Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Sen. Mathern is a spender

Sen. Mathern is a spender

Sep 30, 2008 - 04:05:22 CDT

By MARLENE ERDMAN
Minot

Let me ask you a question. When you go home to make up your budget or balance your checkbook and find you have a little extra cash than you planned, do you make plans to go out and spend it once? And then spend it again?And then maybe spend that amount one more time until you're in the hole instead of ahead?I know I don't, and I'm guessing you don't, either. But there is one man who'd like to do that with the state's surplus, and that's Sen. Tim Mathern.

Already he's introduced two plans, one for a state-owned refinery that would cost upwards of $1.5 billion, and another for a $1 billion "tax plan."He also has a tuition plan that would cost upwards of $89 million, plus a whole lot of other plans he hasn't even stopped to consider the cost of, yet.

All the while, he frowns upon the prospect of a $1.2 billion surplus that the state will have, thanks much to the tremendous economic growth we've had in the past few years. What's ironic is he's tried to pass more than that in taxes over his career. He sure seems to hate that surplus, but he's shown he sure does like to spend it. You tell me if this sounds like sound fiscal policy.

So when Sen. Mathern says he's going to give you a tax break with one hand, I'd suggest you pay close attention to what he's doing with the other. He's a tax-and-spend liberal, and that's something that's never going to change.

News > Opinion

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Comments

Sen. Tim Mathern wrote on Oct 5, 2008 9:44 PM:

" Government should take in as much money as needed for the sevices that people want. Our surplus is a clear indicator that this is not the case at this time. This came about because of poor fiscal management. Democrats anticipated the high income from oil and agriculture but did not have the votes to change the budget Hoeven wanted. My tax plan is to cut taxes in order to get our revenues and expenditures in balance again.

I am not planning on spending 1.5 billion on a refinery. A refinery can be built by private capital. The mis information about my spending plans continues from Hoeven, so as to divert attention from his budget. Sen. Tim Mathern "

FYI wrote on Oct 2, 2008 3:41 PM:

" You're all right in the matter that elected officials are spenders, but it's the cause and effect that we need to focus on. When looking at education for example, his $500 million in education funding will provide at least $100 more for local school funding, $100 million in income tax relief and $300 million in property tax relief. Because of the economy boost since hes been governor, over 30,000 new jobs have been created, and that growth has given the state resources to fund the right areas. With this spending, we see an import cause that will result in a positive effect. "

JB wrote on Sep 30, 2008 10:27 PM:

" To Bulldozer,

The difference is:

Mathern TAXES and spends. We all get that. That's why we elect someone in the first place. And it's the legislature who gets to tax anyway, not the governor.

I've read that Hoeven BORROWS - through the use of long-term bonds, etc., and spends. With a projected surplus of $1.2 billion, that just DOES NOT make sense. Apparently, the governor is more worried about the state's credit rating than about deploying the surplus for growth. "

Bulldozer wrote on Sep 30, 2008 9:31 PM:

" Marlene you are absolutely right. The idea of Tim Mathern for governor ought to scare everybody to death. He will make John Hoeven look like a little boy when it comes to spending. ND has no business building a state owned oil refinery. That is socialism which is what Democrats perpetuate. The state surplus will no way cover the cost of building a refinery. "

DuWayne Hendrickson wrote on Sep 30, 2008 3:04 PM:

" Thanks a lot for the vote of confidence, those that expressed the fact that they should look at my ideas. I think I have some good ideas, and the opposition must think so also since I cant get into a Governors debate yet, although Tim Mathern has sent me an email mentioning one. Thanks Tim. Although the Governor cannot do it all, with a voice for the citizens from the Governor to the legislature we may be able to accomplish great things. Right now with the thinking of the present administration we are accomplishing very little as a state, and will not proceed forward in the proper fashion to do better things until that is changed. Again Thanks for the message to look at my ideas. Every little bit will help out the 2 things that mean very much to me. Our great state and its citizens. DuWayne "

Dave wrote on Sep 30, 2008 12:07 PM:

" Marlene, I imagine you like the borrow-and-spend Conservatives much better. Either way, we're gonna pay!! "

Dave wrote on Sep 30, 2008 12:01 PM:

" Newsflash - They ALL are spenders. "

Mandan wrote on Sep 30, 2008 11:31 AM:

" Marlene I hate to tell you butit doesn't matter who the elected official seems to be but they all love to spend money, when it is not theirs! Realize instead that either Mathern or Hoeven have plans that will spend the surplus with pet projects!

Economic Conservative you were right about taking a look at Dwayne! "

JB wrote on Sep 30, 2008 7:59 AM:

" One question, Marlene:

You state that Mathern "frowns upon the prospect of a $1.2 billion surplus that the state will have."

One would think that since he's such a "spender" that he'd be lickin' his chops at the prospect of having that much bank to work with.

I'm just sayin . . . "

Economic Conservative wrote on Sep 30, 2008 7:11 AM:

" I'll ask Sen Mathern for the fifth or sixth time on these blogs: Sir, tax cuts can't be supported without spending cuts. What is your plan for spending cuts to support this bold tax cut plan of yours? Now that I am thinking about it, I pose the same question to you Mr. Hoeven. North Dakota's two main candidates for governor are both nothing more than spend, spend spend proponents. Maybe Dwayne is right, we should take a look at his ideas. "

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