Minn. lawsuit challenges Pawlenty's budget cuts

Six Minnesota residents are suing Gov. Tim Pawlenty over budget cuts he made earlier this year without legislative approval.

[Vikings Fan]

Six Minnesota residents are suing Gov. Tim Pawlenty over budget cuts he made earlier this year without legislative approval.

Reductions included money for a "special diet program" for low-income residents and "property tax refunds" for renters.

The six plaintiffs all have low incomes and receive benefits from one or both programs.

All entitlement programs for people who don't pay taxes, yet they have the means to pay for a lawyer to intiate this lawsuit. More entitlement mentality by me, me, me, poor me, you owe me.

As someone who does pay taxes I would love a free "special diet program", and better yet as a property owner I would like a "property tax refund" too. Where the "F" is my hand-out?????

[Tom Shakopee]

The six plaintiffs all have low incomes and receive benefits from one or both programs. They are seeking class-action status so their lawsuit can include everyone who will lose money from the two programs. They are all Democrats that are frivilously attempting to litigate against Pawlenty. I wonder if there is not a Democrat or DFL Leader behind these six fools. This is a great example that people who:

-desire to work
-pay their taxes
-want the best for their kids

These people really need to vote for Conservative Republican and not Liberal Democrats. These six fools want to not work, not pay taxes and sleep all-day. These six fools are constituients of the Democrat/DFL Party. Why would anyone that has desire for working, paying taxes and hoping for the best for their kids vote DFL/Democrat.

[Vikings Fan]

Maybe, they could give up their free subsidized cellphones.

And we wonder about our democratic politicians!
Trillion dollar+ budget deficit for the fiscal year 2009 and the money keeps flowing! Must be ultra income redistribution!

I couldn't believe this, so I went to the web site and learned that about
half of the states offer these Obama phones.

I had a former employee call me earlier today inquiring about a job, and at
the end of the conversation he gave me his phone number. I asked the former
employee if this was a new cell phone number and he told me yes this was his
"Obama phone." I asked him what an "Obama phone" was and he went on to say
that welfare recipients are now eligible to receive (1) a FREE new phone and
(2) approx 70 minutes of FREE minutes every month. I was a little skeptical so I Googled it and low and behold he was telling the truth. TAX PAYER MONEY IS BEING REDISTRIBUTED TO WELFARE RECIPIENTS FOR FREE CELL PHONES. This program was started earlier this year. Check it out!

Absolutely Wonderful!

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPu ...

[Justified]

Perhaps Republicans, since that is who I am assuming you all are who are against a class action law suit like this will wake up once they have lost their jobs, homes, and everything in their lives due to tragedies, family illnesses, on and on and you have spent all of your life savings in any retirement account before and in order to get on (hopefully) some kind of assistance programs that can help you live!

Wake up and do a search for yourself...where can you find "free cell phones"? When did the Gov even try to get both sides together to talk to them? His job as our elected official is to sit down and work things out with both sides and not just act like "GOD" thinking he can just do an unallotment without at least trying. No, he was running scared, afraid to meet with both sides because he is outnumbered now by democrats so he doesn't even want to try. We, the people, have the right to ask for something to be done about this horrific step he took that is now very much affecting the livelihoods, well-being, health, housing, etc. of our senior citizens, low and no-income parents (both single and married), many, many many disabled adults and children who soon will have such little help that even more people will be suffering. Do you folks who oppose such a thing, you selfish Republicans, you God-fearing people really choose to go on condemning those who truly need help? I have worked in my lifetime, paid my taxes for others and you know what...what goes around comes around. Too much money and power really blinds people to the injustices and inequities of today's society...yes, even right here in Minnesota. Arise out of your slumber and look around at your neighbors and step out of your comfort zone and see for yourself suffering that is happening right in front of your eyes!

