Tax-hike rhetoric is the message between the lines on Owatonna

It doesn’t take much to read between the lines.
When gubernatorial hopeful Matt Entenza stopped by Owatonna on Saturday in search of votes among the DFL faithful, he seemed to say what the crowd wanted to hear. But it doesn’t take much savvy to understand what he was actually saying — more of the same tax-and-spend rhetoric.
Consider one telling statement by the former legislator in response to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s attempts to balance the state budget: “We can’t cut our way to greatness.” In other words, if Minnesota is going to be great, then it has to quit cutting its spending. But as anyone who has ever kept a checkbook can tell you, there are only two ways to balance it if you find you’re spending more money than you have. You can cut spending or bring in more income. And since Mr. Entenza is on record against cutting spending, then the only solution he seems to have is to bring in more income. And how does the government bring in more money? Simple. By raising taxes.
To his credit, Mr. Entenza did suggest that, if elected, he would pare down state agencies. But the only example he gave was that of eliminating some press secretary positions in the state government and allow state employees to answer questions from the press.
From the standpoint of the press, it might be nice to talk to a real down-to-earth state employee rather than to a polished political flak whose words often seem a volley of sound bites, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. But it’s doubtful that Mr. Entenza truly thinks that eliminating press secretary positions is going to raise enough money to spend the sort of dollars he seems to have in mind. Once again, that leaves him with one option: raising taxes.
Perhaps we can’t cut our way to greatness, but it’s equally true that we can’t tax our way to greatness either.

Owatonna People’s Press editorials are the opinion of the Press editorial board. Other editorials, columns, letters and cartoons appearing on this page are the opinions of the authors and artists and not necessarily the People’s Press.

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Member Opinions: By: atlascollapsed on 11/10/09 By: ksanh68 on 11/8/09 From this article you get, "The government needs more of your money" and "we know how to spend your money better than you do". Apparently we weren't the only ones K. By the way Happy Birthday Jarhead! By: MNBear on 11/10/09 Well said OPP. The DFL (and, sadly, some Republicans) has only one play in the playbook - take more money from taxpayers and spend it on what government, in this case Mr. Entenza, thinks is best. Funny how that works, isn't it? You cannot be trusted to spend your money - government must do it for you. Cudos to the OPP for recognizing this. I hope you keep politicians honest in their dealings with the public. By: ksanh68 on 11/10/09 AC, since drawing conclusions by reading between the lines to label democrats with a tax and spend approach is considered as accurate. Then by reading between the lines it could be said that the spend and don't tax approach of the previous republican administration is to be preferred by some. Happy Birthday Atlascollaped, secretsquirrel and any jarhead brothers out in internetland. "The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt 1945 By: atlascollapsed on 11/10/09 I have always loved that quote! By: secretsquirrel on 11/10/09 Ooooh so true Eleanor. Thanks K. By: pookah on 11/11/09 At least Mr. Entenza was brutally honest about it. Most politicians would skirt the issue and try to tightrope raising taxes. I guess he took the Mondale playbook on being honest about raising taxes and telling people his side of the story. I do have to give Mr. Entenza kudos for his honesty, even though I don't agree with him. By: secretsquirrel on 11/12/09 Not sure but does't Matt have a cousin running for office too??? I think his name is... MAX ENEMA. Sorry, no vote from this rodent.
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