The Minnesota Budget Solutions Coalition, a group of 9 non-profit organizations has released a policy brief containing recommendations to close the state’s projected $6.4 billion deficit. Subsequent media coverage consisted of a short article posted at KARE-11’s website, a handful of blog posts and mentions by conservative talk radio hosts.

“Real State Budget Reform: A Proposal for Solving Minnesota’s Budget Deficit Without Raising Taxes” was released to the public at a press conference on Monday. A few major news outlets attended, including a KSTP TV news camera and reporters from KARE 11 and Minnesota Public Radio. Notably absent were any reporters from the Star Tribune or Pioneer Press. Ultimately, KARE 11, an outlet that frequently turns a blind eye to the efforts or ideas of center-right organizations was the only major news outlet to do anything on the story: An article on their website.

Some heavy hitters in Minnesota politics worked on the budget solution document, which was the product of months of research, number-crunching and debate. Former state auditor Pat Anderson; former state representative, and current president of the Taxpayers’ League of Minnesota, Phil Krinkie; Dr. Karen Effrem from EdWatch and others representing 9 major Minnesota organizations put their heads together with one mission: Solve the deficit without raising taxes. It was a successful venture. Not only does the budget solution document solve the deficit without new taxes, it cuts some taxes to spur economic growth. It accomplishes this without even requiring federal “bailout” money. Of course, this accomplishment flies in the face of “conventional wisdom” which tells us we must have the bailout money (with all the strings attached) and we must raise more revenue. This convention is disproved by the work of the Budget Solutions Coalition. Evidently the purveyors of the “conventional wisdom” don’t like to be proven wrong.

“Bias” no longer adequately expresses this phenomenon. “Blackout” is more apt. Therefore, it is incumbent on us to circumvent the mainstream media and get our message out despite their efforts to suppress alternative viewpoints.

Minnesota Majority currently maintains a list of over 60,000 subscribers. As large as that base is, it is a drop in the bucket compared to the state’s population of 5 million. Through coalitions, alternative media (blogs, talk radio, social networking, etc) and expanding our subscriber base, we can eventually make the mainstream press irrelevant when it comes to disseminating important information and opposing views.

Take Action: Write a letter to your community paper in support of the budget solutions proposed by the coalition.

Get your friends and acquaintances plugged in: Invite them to join us.

Listen to the Dan Conry Show, broadcast live every weekday morning from the Minnesota Majority “bunker.” Be sure to listen to the podcast of Tuesday’s show for a discussion of the budget solution policy brief and the media blackout.