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MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “HOUSE AND SENATE DEMOCRATS ADMIT THEY WILL RAISE TAXES”
By Ryan Flynn | March 9, 2009
“More than halfway through the session, the Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature are admitting they intend to raise taxes on working Minnesotans. While Governor Pawlenty has been forthcoming in his plans to resolve the budget deficit by setting priorities and without raising taxes, House and Senate Democrats have stalled, delayed and used every euphemism they can think of to hide their plans to raise taxes. Minnesota families make tough decisions every day to make ends meet, and government should do the same. The last thing those families need to worry about is a DFL tax increase designed to fund wasteful government programs.â€
House Taxes Chair Ann Lenczewski: “There Will Also Be Progressive Revenue Proposed.†Click Here To Watch [Posted above] “I have to tell you that, you know, we haven’t gone public with this and we’ve gotten a lot of flak for it.  But there is no doubt that the Minnesota House will be proposing revenue to solve the deficit.  We’ve been criticized because everyone supposedly in the press thinks we’re hiding or waiting or something. The process works where we wait for the second forecast.  We now have that as of a few days ago.  We came into Legislature in January and unlike the Governor who gets to look at this all last year, we’ve now begun the process of making a bunch of very difficult choices.  And there will be cuts.  There will also be progressive revenue proposed.  You will be seeing that as time goes on here.  So I know that a lot of people are waiting for that and we appreciate that.  It’s part of how the process works to get to a final solution.  So, I know that you understand the need for progressive taxation, we will be getting to that point. ”  - Rep. Ann Lenczewski, March 7, 2009
“‘The question isn’t whether we’ll raise taxes. The question is how we’ll raise taxes,’ [Sen. Tarryl] Clark said.†(Bill Salisbury, “In Next Two Weeks, Pawlenty, Democrats To Pitch Plans For Fixing $4.6 Billion Shortfall,†Pioneer Press, March 9, 2009)
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56 Responses to “MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “HOUSE AND SENATE DEMOCRATS ADMIT THEY WILL RAISE TAXES””
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March 9th, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Here’s a great idea for these DFL clowns: Save some money by not building that idiot NorthStar and Central corridor light rail?
And how’s about we cut more LGA from Minneapolis? Any city that has enough money to piss extra MILLIONS down the drain on a “green roof” for the Target Center has WAAAAAAY too much state funding.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:39 PM
The never ending story of tax and spend from the DFL should come as no surprise to anyone. Why would anyone in their right mind want to locate their business in Minnesota? Some of the highest business and personal income taxes in the country doesn’t do much for job creation in this state.
Let’s see how this one plays as the state continues to lose more jobs. They are going to run out of people and businesses to tax.
Oh yeah, the DOW was down another 80 points today. I know that the messiah said that the DOW was like a political poll, but a lot of people are losing what little they have left in their retirement accounts. This president is a disaster and continues to tank the markets.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Who is she speaking to, anyway?
It’s one thing to be for something and then want to spend money on it. BUT, to applaud simply at the promise of tax hikes is weird.
Who applauds a tax hike for the sake of a tax hike?
(I suspect it’s people who don’t pay them … or as the DFL calls them their “base”)
March 9th, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Who applauds a tax hike for the sake of a tax hike?
I would suggest that people who applaud at tax hikes are people who are tired of seeing budgeting done with short term solutions to long term problems. Tim Pawlenty is afraid to lead, lest it ruin his chances on the national stage. So you get what he has proposed, which is a budget built on smoke and mirrors that will leave us an even bigger problem in the out years.
Blacktop, cop cars, nursing homes and textbooks all cost more than they did last year. The state can either deny that the price of government naturally raises annually, and keep buying less and less of these essential items with the same budget each year, or we can act responsibly to make sure that our roads are safe, our health secure and our students educated.
Republicans appear to be favoring a plan where everyone has a few extra dollars in their pockets to spend on bent rims, broken windows, emergency room visits for aging parents and remedial math for their functionally illiterate children.
That is their right.
But when their ranks in the legislature continue to decline, perhaps that should be a sign that most of Minnesota wants government to do what government has done for generations, and that is, provide essential services like roads, cops, nursing homes and education.
March 9th, 2009 at 3:51 PM
The price of government does not rise “naturally”. It rises when spending is NOT limited to essentials.
Text books go up? You can buy in bulk with other districts as T-Paw suggests and/or you can stop spending money on stuff less essential then text books.
Geeze, it ain’t rocket science to spend less when your income is down.
March 9th, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Tim Pawlenty is afraid to lead
And right there is a liberal’s definition of “leadership”, raising taxes on people who are seeing their retirements shredded, their jobs lost and costs increasing. If that’s “leadership” you can have it, I’ll take the guy who knows the state’s got enough of my money.
