So That...What?

A number of years ago, while in a strategic planning meeting, my then-supervisor stated thusly:

"We do this, so that___. If you can't fill in the blank, then you shouldn't be doing what you're doing."

Enter Mark Dayton.

Despite the fact that the MN GOP-controlled legislature has given Governor Dayton everything he wants in terms of both K-12 spending and health care spending, and despite the GOP's dropping of their demands for tax relief in their budget, Governor Dayton remains singularly, myopically hyperfocused on one battle cry: "Tax the rich!"

Now, back to my boss' axiom:

"Mark Dayton wants to impose job-killing tax hikes on the 'rich' so that______"

Mr. Dayton has yet to fill in the blank.

Now, given the fact that Governor Dayton has received nearly everything he wants in terms of spending, whatever is left, no matter how sensical, must be the reason for his continued insistence on his tax increase, that will necessarily kill Minnesota jobs. We are left with these three possibilities with which to fill in the blank:

1. Mark Dayton wants to tax the "rich," to tax the rich.
2. Mark Dayton wants to utilize the tax increase as an excuse to shut down government so as to teach Minnesotans a "lesson" that in his mind will somehow ensure democrat majorities for years to come.
3. Both of the above.

Given that Mark Dayton is who he is, a trust-fund limousine socialist, and given that democratic majorities in the state houses will assuredly increase the chances of his agenda moving forward, I would necessarily say that possibility number 3 fits the bill.

However, Dayton has never been known with being the brightest bulb on the chandelier. Dayton is counting on the notion that Minnesotans will pin any chaos and/or inconvenience of a government shutdown on the GOP-led legislature, and that Minnesotans are not aware nor intelligent enough to be able to put two and two together (projection is yet another fatal flaw in the liberal psyche). Given, however, that the most recent KSTP-TV/USA-Today poll reveals that only 8 percent of Minnesotans favor an increase in spending, beyond some unionized state workers, Dayton will necessarily have to look far and wide to find a critical mass of Minnesotans that will be sympathetic to his cause.

In the end, in terms of practicality, Mark Dayton may indeed sadly find that he wanted to increase taxes so that democrats will remain in minority status in perpetuity.

Speaking Words of Wisdom...

Since this Greek comedy-tragedy has been playing out in my old stomping grounds of Madison, Wisconsin and throughout The Dairy State, I’ve corresponded with a lot of friends and acquaintances–some who have been backing the Republican-led legislature and Governor Scott Walker; and others, most of them fellow union members, who believe that Wisconsin’s actions will portend a dead-end to collective bargaining; some going so far as to defend runaway democrat Wisconsin state senators, stating they are merely buying time until ‘cooler heads’ can prevail.

Yes, I’m a member of a union–but I can also see the fact that the taxpayers cannot sustain carte blanche bankrolling of never-ending union-based benefits. Even when Ronald Reagan broke the Air Traffic control union back in the early 1980s, it wasn’t the end of collective bargaining. Far from it.

There does comes a time, however, when the rights of public sector workers needs to be balanced against the rights and the well being of those whom they serve. This, in my opinion, is a long-awaited correction in a bubble of unsustainable growth in spending.

BTW–correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the majority of Wisconsinites vote for the Republicans to balance the state budget and to end runaway spending?

And yes, the democrat Senators ARE being derelict in their duty. Of course they don’t want legislation that will halt the union gravy train–the union is for all practical purposes a political arm of the democrat party that contributes hefty financial resources to its workings, not to mention nearly limitless footsoldier hours to help in their favored party’s re-election efforts.

Again–I’m a union member. I know that in the long term this will likely have significant repercussions in my now-home state of Minnesota, but the fact of the matter is that we are spending our great-grandchildren’s inheritances for present-day opulence, and it just has to stop, somewhere.

One of the long-loved mantras on the left during progressive rallies has been the time-honored favorite song by John Lennon called, “Give Peace a Chance.”

To my union brethren, the time is now indeed nigh to pay heed to another one of Lennon’s words of wisdom, “Let it be.”

