Comments on: MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA COMMENDS GOVERNOR PAWLENTY FOR CAPPING PROPERTY TAXES & BALANCING THE BUDGET WITHOUT RAISING TAXES”

By: Wade Seeker

Wade Seeker — Thu, 22 May 2008 02:21:34 +0000

Ah yes, the thing that seems enrage the libs.

“Balancing the budget without raising taxes”

By: Jeff Rosenberg

Jeff Rosenberg — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:07:57 +0000

“they should be lamblasting the DFL for forcing everybody to pay more at the pump.”

Yeah, those two cents are killing me. I miss the good ol’ days when gas was only $3.68 a gallon.

By: Chestnut

Chestnut — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:56:48 +0000

“Doesnâ€™t the law of supply and demand dictate that if the tax was removed, and the price lowered, the price would rebound to the previous price as the market indicates consumers will pay that price?”

No, the law of supply and demand doesn’t say that at all. You’ve got that dead wrong.

By the law of supply and demand, the price would only increase as demand increases… Though it is conceivable that demand would increase as price decreases. Eventually, the supply and demand pressures stabilize price over the long haul.

If your scenario was correct, then the oil companies would have started charging $3.50 per gallon years ago.

By: TommyJohnson

TommyJohnson — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:15:23 +0000

Say, Chestnut?

Doesn’t the law of supply and demand dictate that if the tax was removed, and the price lowered, the price would rebound to the previous price as the market indicates consumers will pay that price?

As far as your comment about people v. Exxon, you are essentially correct; corporations don’t pay taxes – people pay taxes. Corporations simply collect them and pass them on – to the extent market pricing allows that to happen.

By: gopgal

gopgal — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:05:50 +0000

Don’t start patting the Governor on the back so fast! The property tax freeze is a joke as there are so many exceptions to the freeze that local governments will be raising taxes again at double digit levels. It was just a good sound bite to get himself nominated for VP. As a Republican I am tired of being thrown under the bus by the Governor. His statement regarding this being one of the most productive sessions in years only helps the new DFL Majority party in the House. During the last election he ran around town calling the entire legislature the “do nothing legislature” rather than calling it the do nothing Senate DFL which didn’t help the House GOP to maintain a majority. At what point is the Governor going to realize that it is not all about Timmy. With stupid statements like he just made regarding the session, he will not have enough GOP members to uphold a veto in the House. Oh, but then again, he doesn’t care as he probably will be on the national ticket and that is all he cares about. How fiscally irresponsible to spend the bulk of the reserves and then claim it to be a productive session. When is the Governor going to actually follow the GOP platform and stop adding more Govt. land to the rolls. Thanks, but no thanks Governor!

By: Chestnut

Chestnut — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:36:44 +0000

Lest there be any confusion:

Alec, the ridiculous said: “Supply and demand will do much more to dictate oil prices than a gas tax.”

Partially this is true. Supply and demand affects the price of crude oil, which is the largest contributor to the price of gasoline. However, taxes are a fixed price increase independent of supply and demand. In fact, taxes are the second largest contributor to the price paid at the pump, adding approximately 62 cents per gallon in state and federal taxes.

Alec, the ridiculous then said: “Vetoing the gas tax would have just meant that more of the pump price would have gone to Exxon.”

And there’s where he’s dumber than a bag of hammers. He apparently thinks the gas tax is paid by the oil company, when it is instead paid by the consumer. So, vetoing the gas tax means that the money stays in the pocket of the consumer.

So in essence, Alec is a dill weed.

By: Chestnut

Chestnut — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:53:35 +0000

“… say something funny again…”

That’s o.k. Alec, I think we’re all getting a chuckle out of your “Econ 101″ lesson. That’s pure gold.

By: TommyJohnson

TommyJohnson — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:38:35 +0000

“Welfare was expanded…”

What – the MallofAmerica got their dough? Or, did they gave some more to Northworst(Delta?) Perhaps a new arena/stadium?

Which welfare you complainin’ ’bout?

By: shozzy

shozzy — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:26:42 +0000

Welfare was expanded and I saw the story on KSTP last night that they’re considering closing the Edina court office? so we’ll have to go downtown? This is a prime example of gvt spending moving away from necessities (courts, roads) to expansion of “programs” Great job

By: loris

loris — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:45:51 +0000

Hey Nick, maybe you should read the bill before spouting of like an idiot. Cities can go above the cap to hire new police officers.

But don’t let facts get in the way of a good lie.

By: Alec

Alec — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:38:18 +0000

Please go back and re-take economics 101. Supply and demand will do much more to dictate oil prices than a gas tax.

Adding a gas tax just means more of the pump cost comes back to you, the citizen, in the form of better roads and bridges.

Vetoing the gas tax would have just meant that more of the pump price would have gone to Exxon. in essence, the no tax folks are just protecting the record profits of Exxon at the expense of our roads and bridges.

Chesnut, you have a horribly offensive and disgusting mouth.

Now say something funny again!!
Love,
Alec

By: Master of None

Master of None — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:34:40 +0000

Here’s an example of fiscal responsibility by the city of Mpls.

http://jackofalltradesblog.com/2008/05/19/is-this-what-the-new-lga-money-will-be-spent-on/

By: Chestnut

Chestnut — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:24:45 +0000

Hey Nick,
Maybe instead of cutting cops, citizens should hold their local govt’s accountable and make sure they cut the unessential services and bullshit socialist programs first. I lived in the People’s Republic of Minneapolis for too many years watching the commies running that city fuck it up, then cry for more money so they could continue fucking it up. Too many cities use LGA to subsidize their failed social experiments. If you’re concerned about first responders being cut, look to your local mayor and council member next time they increase funding to their bologna projects.

TRUM,
Amen.

By: TRUM

TRUM — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:07:38 +0000

BTW, this is more proof the state GOP doesn’t have it together. They’re commending Pawlenty in a non-election year, when they should be lamblasting the DFL for forcing everybody to pay more at the pump. Apparently it’s going to take a veto-proof majority in both bodies to pull their heads out of the sand.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:07:13 +0000

I think T-Paws levy caps are pure genius. With less money, municipalities will have to cut cops, so, more bad guy’s stay on the street. And this plays into the massive cuts to the judiciary where we wouldn’t have enough public defenders to represent them or judges to sentence them.

The policy of weak on crime but tough on taxes, well, let’s just say it will be fun to watch (while crouched behind my couch with a loaded firearm).

By: TRUM

TRUM — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:04:22 +0000

I’m having a tough time figuring out why everybody seems to be patting each other on the back. Sure, some good things came out of this session. But to me it doesn’t off-set the giant “bucket of taxes” the DFL dumped on us this past year. Politics are built from the ground up, which is something the state GOP has never figured out. They better figure out a way to use the gas tax legislation to their advantage, because that’s one of thier biggest items to a successful fall.

By: Chestnut

Chestnut — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:56:53 +0000

… with the exception of the $8+ billion worth of increases to the cost of living that the DFL jammed through.