Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Center of the American Experiment Releases Report: Minnesota Needs To Take Spending Off 'Autopilot' and Budget for Outcomes
  • USA - English


News provided by

Connolly Kuhl Group

Aug 25, 2014, 13:45 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

Center for the American Experiment
Center for the American Experiment

St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) August 25, 2014 -- Minnesota legislators – of both parties – must put an end to “autopilot” spending increases each year that inevitably lead to higher taxes without ever systematically reviewing whether the additional spending delivers results.

That is the conclusion of a chapter released Friday, August 22, 2014, by Center of the American Experiment at an event on the St. Paul campus of Bethel University. To learn more, click on this link: http://www.americanexperiment.org/sites/default/files/article_pdf/CAE%20Budget%20Blueprint.pdf

“Maintaining or expanding our already high tax rates creates additional challenges that will do real and permanent economic harm to Minnesota unless we make changes now."

Post this

The chapter was released as part of the Center’s Minnesota Policy Blueprint, a wide-ranging series of policy recommendations released this summer aimed at the 2015 session of the Minnesota legislature. It was written by King Banaian, professor of economics and interim dean of the School of Public Affairs at St. Cloud State University and Peter Nelson, director of public policy at Center of the American Experiment.

The culprit for automatic spending growth, say the authors, is that Minnesota follows “baseline budgeting,” a process that starts with the prior year’s budget and then makes adjustments depending on available revenues, without evaluating the effectiveness of public programs.

“Without a budget process that forces policymakers to evaluate the effectiveness of current programs, inertia carries current spending programs forward and allows programs to be expanded and new programs added when revenue permits,” they argue. “In effect, the baseline budget process sets the budget to grow on autopilot, which allows budgets to grow consistently faster than inflation plus population.”

This is one reason, they contend, that Minnesota’s spending grew by 9.8 percent this biennium, which translates to an increase of $1,130 per Minnesotan. This process, say the authors, invariably leads to higher taxes and undercuts the state’s competitiveness.

“Minnesota’s businesses and our state’s economy compete on a regional and a global level,” Banaian said. “Maintaining or expanding our already high tax rates creates additional challenges that will do real and permanent economic harm to Minnesota unless we make changes now. In addition to the current increased spending, Minnesota also faces significant long-term challenges that include an aging population, rising health care costs, unfunded pensions, and uncertainty over federal spending. These are challenges and issues that every lawmaker must not only understand but have the courage to address.”

“The data is very clear and the impact is significant in terms of what happens if Minnesota’s budget process stays on its current trajectory,” Nelson said. “At the most basic level, it is time for elected officials to change the way we spend public dollars. The first step is to make sure that any decision to spend tax dollars is evaluated based on the value of what it buys for the public.”

Specific recommendations

Replace the baseline budget process with budgeting for outcomes.
• Instead of starting with the baseline, lawmakers start by setting the price of government and then establish priorities to guide spending decisions.
• Lawmakers evaluate programs regularly and allocate money based on whether a program is achieving results.
• The process forces leaders to clearly state priorities and periodically rethink the outcomes that matter most to citizens.

Create a Legislative Budget Office run by nonpartisan staff to manage and prepare the information necessary to create budgets.
• The office would be responsible for estimating the spending and revenue impacts of proposed legislation and preparing forecasts of budgets for upcoming sessions.
• It would also evaluate public program performance or at least audit evaluations.

Charge the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy with taking a stronger leadership role in creating the state budget.
• The Legislature provides the best avenue to consider and represent the diversity of views and values held by the citizens of Minnesota.
• With more legislative leadership, future budgets would better represents citizens’ values and priorities.

Revive the Sunset Commission that was repealed in 2013.
• This commission was created in 2011 to review the performance of state agencies and make recommendations for policy, organization, and structural changes.
• Money saved through restructuring would be freed to support higher priorities.

Improve spending limits through statute or constitutional amendment.
• Minnesota should require that budgeted spending rise no faster than the average of inflation and population growth in the prior biennium.
• Overriding this limitation should require super majority support from the Legislature.

“Minnesota’s competitiveness will suffer if we do not gain control of state spending,” Banaian said. “The looming fiscal demands from an aging population and past promises will challenge spending in other, more economically productive areas such as education and transportation. If we do not make changes now the only other solution is to continue to raise taxes that will continue to impact Minnesota’s ability to be more competitive with other states and countries. The resulting decline in economic growth will reduce revenue, creating a vicious cycle.”

About the 2014 Minnesota Policy Blueprint: Prescription for Prosperity
The 2014 Minnesota Policy Blueprint: Prescription for Prosperity is a series of policy recommendations that will mirror Center of the American Experiment's long-held commitment to help elected officials enact policies that promote a culture of prosperity.

About Center of the American Experiment
Center of the American Experiment is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt, public policy and educational institution that brings conservative and free market ideas to bear on the hardest problems facing Minnesota and the nation. The Center’s mission is building a culture of prosperity in Minnesota and the nation. To learn more please visit: americanexperiment.org

# # #

Patrick Connolly, Connolly Kuhl Group, +1 612 669 2296, [email protected]

Modal title

View PDF

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.