A Money Shortage?

Forecasts are beginning to leak out about Minnesota government's near future and most sound pretty bleak. From my years in broadcasting, I don't remember too many that sounded upbeat and perky. Slowly, I believe people are catching on and looking around at their own personal experience. And it doesn't match up with reports of doom and gloom. And just like in their personal lives, balancing a budget becomes a matter of prioritizing. Minnesota's economy is basically sound. It's government that spending more than it has. One forecast predicts that it will grow by 9.7% for the 2010-2011 period. That's moving in the wrong direction. We now know that millions of our welfare dollars are being spent in every other state in the nation. That taxpayer disrespect and abuse was pretty easy to find. How much more can we discover if we really try? The forecast I want to see some day is that Minnesota government will spend 9.7% less. And I'd like to see it soon.