"Kitchen Table" Budgeting Doesn't Fit "Safety Net" Needs

"Kitchen Table" Budgeting Doesn't Fit "Safety Net" Needs

I'm not sure why we allow Governor Pawlenty to prattle endlessly about this "kitchen table" budgeting routine. While it is true that the Minnesota family unit has to tighten its belt in these lean economic times, it is an analogy that has absolutely no connection to state government.

I think we can all agree that when times get tough, we take some comfort in the idea of a "government safety net". The state is the place to go for help in a crisis.

Well, when families tighten their belt, the state has to be the entitiy that covers the extra notches. And in simple terms, that means the state burden increases when family budgets decrease.

Let's take for example this report from Blue Earth county vis the Mankato FreePress. The main point began like this:

Blue Earth County recently saw what may be its biggest one-day total ever for welfare benefit applications and has seen large case load increases in recent months.

Now, layoffs don't figure into the total picture because unemployment benefits are involved -- although we have almost depleted the insurance fund for that purpose and will soon be borrowing from the Feds....money that has to be paid back later with interest. But something else to remember is that these laid off employees were contributing to the state tax base. Now, they are expecting to get help. Tax gains to budget losses. Try to figure that into a family budget plan.

More numbers:

And there has been an increase of 5 percent in new welfare-type programs — including food support, cash and medical assistance — in the first five months of 2009 compared to the same time last year.

New people who need help. We expect that in times like these, and we expect state government to help. It isn't something you can plan for -- it just is.

And before you start looking for an "illegal immigrant" to blame...

Since February, their case loads in social services programs have risen by about 134, to a total of 1,682. Of that total, 34 cases are for migrants who take canning jobs at a Montgomery plant this time of year. So, excluding the traditional June uptick for the migrant workers, cases have risen by about 6.5 percent since February, an unusual increase. Individual cases may receive benefits from multiple programs, she said.

The numbers showing increases already factored in for the seasonal migrant workers.

We are looking at a small, rural area of Minnesota. These issues multiply when you discuss denser areas of population.

This is not a "kitchen table" problem. We are talking about people needing serious help in a serious economic crisis. Yessir, Tim Pawlenty is right when he says we are dealing with the most serious economic crisis in generations. But, you don't tighten the belt on a safety net.

A safety net expands to meet all who are in need. This Governor won't do that. His net is full of holes.