March 9th, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Why do republicans use the phrase “tax and spend” like it’s an insult? How else are you going to come up with the money to pay for things? Unlike republicans, who put everything on the credit card and let people pay the bill later. Or Pawlenty who likes to fiddle with the books and shift things around to solve the problem this year, but creates an even bigger problem two years down the road.
Face it, it has to be a mix of spending cuts and tax increases.
March 9th, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Leroy, you’ve got a tough sell there. If the MN State budget had kept pace with inflation, the current year’s budget would be about $3 Billon, not the $36 billion planned, and not the $31 billion they’ll have the revenue to cover. Somewhere in there is about $28 billion of unnecesary spending.
March 9th, 2009 at 5:25 PM
If you spend LESS then you do not have to tax MORE.
Geeze, no matter how simple I make this it is still way over the comprehension level of so many here.
March 9th, 2009 at 5:46 PM
“Face it, it has to be a mix of spending cuts and tax increases.”
No it has to be a mixture of spending cuts and more spending cuts. Minnesota is definately NOT under taxed.
March 9th, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Leroy:
The Democrats say we have to invest. Well the state of California invests because they have a higher income tax rate than the state of Minnesota and they just increasted it again.
California invests because they have a higher sales tax rate than the state of minnesota.
California invests because they do lots of special regulations such as car inspections.
The end results hundred of thousands if not millions of rich people left the state of california where they discovered that they had more income just because they were paying less taxes.
In the mean time those investments which create wealth has help California hold their state unemployment rate to a measly 10.0% know. I wonder what would’ve happened if as the democrats claim that lower tax rates cause more unemployement and lack of investments helps cause
unemployement.
The best way to avoid being like California and driving away our productive citizens is not to increase taxes.
It’s that simple Leroy. Or do you want Minnesoata to have 15% or greater unemployment.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
March 9th, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Walter-
Do you want to live in South Dakota?
They have very low taxes, which allows all the residents to have more income. Income with which they can buy plane tickets to Minneapolis so they can have something to spend it on.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Leroy, why do you hate South Dakota so much? It is a great place to live and a terrific place to have a business.
Have you ever been to Sioux Falls? Very nice city. How about Watertown? Good place to shop.
Not to mention the people have terrific conservative values!
March 9th, 2009 at 8:54 PM
AC,
If I hear another Democrat hack complain about Pawlenty borrowing, I’m going to go berzerk. You just elected a president and Congress who have borrowed $1.75 trillion this year. They are going to borrow trillions more over the next three years.
Leroy Jenkins,
If our state’s budget only went to nursing homes, cop cars, roads and education, we could cut the budget by a third. The notion that our state spends money wisely is absurd. We spend billions on bureaucrats and bike trails, we pay some of the most generous welfare benefits to people who have just moved to our state. We don’t just have a revenue problem — we have a spending problem.
Let’s take education for example. We give millions of dollars more to schools in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth than we give to schools in the rest of the state — and that’s on a per pupil basis. If we made schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul teach their children in the same way the rest of the schools in our state do, we could save money. LGA is another area we can cut. Why do the two largest cities in our state receive the most LGA? Why can’t Minneapolis and St. Paul make it without hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies from people in Mankato, Marshall and Moorehead?
We can provide the essential services of government in a more cost effective and streamlined way without harming Minnesotans.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:57 PM
P.S. Leroy,
I’m so sick of hearing liberals like you trash the rest of the country. You’ve probably never even been to South Dakota. Well I can tell you that South Dakota has plenty of things to spend money on and is a beautiful state with beautiful national resources — including one of our country’s most treasured National Monuments. It’s so typical of big city liberals to make fun of places they’ve never been and people they don’t know.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Those who tout a strategy that drives home large spending cuts in a depression are irresponsible. They are simply afraid to let go of their secuity blanket and admit that this problem can’t be solved with spending cuts alone.
That is a simple fact.
Why don’t you “no new taxes” guys step back and listen to how stupid that sounds as the economy implodes around you.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Has anybody heard how Erik Paulsen’s efforts to pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution is going? He’s been pretty quiet about this issue…
March 9th, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Chris..
Remind the readers just how stupid it is to spend money on bike trails.
Go for it.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Pete..
Would you please knock off the accusations about who we each hate. Lordy, that is getting so old.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:33 PM
daretosayit = borrow and spend stooge.
Do you really think we should follow spending cuts with more spending cuts with more spending cuts with more spending cuts with more spending cuts..
In the middle of a depression?
March 9th, 2009 at 9:35 PM
danbrome,
My cousin’s 8 year old knows more about economics than you do. We’re not in a depression — although Obama’s policies could certainly take us there.
