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DEMOCRATS LOOK TO “ATTACH JUMPER CABLES” TO YOUR WALLET AND DRAIN IT
By Michael B. Brodkorb | February 11, 2008
The battle over taxes that is likely to dominate the 2008 legislative session, which begins tomorrow, is already getting started. DFL legislative leaders Sen. Larry Pogemiller and Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher held a press conference today where they said they want to "jump start" the session.
Governor Pawlenty's spokesman Brian McClung responded "[o]ur concern is that when Democrats talk about jump-starting, they're going to attach the jumper cables to your wallet. This is not the direction we should be heading in when we have a tough economy."
Governor Pawlenty issued 55 vetoes last year, saving Minnesotans from $5.5 billion in tax increases. It looks like DFLers are planning to reach into your wallets again this year, with proposals to increase the gas tax, wheelage tax, license tab tax, sales tax and income tax. Thankfully, Governor Pawlenty's veto stamp will be inked up and ready to stop the liberals at the Capitol from raising taxes on Minnesotans who are already facing $3 a gallon gas and shrinking home values.
Click here for the complete article on today's skirmish at the Capitol.
Topics: Brian McClung, Tim Pawlenty | 43 Comments »
43 Responses to “DEMOCRATS LOOK TO “ATTACH JUMPER CABLES” TO YOUR WALLET AND DRAIN IT”
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February 11th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
They raided our wallets iwth a two billion dollar surplus. What gives anyone any reason to think this year will be any different?
???
February 11th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I don’t give a crap what Jason Lewis says. Pawlenty is good for MN. I give him a slight pass on the global warming stuff. The man has defended our wallets with vigor.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Yeah we don’t want those dicks actually funding our roads! It’s my god given right to spend 2 hours in congestion each day and I love sitting in traffic listening to the Patriot.
Thank God we have a Governor that spends our money on JOBZ to give those companies that already plan on staying here and expanding a big subsidy! That Molnau’s doing a heck of a job too, if she can throw a keg she sure as hell knows how to run a department of transportation!
Stand tough Governor and let’s play hockey!
February 11th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
The DFL never delivered a bill to fund roads. The delivered a $5.5 billion tax increase disguised as a transportation bill. But it had almost nothing to do with roads.
Cletus, if you want to drive less… live closer to work. Choices, friend… choices.
I’d be interested in the Auditor’s report… particularly since it describes an completely converse situation than the Strib — a liberal paper — described in its investigation of the effectiveness of the program.
Anecdotally, I know of hundreds of people whose jobs were saved or who found new work thanks to the JOBZ program. Half the city of Redwood Falls has JOBZ to thank.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Cletus, I work in downtown Minneapolis, and I live way out in Eden Prairie. I takes me about 25 minutes to get downtown. Where the heck do you live to sit in traffic for 2 hours? If you don’t like the traffic, move closer to work.
Now lets talk about how some of our transportatin dollars are wasted by the Democrats. For example, millions of dollars to bike trails in northern Minnesota. A nice perk, but definately not transporation when they are located in the middle of nowhere, and definately not necessary.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:46 am
“Half the city of Redwood Falls has JOBZ to thank.”
–Chester
If you want to have a job (that isn’t propped up by the state through the JOBZ program) maybe you should actually live where the jobs are? Choices Chester, choices.
Sean
February 12th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Sean,
If the state is creating the economic conditions that are destroying rural Minnesota — which it is — easing off those hostile policies in rural areas is a good thing.
There’s a reason why tens of thousands of jobs have walked across the border to North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Anti-business bullshit from the Democrats in St. Paul is a big part of the problem.
February 12th, 2008 at 8:06 am
It’s simply more liberal insanity. IF transportation were the “high priority” that DFLers now want to claim it is, they could have, at any time in the last 20 years, voted to FUND it properly, out of money they already had! Surely not EVERYTHING that they did had a higher priority than their “highest priority” did it? And last year’s $2 billion surplus, where did THAT go, if not to their “highest priority.” Hey, DFL, your emperor’s arse is hanging out!
February 12th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Say, J?
In Gov. Pawlenty’s first term, didn’t he have a republican-controlled house?
Didn’t he use the voto rarely?
