are halted.
- Services for the deaf: Programs, such as one that provides special telephones to hearing or speech impaired, stopped.
- Minnesota Zoo: Closed to visitors, but some staff will continue to care for animals.
- Historical sites: From Fort Snelling to Split Rock Lighthouse, historical sites are closed.
- Hotline for seniors: Seniors in need of housing, help with health insurance or other options won’t be able to use the hotline.
- Child care assistance: Low-income parents aren’t getting funding to cover cost of day care.
- Tax refunds: They aren’t going out. But taxes are still being collected.
- Nurses and doctors: They can’t renew their licenses – and may be unable to see patients if their licenses expire.
- Veterans and the military: Tuition reimbursements claims stop, as do veterans’ outreach claims.
- State Capitol: Closed to the public.