Emmer: Some privitization of government services possible

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer says his plan to reshape state government would include the possible privatization of some current services.

Emmer appeared on Twin Cities Public Television Friday night with DFLer Mark Dayton and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner. It was the last TV debate before Election Day.

Without offering specifics, Emmer said he wants to eliminate bloat and excess in state services. He also said he doesn't want government competing with the private sector.

"Our state government should not be taking citizens taxpayer dollars and then getting into business to compete with its private citizens.," he said. "That should not happen, and it is happening. If there's something a private citizen can do, government should not be doing that function."

Polls show a tight contest between Emmer and Dayton, who traded several shots at each other over tax policy.

Emmer accused Dayton of making spending promises that he can't keep and being too cozy with labor unions.

Dayton criticized Emmer's cuts-alone approach to erasing a projected $5.8 billion state budget deficit as a recipe for local property tax increases. He said Emmer's reductions in health and human services would have human consequences.

"This is about people," Dayton said. "This is about people who get personal care attendants, people who are able to stay at home, people who need to be in nursing homes who are literally kept alive through that kind of care. This is about people, and we do have a growing aging population."

Despite running a distant third in the polls, Horner kept up his sharp attack on the frontrunners. Horner accused Dayton of being "disingenuous" in his plan to tax the rich.

"When you say your tax proposal will only effect 8 percent of small business, true. How many jobs will it affect? Ninety percent of the small business jobs in Minnesota," Horner said. "You're killing jobs, that's what your doing. That's what your tax proposal does."

Dayton criticized Horner's plan to expand the state sales tax to clothing as an unfair burden on the middle class.

Horner repeatedly argued that his centrist approach is the only way to move Minnesota forward.

The final debate before Election Day is this Sunday after on Minnesota Public Radio News.