SF 906

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/14/2012 09:29am

A resolution
urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to reorder
federal spending priorities.

WHEREAS, Minnesota is faced with a $5.028 billion budget shortfall; and

WHEREAS, past budget cuts have resulted in painful reductions in essential services
and future cuts would further erode the quality of life for and, in fact, endanger the lives of
many citizens; and

WHEREAS, many cities and communities in Minnesota are laying off police, firefighters,
teachers, and other essential employees; and

WHEREAS, past budgets have been balanced by cutting social services, underinvestment
in essential infrastructure, and other measures that push the crisis onto local governments and the
poor; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota taxpayers even during these times of economic crisis and fiscal
austerity are poised to pay the equivalent of three-quarters of the entire state biennial budget,
more than $26 billion over the next two years, for their share of the Defense Budget of the
Federal government; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota taxpayers alone have already spent more than $27.5 billion, and will
spend $8.4 billion more over the next two years for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, 58 cents of every dollar of federal discretionary spending is devoted to
military purposes; and

WHEREAS, military spending priorities at the national level negatively impact budgets
and quality of life at all levels of government and society; and

WHEREAS, our nation desperately needs to better balance its approach to security to
go beyond military defense and include the economic, social, and environmental needs of our
communities, state, and nation; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges Senators
Klobuchar and Franken, and Representatives Walz, Kline, Paulsen, McCollum, Ellison,
Bachmann, Peterson, and Cravaack as well as Congressional Leadership, other members of
Congress, and President Barack Obama to shift federal funding priorities from war and the
interests of the few, to meeting the essential needs of us all.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States,
the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United
States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.