Wasn’t one of those vetoes, a veto of the dime/gallon gas increase?
Wasn’t increase passed by a republican-controlled House?
Here’s a hint, J – the answers are all the same, and the answer starts with a “y” and ends with a “s”…
February 12th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Chestnut I don’t believe you, there is very little, if any job movement to SD, ND and WI. Please enlighten us to any legitimate study the illustrates your point.
One thing though that is a major problem for business is our transportation congestion, that’s why the Chamber, unlike our loser Governor, supports the gas tax. Although the Republicans love to preach free lunches for everyone, if we want better roads we have to find new money to pay for them.
February 12th, 2008 at 8:36 am
JOBZ is pure Republican pork and any economist worth his weight realizes that. The problems with JOBZ are numerous and it simply creates winners and losers in rural Minnesota.
February 12th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Just an interesting note….Tax Revenues for the month of January saw St. Paul taking in 5% less than the month before, which was way down as well.
It has a lot to do with Minnesotans not spending enough on Taxable items, which reflects the Economy as a whole in Minnesota and throughout the country.
One of the issues before the Minnesota Legislature is calling on Gov. Pawlenty to get to release Carol Molnau as Transportation. She can’t be Lt. Gov. and run a Department she has no busines running.
February 12th, 2008 at 8:41 am
P.S.
If JOBZ was so great, why has there been no disclosure as to how much Tax Dollars are going to businesses to create and keep jobs, when Minnesota saw a loss of 23,000 jobs in the last quarter to 6 months of 2007???
February 12th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Ian, there USED to be massive job transfer to those states; especially SoDak.
While making sales calls in SoDak in the late ’80’s, I frequently heard that “Rudy Perpich was the best governor SoDak ever had.”
Typical was Lyle Signs, which has it’s corporate HQ right here, in Eden Prairie, but it’s plant in deSmet, SoDak.
I asked one transplanted Minnesotan how he liked living in SoDak; he said in Minn he got to shoot one bambi; in SoDak he got to shoot an east river mulie, a west river mulie, plus a white tail. Not to mention the pheasants….
But, that was then; this is now, and DFL Legislators are much more cognizant about business environment.
After all, it’s not rocket science: if you tax an employer out of state, most – if not all – jobs go with. Nobody wins. Well, the other state does…
February 12th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Thanks for the assist Tommy (I’m shocked
) For the rest: Have any of you who reject the idea of jobs leaving for North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin visited the rapidly expanding cities of Fargo, Sioux Falls, Brookings, Hudson, etc.? … and then have you visited the conversely shrinking or stagnant cities of Marshall, Pipestone, Redwood Falls, Moorhead, etc. and their surrounding areas?
The Redwood Falls example I cited was due to two manufacturing outfits that left the city for Brookings, S.D. where they wouldn’t be taxed to death. JOBZ helped incent another manufacturer to grow in to the space… Without JOBZ, that company would have gone to Sioux Falls instead.
Suggest you fools spend some time outside the 94 loop.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:09 am
P.S., kathy, you apparently don’t understand what JOBZ is about. No tax dollars go to businesses to create and keep jobs. That’s why it’s not disclosed.
Rather, the state doesn’t rob those businesses of certain taxes… So, I guess the cost is revenue neutral, since the state wouldn’t have seen a dime of corporate tax if those businesses didn’t grow here.
Instead, the state sees the benefit of increased payroll taxes.
It’s really not that difficult.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:09 am
On another note kathy, you have a handy number of lost jobs for the State. What’s the breakdown for JOBZ zones versus non-JOBZ zones.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Chestnut, facts are facts.
There’s a reason Twin City Fan & Blower has corporate HQ in plymouth, but plants everywhere else but Minn – like in Brookings.
Personally, I’d rather see that Brookings plant on THIS side o’ the border.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:17 am
The DFL’s Senate majority is the one constant in Minnesota politics for decades. Maybe they are to blame for some of our problems?
February 12th, 2008 at 9:35 am
“Maybe they are to blame for some of our problems?”
Well, sure! There’s plenty o’ blame to go around; and plenty o’ credit, too.
No side is blameless; no side deserves all the blame.
