About 130 people crowded into a room at the Duluth police headquarters Wednesday night to tell Gov. Mark Dayton what they think about his proposed budget. They had other thoughts, too.
The governor is taking his budget on the road, hoping to convince residents that his plan — which includes higher taxes on the highest earners and more money for schools — is the right course for the state.
Duluth was the first stop; others will be scheduled soon, the governor's office said.
The Duluth News Tribune says the 100-minute session was peppered with comments from "area political activists, business owners and health and education workers."
Tea Party activist Paul King told the governor he doesn't like the plan to raise more than $1 billion with an extra tax on the rich; he disagreed with Dayton's assertion that the rich don't pay their fair share.
King said: "Maybe we paid our fair share. The wealthy are doing all the work."
In response, according to the paper:
Dayton smiled and calmed a groaning audience and issued the first of many admonitions to respect the views of others even if you think they’re wrong.
“If you ever had a real job, you’d understand,” King said to Dayton.
Another speaker wanted to know about a proposed "snowbird tax." Dayton said it won't survive the session.
On education spending, he said Minnesota was once fifth in the country but has slipped to 32nd. "The quality of education will determine who’s a success or not," he said.
On gun control, the paper said he supports background checks on purchases at gun shows, but that Dayton said:
"Nobody’s going to confiscate your gun. Lawful people can lawfully own a gun. It’s such a bogus issue."
And the governor told a convenience store owner, who is worried that an increase in the cigarette tax will lead to black market cigarettes, that he sees that tax as a deterrent to young smokers, rather than as a revenue raiser.