[Vikings Fan]

Justified wrote:

Perhaps Republicans, since that is who I am assuming you all are who are against a class action law suit like this will wake up once they have lost their jobs, homes, and everything in their lives due to tragedies, family illnesses, on and on and you have spent all of your life savings in any retirement account before and in order to get on (hopefully) some kind of assistance programs that can help you live!
Wake up and do a search for yourself...where can you find "free cell phones"? When did the Gov even try to get both sides together to talk to them? His job as our elected official is to sit down and work things out with both sides and not just act like "GOD" thinking he can just do an unallotment without at least trying. No, he was running scared, afraid to meet with both sides because he is outnumbered now by democrats so he doesn't even want to try. We, the people, have the right to ask for something to be done about this horrific step he took that is now very much affecting the livelihoods, well-being, health, housing, etc. of our senior citizens, low and no-income parents (both single and married), many, many many disabled adults and children who soon will have such little help that even more people will be suffering. Do you folks who oppose such a thing, you selfish Republicans, you God-fearing people really choose to go on condemning those who truly need help? I have worked in my lifetime, paid my taxes for others and you know what...what goes around comes around. Too much money and power really blinds people to the injustices and inequities of today's society...yes, even right here in Minnesota. Arise out of your slumber and look around at your neighbors and step out of your comfort zone and see for yourself suffering that is happening right in front of your eyes!

Perhaps Liberal Socialist Democrats, and Utopians take the position you do. First, of all, there are plenty of state and federal programs in-place to help the people that really need help. Second, you fail to address the fraud that takes place in entitlement programs, generational welfare for families, and the fact that these programs are never receiving the funding they need according to the Democrats. I do see a lot of people every day that need our help, lost their jobs, or their house is in forclosure. And they are the people I would help. No one's job is safe in todays world, including mine. But I also have friends who lost their jobs in the last two years, most have taken on two low paying jobs, and cut their spending to make ends meet. They could take advantage of welfare, section 8 housing, MnCare, subsidized heat, local food shelves, etc., but they have not. If you are a taxpayer and lost your job these programs are your last resort, if you have never worked and lived off of the government all of your life all you do is look for more programs to support you. Why work?

As for Gov. Pawlenty and his budget, the Democrats control both the house and senate here in Minnesota. The Democrats knew that the State of Minnesota was only going to take in $32 billion in tax revenue during this budget cycle. But they sent Gov. Pawlenty $36 billion budget. Where does the $4 billion come from? Raising taxes! So he did what I expect of a Governor, unallotment. What you fail to see is that Gov. Pawlenty was open to sitting down with the Democratic leadership to discuss a balanced budget, where did the Democrats want to cut to make it balanced. Why is it your family and my family have to live by a budget, and our government does not? You have this feeling that if we have a job we are cold hearted or a republican. No, we taxpayers are tired of paying too many taxes, and being told we are not paying enough taxes. And tired of not being represented by our legislators. When we vote, our votes are based on the candidate thats going to rob us less. Get a clue!

[Justified]

Here, I will give you more of a clue! Gov Pawlenty isn't interested in hearing about things like what is going on even in his own county he grew up in. When farmers were having a difficult time fighting the pipeline oil companies from coming in a few years ago trying to run their lines right through many of our "certified" organic farm lands I asked him at a very small local event for Special Olympic athletes about it and what his stance was and he totally ignored that! For a response from a person who represents our State and from our own county I find that incomprehendable that he could not even have responded to this issue. Certainly the Mayor did from the community this event was held in. It seems like he really doesn't care about people who are struggling. Everyone pays taxes, whether you are working or not and this is something I think that many people forget. Not only are we taxed from our paychecks, we are taxed (as well as people on assistance) for nearly everything else we purchase or pay bills on. I get sick of hearing all the working people out here accusing the sick, elderly, or disabled individuals of raising their taxes. People need to work together to solve a lot of this. I do not work any longer and this issue greatly affects me as I am on SSDI and have a child who has a chromosomal abnormality and yes...this whole thing is affecting me and my life...I don't currently get Section 8...now am on at least a 3 to 5 year waiting list ... after having subsidized housing and having been coerced into giving a notice...why???? Because I cared about my safety and that of my daughter's and because the property mgr didn't want to hear than people were living with other people in units not on the lease and causing problems in the neighborhood...so became ugly and I was basically told to "give my notice to move" since there was "no way to prove this". I don't abuse the system...I NEVER HAVE and believe me the government and programs have many ways to assure that you do NOT abuse the system. I do not like it if people abuse the system, nor do most people I know and if I knew someone who was that person would be turned in. What you do not realize is that these budget cuts are very much hurting single mom's like myself and/or parents like myself with special needs kids because these cuts are very much affecting their futures and livlihoods. It is NOT just about people out there abusing the system. Many, many innocent law abiding citizens are being hurt because of these cuts. If you are able to work, I agree, try to find something else...even if it means taking a little pay cut or getting two jobs for a while until the economy picks up and gets going a little better, but please, please stop making it seem like everyone living in this State who does not work no longer needs help or needs a lot of reductions. Disabled individuals can still learn life skills and eventually can at least find perhaps a part-time job but if you take away the funding for the training you are eventually just going to have even more people needing financial assistance in this State. Things like respite funding is being taken away and/or reduced drastically so that parents can seek help and/or PCA's to allow them to go to work or have time for a sanity break. A lot of the general public just doen't understand what it is like to raise even one special needs child and the amount of time and energy it takes. Not just anyone can take over if needed so that a single parent can get just a few hours off even once a week. It takes very patient and educated people, not to mention a trusting person. Maybe if you people are okay with all the cuts, just maybe some of you would be at least willing to step up and at least volunteer your time (if not money) to help in caring for a special needs child/teen so that a parent(s) can have a break!