I was a guest at a Contractor’s annual dinner two years ago; they’re Union contractors – and obviously, they’re in it to make a buck. God Bless ‘em – there’s nothin’ wrong with makin’ a buck.
And at that dinner, was the union employee’s Business Agent – and he gave a speech to the Contractors, talkin’ about how they’re both in it together; the workers to make an honest living; the contractors to make an honest buck.
It was quite refreshing, to see folk reaching across the aisle to accomplish goals that benefitted each other.
Of course, then there’s here, MDE: the reality that so many are living in the past, and wouldn’t give the other guy a nickel even if it netted him a dime – because the other guy is “the enemy.”
February 12th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I was in the Pipestone area last week on business, and was told the company that makes those giant windmills expanded in to southwestern Minn from India. If that was a JOBZ project, I think the program is good because those wind farms are everywhere in that part of the state.
Do any of you know if that’s the case?
Thanks.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:40 am
***
Currently, 97 percent of all utility scale turbines are made by 10 companies, many of which are located in Europe. One of the largest manufactures, Vestas Wind Systems of Denmark, has announced its intentions to build and operate a new research and development center in the United States starting in 2009. Minnesota legislators and staff from the Governor’s office have been in contact with Vestas Systems, encouraging them to build their new facility in Minnesota. Minnesota is competing with several other states, including Iowa, which has had four turbine manufacturers set up shop in their state in the past two years, to attract Vestas. We can provide a boost to our economy while implementing our RES by using wind turbines that carry a “Made in Minnesota†sticker.
***
http://www.cloquetmn.com/articles/index.cfm?id=12557§ion=Opinion
February 12th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Here’s some of what the non-partisan legislative auditor had to say about JOBZ
-The program is unfocused because it lacks a budget constraint and meaningful policies for local governments to follow in deciding which businesses may participate in the program.
-The JOBZ program also has not been targeted to those parts of Greater Minnesota that are economically distressed and most in need of assistance.
-There are significant problems with program administration, particularly business subsidy agreements, which too frequently lack adequate job and wage requirements.
-The JOBZ program has not been targeted to economically distressed areas within Greater Minnesota
-The JOBZ program provides a useful economic development tool, but it has been used at times to provide unnecessary subsidies.
-Finally, the program sometimes provides subsidies to businesses that do not need the full array of JOBZ subsidies in order to expand. The program lacks any procedures to determine whether less generous subsidies than those offered by JOBZ would be sufficient to induce a business to expand in Greater Minnesota.
-The estimates published by the Department of Employment and Economic Development overstate the impact of the JOBZ program.
-The program’s effectiveness is reduced by the lack of a statewide perspective in the approval of JOBZ deals and the absence of any budgetary constraints.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Chestnut,
It’s always I hear this or I know this with you, show me a solid study that shows huge amounts of companies leaving Minnesota for SD, ND or WI? Companies move over the border back and forth all the time, most of which is not due to taxes.
The myth of thousands of businesses moving to SD is just an excuse for the Governor to seek tax reductions for his buddies.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Two-Putt-Tommy
Thanks for the information. You seem to know a lot about this.
I flew over that area on a nice clear day last week, and it’s impressive the number of those wind farms we have in Minn.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Well, thanks, Newton, but I’m no expert.
I do know that Erik Paulsen was pooh-poohing windfarms, while promoting the coal gasification plant; I had the misfortune of listening to him one night two years ago at a civic group event.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Ian, I don’t know of any studies, but: I called on plants in SoDak, and damn near every one of ‘em USED to be in Minnesota.
If you had capital to invest, would you put it into play in Wahpeton, ND, or a stone’s throw across the river in Brekenridge, MN?
Personally, I – and many, Many, MANY other democrats – believe we need to continually look at how this state treats it’s businesses, and make the adjustments necessary to keep our buisinesses here, healthy, and hiring.
