Phil Krinke: "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?"

This piece was originally published in the 4/30/07 edition of the St.
Paul Legal Ledger

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

By Phil Krinkie

If you haven't tuned in lately to watch the ever changing parade of television game shows, you may have missed this new one. It's called: "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" The premise of the show is that there are several 5th grade students seated on stage. One of the students is selected to answer a question and then the adult
contestant is asked to decide if the student answered the question correctly.
Obviously, this can be a little embarrassing if you don't answer the question correctly since the questions are suppose to be subjects that are taught in elementary school.

When it comes to tax policy, I believe most Minnesotans are smarter than a 5th grader, especially if they have to pay taxes. When it comes to the knowledge possessed by a fifth grader, I know first hand because my daughter is in fifth grade. With that, let our sample game begin.....

So Minnesotans, here is the first question:

1) Do you need to raise the state's income tax to the highest rate in the nation, when the State's treasury has a projected $2 billion surplus?

Take some time to ponder this one before you answer. Remember that Governor Pawlenty has proposed a 9.5% increase in State spending, that's about $3 billion above the previous budget and requires "NO" tax increase.

The correct answer is... NO.

That was an easy one. Now moving on to something that may be a little more challenging.

2) Are Minnesota's residential property taxes above or below the national average?

Before you answer that question, I'll give you a hint. The State currently spends over $1 billion a year to buy down property taxes.

The correct answer is...below the national average.

You probably are feeling pretty good and ready to move on to the next question.

3) When it comes to business taxes, who really pays in the end; the business or the citizen who consumes the products and services?

If you own a business or are self employed you can skip this question because you have an unfair advantage with first hand knowledge and may proceed to our last question. For everyone else, the correct answer is...the citizen who consumes the products and services.

I hope you are still feeling confident because our last question may be a little tricky for a fifth grader.

4) Thinking back three and half months ago to the start of the Legislative Session, did the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate state that they needed new tax revenues?

The correct answer is...NO. As a matter of fact, the new leadership told Minnesotans that tax increases would not be necessary.

I believe that Minnesotans are smarter than 5th graders and that they will quickly see the hypocrisy between what the DFL legislative leaders said in January verses their actions in April.

The television show, "Are you smarter than a fifth grader?" is kind of funny. Unfortunately, there is little humor when our elected officials do the opposite of their campaign promises and little humor in putting Minnesota back in the top tier of taxes.