To Tax or Not to Tax?

It is tax day, and the Taxpayers League of Minnesota held its annual rally at the Capitol. Knowing the media would show up to record people making bitter statements about government programs, I decided to attend and offer an alternate position.

What would happen if I quietly held a sign reading “Create Hope, Build Housing”?

I was pleased to find a number of other like-minded citizens decided to attend as well. Signs reading “Willing to Pay for a Better Minnesota” and “Fund Our Schools” were amply scattered throughout the crowd. I began to feel a bit of hopefulness.

Then the emcee for the event—Jason Lewis—pointed at me and made a disparaging remark about nonprofits wanting handouts. The crowd began to hiss and boo.

I am an optimist when it comes to politics. I believe that we do better together as a community than as isolated individuals. I also believe that our elected officials will see that wise investments in affordable housing and homelessness prevention will pay off—in financial AND in human terms.

But the anti-government sentiment is strong at our Legislature, and it’s moved beyond rhetoric into practice.

The proposed budget for the House Jobs and Economic Opportunity Committee (which funds housing and human services programs) has an additional $72 million in cuts beyond the cut the Governor’s budget would make to the programs covered under that committee.

The governor’s budget recommendations already slashed the state’s workforce housing program by $13 million and would cut many other important housing and other programs that help low-income Minnesotans.

With so large a proposed cut, there is a real danger that affordable housing and homelessness prevention measures could see more reductions. The SSI and Housing Penalties may be increased. Federal childcare resources could be stolen to replace state human service dollars. And the Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness…how does that stand a chance in this environment?

But again, I am an optimist.

I hear about how government investments can be a catalyst for change: Did you know that when our state—through the Challenge Fund—invests $10,000 to help produce a unit of workforce housing, over $11,000 is returned to the state in the first year? Why wouldn’t our elected officials decide to put more resources into programs like this?

I see people experiencing homelessness advocating on their own behalf: At a recent poverty forum a group of homeless folks asked that shelter beds be set aside for people whose illnesses will worsen if they don’t have somewhere to stay. Due to their advocacy, Ramsey County’s homeless service providers are now focusing attention on that very matter.

And I find optimism in the least likely of places. One night, I was feeling particularly saddened by the actions of our Legislature. I decided to visit the Dorothy Day Shelter and ask some of my friends staying there to help me do a better job at advocacy the next day. Sheila and Rae, each dressed in “sweats” for the night, came out into the small lobby to help me strategize.

The next day they helped bring four carloads of shelter guests to the Capitol. In what can only be described as a very strange hour, we managed to run into Governor Pawlenty no less than five times. With each encounter, someone from the group was able to remind the governor that their needs required his attention.

Which of the sentiments will rule the day at the Capitol? The hopes of Rae and Sheila? Or the anger of the anti-tax protesters?

Something tells me the decision is really up to us.