[Benny Craig]

Vikings Fan wrote:

As someone who does pay taxes I would love a free "special diet program"....

You could probably use a "Special Diet Program" as you likely spend vast amounts of times sitting in front of the TV, watching football and stuffing your fat face with fried foods, becoming an even heavier burden on our health care system.

[Clueless]

Justified wrote:

Perhaps Republicans, since that is who I am assuming you all are who are against a class action law suit like this will wake up once they have lost their jobs, homes, and everything in their lives due to tragedies, family illnesses, on and on and you have spent all of your life savings in any retirement account before and in order to get on (hopefully) some kind of assistance programs that can help you live!
Wake up and do a search for yourself...where can you find "free cell phones"? When did the Gov even try to get both sides together to talk to them? His job as our elected official is to sit down and work things out with both sides and not just act like "GOD" thinking he can just do an unallotment without at least trying. No, he was running scared, afraid to meet with both sides because he is outnumbered now by democrats so he doesn't even want to try. We, the people, have the right to ask for something to be done about this horrific step he took that is now very much affecting the livelihoods, well-being, health, housing, etc. of our senior citizens, low and no-income parents (both single and married), many, many many disabled adults and children who soon will have such little help that even more people will be suffering. Do you folks who oppose such a thing, you selfish Republicans, you God-fearing people really choose to go on condemning those who truly need help? I have worked in my lifetime, paid my taxes for others and you know what...what goes around comes around. Too much money and power really blinds people to the injustices and inequities of today's society...yes, even right here in Minnesota. Arise out of your slumber and look around at your neighbors and step out of your comfort zone and see for yourself suffering that is happening right in front of your eyes!

I have a very highly autistic son who lives in a group home that
is paid for by county waivers. I work in the social services
field and have for some time with mentally ill clients who, also,
are supported by county waivers of one kind or another. I have
probably forgotten more about the problems and the financial
barriers than you will ever know. I agree with all of the
funding the state gives and have encouraged the counties to do
more on their own when the state can't.

Having said that, I am not comfortable with this lawsuit any
more than anyone else. This is something elected representatives
and officials are held accountable for at the ballot box; when
the judicial branch starts getting involved the entire system
falls apart. Are we supposed to elect judges now, too, based
on their political leanings one way or the other on social
services or on their judicial abilities to apply the law as
it is written by the representatives we send for that purpose?
Like it or not like it, it shouldn't be in the hands of judges;
it should stay in the hands of the people that are charged with
that job.

And I am not a Republican or a Democrat; where you get off
assuming anything along those lines boggles the mind.

[Vikings Fan]

Benny Craig wrote:

<quoted text>
You could probably use a "Special Diet Program" as you likely spend vast amounts of times sitting in front of the TV, watching football and stuffing your fat face with fried foods, becoming an even heavier burden on our health care system.

So you have another alias there "Copyland". This is way to good! Must be a lot of fun going back and forth between your different personalities, and talking to yourself. What a pathetic loser!