Is Tim Mahoney a Poster Child for Cluelessness?

My representative, Steve Gottwalt, sent this gem along...

from Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL- St. Paul) . . .

“Taxes are just a cost of doing business,” Mahoney said. “If you’re going to be ill, you’d rather be ill in Minnesota. We have a more high-service government than in Texas.”

Mr Gottwalt added (emphases mine),

"Mahoney and the DFL like high taxes -- they firmly believe higher levels of government spending result in a higher standard of living. He obviously has not checked the examples around the country. Take Maine and New Hampshire, for instance. One has reduced government; the other has grown it. Guess which one is doing better economically? We need lawmakers willing to embrace the reality that state government is living beyond its means, making promises it cannot keep with money it does not have -- and that does not lead to a better Minnesota. We need lawmakers with the wisdom and foresight to focus on sustainable outcomes, not just more spending. Minnesota's business and regulatory climate places it near dead
last in the nation. That's costing Minnesota jobs, prosperity and revenues.

In light of Illinois' democrat-controlled legislature's near unconscionable decision to raise taxes by 66 percent in a futile attempt to solve its budget woes, it should be quite apparent that the last thing one should do when one finds oneself in a hole is to keep on digging. After all, when the golden-egg laying producers vote with their feet as a reaction to these tax hikes, who will be left to foot the bill? Yet, in an exercise in magical thinking of epic proportions, Illinois democrat governor Pat Quinn praised the 'courageous' decision to raise taxes:

Patrick J. Quinn, the governor of Illinois and a Democrat, praised the decision of state lawmakers — in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday — to raise the individual income tax rate by about 66 percent as a necessity to avert the state’s “fiscal emergency,” which includes a budget deficit of more than $13 billion, about $8 billion in unpaid bills to social service agencies, pharmacies and others, and a sinking bond rating.

“Our state was careening towards bankruptcy and fiscal insolvency,” Mr. Quinn told reporters, after indicating that he intended to sign the tax increase.

Gee.. and I wonder just how the State of Illinois found itself in fiscal insolvency and bankruptcy to begin with? Could it have been... Oh, I don't know, OUT OF CONTROL SPENDING???

Yet the same candy-man a/k/a Santa Claus mentality that had the effect of literally bringing Illinois to its knees, continues to be touted by clueless DFL legislators like Mahoney as if it's some sort of badge of honor.

DFLers like Mahoney can be compared to a guy sitting in a restaurant who observes folks at the next table begin to keel over from food poisoning. Now, anyone with a modicum of common sense would make it a point to see what they were eating, so as to avoid ordering the same thing, lest he suffer the same fate. Yet the magical thinking that is the hallmark of 'progressive' thought will not allow for such a blatant application of common sense. You see, fiscal train wrecks occur in other states--not ours!

A very wise man once said, "Learn from others' mistakes. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself."

It would appear that Mahoney and Co. have a very long, long way to go in learning that lesson.

Surpise, Surpise, Surprise!

In a "surprising" event...

Sales of new homes dropped a record 32.7 percent in May to the lowest level in at least four decades as the boost from a popular tax credit faded, adding to worries over a slowing economic recovery.

Single-family home sales tumbled to a 300,000 unit annual rate, the lowest level since the series started in 1963, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday.

Of course, "everyone" was surprised. Very much akin to the "surprise" that would no doubt have occurred should one had removed a breathing apparatus from a comatose patient in an oxygen-deprived atmosphere.

When will these mental midgets learn that one cannot parcel out bits of government largesse and expect an economic recovery while at the same time oppressing free market conditions that would otherwise drive and enable that recovery?

@TarrylClark Just Couldn't Help Herself...

You can take the democrat out of D.C., but you can't take D.C. out of the democrat:

The DFL-controlled Senate today (Monday, May 10) passed a state budget bill containing an income tax increase on wealthy Minnesotans.

The Senate passed the legislation on a 34-33 vote — Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, cast the deciding vote after the board had been left open for about 20 minutes with a 33-33 vote registering. A tie vote would fail. Clark indicated her tardiness was the result of being on the phone discussing a health issue of a son. Clark is the DFL-endorsed 6th Congressional District candidate running against Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater.