Now, the gas tax is a red-herring; Wisconsin has rasied it’s gas tax repeatedly over the last 20 years; as we should have. Employees need to get to work; product needs to get to market.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I live a few miles from the South Dakota border, about 54 miles from Watertown SD. I work in Willmar. I read both the Watertown and Willmar papers and frequently look at the help wanted sections of both. The Watertown area has dozens of job openings listed everyday. Businesses are expanding or new businesses are arriving in the area. The Willmar paper has far fewer help wanted ads in the paper. I don’t know for sure where all the businesses are coming from that are moving to SD but I do know some are from Minnesota (at least according to the Watertown Public Opinion). It is near impossible to attract new business to the area when they can go a few more miles and enjoy the regulatory and tax enviroment in SD that is more favorable to businesses. Because there are more opportunites available in SD my wife and I are considering moving there when my son graduates from high school in 2009. The wages may be lower but so is the cost of living.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Well, Pete, iff’n ya like to shoot bambi, SoDak is a nice place to live!!!
I really enjoyed bein’ a roadwarrior in SoDak; every town has a really nice golf course. I really enjoyed Brookings CC.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:45 am
And it is still a Red state which I find attractive. That and the fact that they had enough sense to bring their senator home when he lost track of where he came from. Some people think they were nuts to lose the senate majority leader but principles came first to the voters. That is something you don’t see often enough these days.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I see three lanes of traffic – miles long coming into Minnesota from Wisconsin and the same in the evening heading back to Wisconsin – every work day – how much in tax dollars leave Minnesota every day to Wisconsin?
February 12th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Yeah, I remember that one:
“Senator, I need to see your driver’s license….say, Senator? Your DL is from DC…”
February 12th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I believe it had more to do with his far left stance on issues. His position was not the position of the people he represented. You do understand that when the people elect someone they are supposed to represent the people that sent him, not moveon.org. You do know that, right?
February 12th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Pete, I believe you meant to type:
“You do understand that when the people elect someone they are supposed to represent the people that sent him, not The Taxpayers League of MN and David Strom. You do know that, ‘right’?”
February 12th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Thanks Thomas for the facts regarding JOBZ areas. I had some of it down, but not everything.
What are “Business Subsidies”?? TAX DOLLARS (Tax Increment Financing) given to businesses to build in a specific area or City with the promise of employing and staying in that given area.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Putt, you keep losing here bud, how much longer you going to be able to hang on? I see you once again have no response to the facts that I present to you so you come back with your usual BS post to try and cover the fact that you have nothing. Please respond to my post about Norm and Joe. I’m sure you can dig down deep inside yourself and admit your wrong, go ahead, I’ll wait.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
kathy, this clearly isn’t a topic you’re well informed on.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
tommy the magician will ask you to look at his right hand while he hides what he does with the left.
Tommy does not argue facts or issues, he merely changes the subject or his famous personal attacks come out.
Pretty much an empty shell of a man.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Thanks Big guy, the picture of what is going on with the left ain’t pretty. However, I have noticed that since Michael has made him tone down the attacks he has shown that he can’t support his rehtoric. All he had was name calling and put downs – and now that is gone.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
What are you talking about?
February 13th, 2008 at 11:01 am
That would be you puddles. Take away your personal attacks and the baiting you did, you really have no arguments left.
On a side note, I am having dinner with my Uncle tonight, 85 years old, combat wounded, was a Jap prioner of war for almost a year. He is a regular reader of MDE and wanted to know if tommy would like to tell him to lick his jump boots.
He has asked if I know who you are as I believe he would like to let that VFW know as well what you are up to and then drag the Hopkins VFW into the frey.
I am not positive tommy, but I think you have pissed off a few folks around here with your personal attacks.
Just one question since you take such honor in your service time, did you enlist or were you drafted? Just a question the old guy had.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
[...] I encourage all of the dedicated readers of Minnesota Democrats Exposed who support the Governor's tough stand against tax increases to email him today at tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us and thank him for protecting Minnesota taxpayers…and email your state legislators and ask them not to attach the "jumper cables to your wallet." [...]
February 14th, 2008 at 1:52 am
“I am not positive tommy, but I think you have pissed off a few folks around here with your personal attacks.”
Well, I am positive that the way Michael lets the righties insult, cuss, swear, and belittle folks, but won’t allow a lefty like me, has been duly noted by a whole bunch of folks.
Some of ‘em call it hypocrisy. I just call it typical behavior of the right; “do as we say, not as we do.”