It is stupid to spend money on bike trails when we’re in a deficit. The bike trails are not essential government services. Besides which, one can ride a bike without having to go on a bike trail.
What you can’t get through your thick skull is that government spending and policies are what got us in the mess we’re in. Why is it any better for the government to borrow and spend trillions of dollars than it is for a person to max out their credit cards, buy a home for more than it’s worth and then put a second and third mortgage on it?
We can’t spend ourselves into prosperity.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:37 PM
KIS..
“If you spend LESS then you do not have to tax MORE.”
I’m afraid it must be a mixture of both. To think spending cuts alone can get us out of this mess is pure folly, no matter what side of the aisle you are on.
Any chance a little honesty can make it into this discussion?
March 9th, 2009 at 9:37 PM
P.S. danbrome,
Do you realize that your president and Congress passed bills which will borrow and spend $1.75 trillion this year? If you call someone a borrow and spend stooge again, I think I’m going to ask for you to be banned from this site. You can’t keep saying that when your party has borrowed and spent more in one year than the last four years under Bush combined.
Also, which economist says we’re in a depression now? Please site one and then shut up.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Chris..
There ARE no essential government services, remember?
March 9th, 2009 at 9:42 PM
danbrome,
There are essential government services. But those services can be run in a more cost effective manner instead of continuing to take money from the people, who cannot afford to pay higher taxes.
There is no depression, however. Although Obama’s policies have caused $3 trillion to be wiped out of the stock market.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Every one of you who preach that spending cuts can solve the problem is a borrow and spend stooge. Every last one of you.
You are simply too messed up to admit to it.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:43 PM
danbrome,
STFU! The only borrow and spend stooges are the Democrats in Washington that just passed the bill in the amount of $1.75 trillion to the next five generations. You’re a meathead man, dead from the neck up. What the hell do you do for a living anyway?
March 9th, 2009 at 9:44 PM
P.S. danbrome,
Bike trails are not essential government services.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:45 PM
I hope you lose every dime you have in the stock market, and I hope Obama supports borrowing $100 trillion dollars over the next 8 years.
This is gonna be fun!
March 9th, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Chris..
“Bike trails are not essential government services.”
I agree.
But then, there ARE no essential government services. Never have been, and never will be.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Do I hear $200 Trillion???
March 9th, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Chris..
Any chance in your peabrain that the Bush Administration was filled with borrow and spend stooges?
Think before you answer this one…
LOL!!!!
March 9th, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Even Integrity would get that one right.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I have seen plenty of South Dakota, and while I agree that they have an overabundance of natural resources, the local resident can only go to Mount Rushmore and the Badlands so many times before wondering if it wouldn’t be more fun to see a good concert or a sporting event.
And unlike Minnesota, the South Dakota workforce traditionally ranks low in the rankings for educated workforce. While Minnesota is trying to foster an environment where creativity and innovation can help companies build and grow, South Dakota seems to be the place where companies go once they have given up to protect their assets as they wait for death.
The situation is like a micro version of the battle between republicans (South Dakota) and democrats (Minnesota).
Republicans are satisfied with what they have, and they are willing to simply hold on and see how long it will last. Democrats see potential in the future, and as such, attempt to make change that will provide for a better future for everyone.
March 10th, 2009 at 12:58 AM
danbrome,
And I hope you get hit by the light rail when it comes clanging by you at 13 mph. Actually, since you strike me as someone who is stupid enough to get hit by the light rail, I don’t hope that — I wouldn’t want to have it on my conscience.
Did the Bush administration spend too much money on programs and earmarks? Yes. But Obama is running up a larger deficit in one year ($1.75 trillion) than the last four Bush years combined. And the current budget has over 8,000 earmarks. It’s truly amazing the extent to which Obama’s supporters (like you) are ignorant of what he’s doing and how quickly he’s ditiching his campaign promises about fiscal discipline and the economy.
Leroy,
There are major differences between South Dakota and Minnesota that have nothing to do with taxes and government spending. The main difference is population, which is why Minnesota has sports teams and South Dakota does not.
By the way, Florida has two professional baseball teams, two professional basketball teams, three professional football teams, and two professional hockey teams. Florida has no state income tax. And Republicans control the legislature and have the governorship. So much for your theory about high taxes and professional sports teams.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:57 AM
Chris, I think Leroy was talking about major league male figure skating as a sporting event.
danbrome calls Obama a locomotive: The Obama train is trying to run over all hard working Americans.
I propose building LRT from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Canada: Give Lenczewski and the rest of Commie/Democrat bastards a one way ticket north.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:13 AM
….. looks like either danbrome’s meds wear off …. or the booze kicks in around 9:30 ….