Most likely, she knew that a 'yes' vote to a tax increase to job-producing Americans during the middle of the worst recession in nearly a half-century would be political (not to mention economic) suicide, but in the end, like a vampire drawn to human blood, she couldn't help herself from pushing the 'yes' button.

Not that it will do anything, since Governor Pawlenty is 'looking forward' to veto-ing the bill.

But thanks anyway, Tarryl. We CD-6 voters knew that we could count on you to show your true colors where it really mattered.

Steve Gottwalt on Minnesota's $5.4 Billion Shortfall

In an email to his constituents, SD 15-A representative Steve Gottwalt had this to say:

We received the latest budget forecast information today and it indicates Minnesota faces a projected $1.2 billion shortfall for the current two-year state budget, and a $5.4 billion deficit for the next biennium.

This is tough news, and underscores the need for even greater state fiscal restraint. Minnesotans want state government to live within its means instead of raising taxes on families and businesses. Small businesses create the vast majority of new jobs, and they have told us loud and clear they cannot afford more government. We must rein-in state government spending and focus on sustainable reforms that boost our economy. That is the "goose" that lays Minnesota's "golden eggs."

In the 2010 Legislative Session, we need to confront reality and adopt meaningful structural reforms to solidify our economic future. State spending must be brought in line with revenue received, as families and businesses must do. Hard-working taxpayers cannot continue to pay for backward thinking where the state spends money before it knows what’s in the checkbook. Minnesotans expect state government to live within its means.

We cannot tax our way out of this deficit! Tax increases will kill the jobs we need to turn around our economy and state revenues. We have a spending problem; not a revenue problem: Government spending in Minnesota has grown by 140 percent since 1992, and we have seen numerous proposals in the last few years for billions of dollars in new tax increases. We must set good priorities, and live within our means
instead of raising taxes on struggling families and businesses.

Liberals propose “tax increases only on the wealthy.” However, most of the so-called “wealthy” are small businesses filing through individual tax returns - the same small businesses we need to help grow more jobs for a sustainable economic recovery. The top 10 percent wage earners in Minnesota already pay 57 percent of all personal income taxes, and 38 percent of all taxes in our state. Even if we raised their
tax rate a full 10 percent, it would generate only $381 million toward our persistent deficit.

We cannot tax our way to prosperity while families and businesses are battling to make ends meet with less in these tough economic times. Increasing the tax burden would drive out the jobs and revenue we need to turnaround Minnesota’s economy.

The Legislature’s top priority in 2010 must be creating sustainable jobs in the private sector by reducing tax and regulatory burdens. I will continue working to kick-start Minnesota's job market by promoting an environment that supports business growth!

Of course, Mr. Gottwalt speaks nothing but sense here. To tax the bejesus out of the job creators will not create any more taxpayers than depriving a garden of its water will grow more produce.

The crappy part about it is that Margaret Kelliher, Tarryl Clark, Larry Haws, Larry Hosch, and the rest of the tax-n-spend DFL'ers will wail, moan and gnash their teeth, saying the "evil rich" aren't paying their fair share;, when it is the "evil rich" (as Gottwalt stated, the Mom & Pop concerns) that create the very jobs that render a vibrant economy that sustains both economic prosperity and, of course, tax revenue for governmental functions.

And look for Tim Pawlenty, in one of his last acts in office, along with the Minnesota House Republicans to once again play the adult.

Look for yet another infantile show down by the DFL this coming budgetary cycle.

Tarryl Clark's Magical Thinking

Two days ago, the new Granite City Crossing was christened in St. Cloud. Many luminaries were there, including Mayor (and former Minnesota state Senator) Dave Kleis, Michele Bachmann, Steve Gottwalt, and others. Some there gave speeches. For example, Congresswoman Bachmann,

...kept the focus on the "heart of Minnesota," our community, and particularly our business community. She noted the benefits of getting this bridge completed ahead of time and $15 million under budget. Jobs creation by our small businesses (you know -- the ones that make $200,000 or more and are the favorite targets of Democrats' tax increases) is essential if we want the resources to build bridges, repair roads, or anything else, including the family budget.

