Spending Accountability Amendment has its first day at the Capitol

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s proposal to limit state spending to revenues received in the previous biennium was the talk of the Capitol December 7. A GOP-organized rally in support of the proposal got under way this morning in the Capitol rotunda, and featured special guest Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN6).  Later, Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) and the rest of the Taxes committee heard preliminary testimony for and against the measure. Sen. Amy Koch, who’ll introduce the bill in the Senate, spoke in favor, as did former representative Phil Krinkie (Taxpayer’s League), Kelly Cobb (Americans for Tax Reform), and Josh Culling (Taxpayers Union). Speaking against the proposal were Jim McDonough (MN Counties), Gary Carlson (MN Cities), Nan Madden (MN Budget Project) and Dane Smith (Growth and Justice). Smith spoke in strong terms, calling the proposal “possibly the worst of the budget solutions put before this Legislature.”