Sen. Franzen Calls Dayton's Budget 'A Mixed Bag'
The Edina state senator is among numerous DFL politicians who are not sure how much of Gov. Dayton's budget plan will become a reality.
State Sen. Melisa Franzen (DFL-Edina) is among a handful of legislators who are holding off on fully embracing Gov. Mark Dayton's budget plan.
The plan, which Dayton announced last week, aims to raise $2 billion in new revenue via several substantial changes to Minnesota's tax system. It also incudes $1 billion in new spending.
Minnesota Public Radio spoke with several prominent members of the DFL majority at the Capitol, gauging support for the governor's proposal among members of his own party.
Sen. Franzen, among others, were somewhat lukewarm on the plan at this point. Franzen told MPR she supports Dayton's focus on cutting corporate income taxes and increasing spending for education, but takes issue with his proposal to increase income taxes and his plan to expand the state's sales tax.
She also reportedly said she would like to have seen more than the $225 million in spending cuts included in the plan.
"It's a mixed bag," Franzen told MPR. "I don't see where the real cuts are. I'd like to look into that and where are we saving money and where are we making the tough decisions and not just raising revenues just because we can?"
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Mike B.
7:57 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Keith Downey would have come out much more forcefully against the Dayton budget, which seems designed to drive even more businesses out of Minnesota.
It's a shame that Keith Downey is no longer our representative. Ms. Franzen will line up with the anti-business DFLers in the end, we all know that. It's a shame that so many Edina voters were hoodwinked in last fall's election.
Todd D
9:12 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A legislator that stays true to her campaign promises, I like it! Melisa has already started on the right foot and will do an excellent job representing her constituents.