Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Sixth district representative complains about returning to work to support police and teachers, reduce national deficit

St. Paul (August 5, 2010) - Representative Michele Bachmann complained this week about having to go back to work, then spoke out against a bill that would save jobs for Minnesota's police, firefighters, and teachers.

"Class sizes are already out-of-control in our schools which is directly impacting our children's ability to succeed. We need as much help keeping teachers in classrooms as we can get," said Todd Manninen, teacher at Buffalo High School. "I've lost too many excellent colleagues to budget cuts and our students are suffering."

"One of the most important functions of government is helping keep our communities are safe - that means keeping cops on the streets," said Zak Chlebeck, a north suburban area police officer and candidate for the Minnesota legislature. "Federal funding would help our local governments and police officers continue to protect our families."

The House of Representatives will reconvene next week to take up a bill that would provide millions to states in order to prevent layoffs in critical public sectors. The aid bill is paid for in full, and according to conservative estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, it will save Americans over $1billion over the next ten years. But Representative Bachmann characterized the proposal as, "spending more money we just don't have."

"Michele Bachmann has never had a problem making untrue statements to pander to the Tea Party, but her most recent comments are glaringly inaccurate," said DFL spokesperson Kristin Sosanie. "This bill will help state workers and public-school teachers keep their jobs, and it is fully paid for - that's the kind of work we need our representatives to do in Washington. It's time for Representative Bachmann to start working for people in the sixth district, not against them."

Background:

The state-aid bill will save jobs for Minnesota's teachers, firefighters and police officers.

• The measure promises cash-strapped governors $16.1 billion to help meet Medicaid payments next year, and $10 billion would go to state and local school boards to preserve teacher jobs. [Politico, 08/04/10]
• Democrats broke through Republican lines in the Senate Wednesday and moved quickly to call the House back into session to complete passage of a long-sought fiscal aid bill intended to avert layoffs of state workers and public school teachers this fall. [Politico, 08/04/10]
• Congressional Budget Office estimates released Tuesday night show that the revised bill would more than pay for itself, even reducing deficits by $1.37 billion over the next decade. Added revenues of $9.7 billion are assumed, chiefly from foreign tax credit reforms, but two-thirds of the offsets come from the spending side of the ledger. [Politico, 08/04/10]

Bachmann stands against the fully-paid for bill that would save jobs in Minnesota. "Despite Missourians sending a clear signal this week against the government's job-killing and reckless spending agenda by standing up to Obamacare, the Democrats would rather continue spending more money we just don't have." [Bachmann press release, 08/04/10]