Republican presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said Friday she supports a call from Minnesota Republicans to shut down the state government in an attempt to protest raising taxes.
“I applaud Minnesota Republican legislators for standing up to reckless spending and higher taxes. At a time when families and businesses are stretched to the limit due to high federal taxes and a history of excessive executive waste, the last thing the people of Minnesota can afford is higher taxes,” Ms. Bachmann told supporters Friday.
“Hopefully Governor Dayton will realize that fiscal restraint is what is necessary to strengthen the Minnesota economy and create jobs.”
The Minnesota Republican’s comment comes as Minnesota governor Mark Dayton announced the state government would shut down after lawmakers failed to close a $5 billion budget gap. The impasse comes as Mr. Dayton has called for raising taxes for those earning $1 million annually, while Minnesota Republicans seek deeper spending cuts.
“Instead of taxing their friends, they would prefer very damaging cuts to healthcare, K-12 and higher education, state and local public safety, mass transit, and other essential services,” Mr. Dayton said Friday. The governor’s office said it is unlikely that negotiations will resume before the end of the holiday weekend.
Meanwhile, Ms. Bachmann, who announced her bid for the Republican presidential nomination last month, is scheduled to spend the holiday weekend in Iowa. The Minnesota Republican joins former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, who criticized Minnesota Democrats on Thursday.
