Minnesota Legislature
HF 1249
as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/21/2011 10:10am
KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
1.1A resolution
1.2urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to reorder
1.3federal spending priorities.
1.4WHEREAS, Minnesota is faced with a $5.028 billion budget shortfall; and
1.5WHEREAS, past budget cuts have resulted in painful reductions in essential services
1.6and future cuts would further erode the quality of life for and, in fact, endanger the lives of
1.7many citizens; and
1.8WHEREAS, many cities and communities in Minnesota are laying off police, firefighters,
1.9teachers, and other essential employees; and
1.10WHEREAS, past budgets have been balanced by cutting social services, underinvestment
1.11in essential infrastructure, and other measures that push the crisis onto local governments and the
1.12poor; and
1.13WHEREAS, Minnesota taxpayers even during these times of economic crisis and fiscal
1.14austerity are poised to pay the equivalent of three-quarters of the entire state biennial budget,
1.15more than $26 billion over the next two years, for their share of the Defense Budget of the
1.16Federal government; and
1.17WHEREAS, Minnesota taxpayers alone have already spent more than $27.5 billion, and will
1.18spend $8.4 billion more over the next two years for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
1.19WHEREAS, 58 cents of every dollar of federal discretionary spending is devoted to
1.20military purposes; and
2.1WHEREAS, military spending priorities at the national level negatively impact budgets
2.2and quality of life at all levels of government and society; and
2.3WHEREAS, our nation desperately needs to better balance its approach to security to
2.4go beyond military defense and include the economic, social, and environmental needs of our
2.5communities, state, and nation; NOW, THEREFORE,
2.6BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges Senators
2.7Klobuchar and Franken, and Representatives Walz, Kline, Paulsen, McCollum, Ellison,
2.8Bachmann, Peterson, and Cravaack as well as Congressional Leadership, other members of
2.9Congress, and President Barack Obama to shift federal funding priorities from war and the
2.10interests of the few, to meeting the essential needs of us all.
2.11BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
2.12directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States,
2.13the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United
2.14States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.
1.2urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to reorder
1.3federal spending priorities.
1.4WHEREAS, Minnesota is faced with a $5.028 billion budget shortfall; and
1.5WHEREAS, past budget cuts have resulted in painful reductions in essential services
1.6and future cuts would further erode the quality of life for and, in fact, endanger the lives of
1.7many citizens; and
1.8WHEREAS, many cities and communities in Minnesota are laying off police, firefighters,
1.9teachers, and other essential employees; and
1.10WHEREAS, past budgets have been balanced by cutting social services, underinvestment
1.11in essential infrastructure, and other measures that push the crisis onto local governments and the
1.12poor; and
1.13WHEREAS, Minnesota taxpayers even during these times of economic crisis and fiscal
1.14austerity are poised to pay the equivalent of three-quarters of the entire state biennial budget,
1.15more than $26 billion over the next two years, for their share of the Defense Budget of the
1.16Federal government; and
1.17WHEREAS, Minnesota taxpayers alone have already spent more than $27.5 billion, and will
1.18spend $8.4 billion more over the next two years for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
1.19WHEREAS, 58 cents of every dollar of federal discretionary spending is devoted to
1.20military purposes; and
2.1WHEREAS, military spending priorities at the national level negatively impact budgets
2.2and quality of life at all levels of government and society; and
2.3WHEREAS, our nation desperately needs to better balance its approach to security to
2.4go beyond military defense and include the economic, social, and environmental needs of our
2.5communities, state, and nation; NOW, THEREFORE,
2.6BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges Senators
2.7Klobuchar and Franken, and Representatives Walz, Kline, Paulsen, McCollum, Ellison,
2.8Bachmann, Peterson, and Cravaack as well as Congressional Leadership, other members of
2.9Congress, and President Barack Obama to shift federal funding priorities from war and the
2.10interests of the few, to meeting the essential needs of us all.
2.11BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
2.12directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States,
2.13the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United
2.14States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.