March 10th, 2009 at 7:29 AM
Leroy once again proves just how uneducated he is. Driving through South Dakota does not make you an expert. South Dakota offers a lot to the people that live there including jobs. Your liberal policies are driving more and more buinesses there because of Minnesota’s anti-business tax policies.
You are a fine example of an uneducated liberal snob.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:30 AM
danbrome is a angry liberal troll who hates.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:31 AM
“Blacktop, cop cars, nursing homes and textbooks all cost more than they did last year.”
Leroy, you really are one of the biggest idiots, and it looks like you don’t just swallow the DFL Kool-aid…you guzzle it.
Let’s tear this strawman apart.
First: What is the MOST expensive component in “blacktop” Leroy? Oil. What were oil prices last year compared to THIS year? Over $100/barrel and rising. This March? Hovering around $40. When the price of your most expensive component drops over 50% in a tough economy, you do NOT raise your prices. Its called economic, you idiot.
Next: Cop cars. I’m not sure you know this, but Detroit is having a PROBLEM selling cars. Have you heard about it? Not sure the news gets into that brain of yours. Compare the prices of a Crown Vic today versus last year. Its the same price…or LESS.
As far as nursing homes go, I’m sure I can find examples where the largest component of their costs (labor) is flat, due to wage freezes. Textbooks do not escalate in price that much either.
So, before you set up a strawman to parade around LeIdiot…do your homework.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Why would I be angry?
We just elected a bold new President who understands the mess he inherited, and has the courage to act, regardless of all the GOP handwringing.
Not to mention the delicious win in the Minnesota Senate race. Senator Al Franken is bright and motivated to help President Obama bring real change to America.
Of course, the comments regarding me as being full of hate are absurd. Anybody who knows me will tell you I have no tolerance for hate.
March 10th, 2009 at 9:27 AM
“D”, You bring up good points about low inflation. The things costs that continue to far outpace inflation, are the DFL mandates for education, welfare and bigger government.
March 10th, 2009 at 9:33 AM
danbrome, “Why would I be angry?”
You’re angry because you spent some much time doing the Ashwin asslick … and he got his ass kicked. You’re angry becuase You & Ashwin, along with the rest of your ilk, can’t get married in the United States of America.
The mess that Obama “inherited” is a Pelosi/Reid mess. Why doesn’t Obama quit blaming them and work to fix the problems?
March 10th, 2009 at 9:42 AM
so …. did Obama sign the stimulus package on the same desk where Clinton got his package stimulated ?
March 10th, 2009 at 10:30 AM
KIS, easy on the Clinton comparison … Clinton’s package stimulus was much smaller. It cost taxpayers a few million bucks, but it did lead to two counts of impeachment.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Looks like the definition of “Bold New” is flushing money down social liberal welfare toilets.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:52 AM
danbrome,
If Obama understands the “mess he inherited” then why is he making it worse? Why has the stock market fallen by over 1/3 since he was elected? Why has unemployment jumped up almost 2% since he was elected? And why is it still going up today?
My point is that if the president and his policies were inspiring confidence in the market, we would not be seeing the stock market continue to hemmorage, and we wouldn’t see businesses lay off to the extent they are.
If Obama is the Commander in Chief of the economy, and the economic crisis is akin to a war, then this war is lost.
March 10th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Obama is the Commander in Chief of socialism, affirmative action, abortion, gay-marriage, & flag burning.
March 10th, 2009 at 12:15 PM
dabrome = hate. The poor guy is so full of envy and hate. He can’t even admit the obvious – the Democrats have been in charge of the goverment oversite and spending during this time of economic troubles. Obama and the Democrats own the economy know, deal with it.
dabrome, why are you so full of hate?
March 10th, 2009 at 1:52 PM
danbrome must be hanging with libby blogger Gavin Sullivan. His comment on Paulsen’s balanced budget amendment is a giveaway.
danbrome, why so many individual comments all next to each other?
March 10th, 2009 at 4:48 PM
The Dow is up nearly 400 today. Pretty sure this means Obama is the greatest president in history.
How about a little respect?
March 10th, 2009 at 5:18 PM
….. wow ….. the DOW is ALMOST back up to 7,000 …. I won’t pop open the champagne just yet.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Well, if a one month decline is entirely his fault, then I imagine a single day rally is his doing as well.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Since Obama was elected, the market has shed over 25 percent of its value. This pace accelerated as Obama defined what most everyone agrees are reckless, unsustainable economic plans, and as Obama sewed additional fear in to the market.
Obama is the extremist, ignorant dip shit we all thought he was. The market knows it.
If today’s rally continues and makes up for all that Obama’s idiocy has helped to destroy in the past 3 months, then I will eat my words.
But I suspect tomorrow it will drop another 700.
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:45 PM
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