Resolution Calling for Re-ordering of Priorities

Resolution Calling for Re-ordering of 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, under
investment 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 the entire state
biennial budget, more than $35 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;

Therefore be it resolved
that we, the Legislature of the State of Minnesota call on Senators
Klobuchar and Franken, and Representatives Walz, Kline, Paulsen,
McCollum, Ellison, Bachmann, Peterson and Cravaack as well as
Congressional leadership 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.

Approved [date]

By Jack Nelson-Palmeyer and Bill Hilty