Democrat U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar reportedly focused on the fear factor related to the Granite City Crossing and the I-35 bridge collapse. Al Franken, Minnesota's U.S. Senator via California, was a no-show. But perhaps the most telling speaker of all was none other than St. Cloud's own state Senator Tarryl Clark, who, according to Gottwalt,

...continued her tax-and-spend theme by focusing on the massive transportation tax increases of 2008 which she claimed were essential for the bridge to be done before 2015.

Is that so, Tarryl?

That may be the source of revenue for this bridge, but the state had already planned funding to replace the bridge. Furthermore, by reprioritizing projects, MnDOT could have replaced the bridge with existing revenues. But Sen. Clark has to defend her incessant votes to raise taxes, and here was a juicy opportunity.

As is usually the case with most democrats, folks here in St. Cloud elected Tarryl Clark on her word that she was a moderate, fiscally responsible candidate. And as is invariably the case nationwide with the unfortunate aftermath of electing neo-socialist democrats, the electorate in St. Cloud no doubt have had a significant case of buyer's remorse.

Tarryl Clark, much like her fellow-travelers Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Amy Klobuchar, and Al Franken has overplayed her hand. She, like her neo-socialist counterparts at the local, state and national levels, went "all-in" on a fool's bet that Americans were ready for all-out socialism.

But in the end, and in the voter's booth, the American people hold the cards, and there is no doubt in my mind that they have lost their taste to gamble on failed socialist policies of expanding government and imploding freedoms.

DFL Pandemonium in the Senate..

One would think that the Keystone cops were in charge of the Minnesota Senate. Actually, the DFL is. But I repeat myself.

Coming to a Minnesota city near you...

Having been scorned by "The Parent," Governor Tim Pawlenty, the dejected DFLers (a/k/a spoiled teenagers with credit cards) in the Minnesota Legislature will embark on a "Cry Me A River" tour around Minnesota today. While you're reading the story, as a public service, the Ice Palace has provided you with some relevant music:
First, the official DFL tour song:


Next, I present, "96 Tears" by Question Mark & The Mysterians..

And finally, this one's for Margaret Kelliher and Tarryl Clark:

Pawlenty Plays the Parent

In an effort to fend off the inevitable "special session" that would have cost the taxpaying citizens millions of dollars (on top of the tax increases the Minnesota DFL was already planning to stick to us), Governor Tim Pawlenty today again played the adult in stopping the foolishness. Steve Gottwalt, in a letter to constituents, writes:

Dear Neighbor:

This afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced there will be no special session and no government shutdown. The 2009 session will definitely end Monday night at midnight. The governor has decided to take the bills the DFL majority has put on his desk, line-item veto in some places, and sign them. The DFL bills irresponsibly leave a gap of $3 billion, and the governor is in a position to unallot to cover the gap, although he said he would prefer a negotiated solution with the DFL leadership. They now have a few days to do that.

We face a $6.4 billion budget deficit and the Constitution states we must balance our bottom line by July 1. But the legislative majority has failed to get the job done, so the governor's announcement today says he will do the hard work of erasing the deficit with or without DFL cooperation.

The following is Governor Pawlenty's news release. I will continue to provide updates as we close out the 2009 State Legislative Session.

Sincerely in service,

Rep. Steve Gottwalt
House District 15A
St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta and Rockville


NO SPECIAL SESSION, NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN -- GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SAYS HE WILL BALANCE STATE BUDGET

-Governor outlines plan to use executive action to balance budget, says
his preference is to sign into law a negotiated budget agreement --

Saint Paul - At the State Capitol this afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty said, “Politics as usual around this place is over. The people of Minnesota expect and deserve timely and decisive action. I will not let the legislature’s work spill over into a special session. We are notgoing to waste taxpayer money with a costly overtime or have a state government shutdown, especially in this economy. My preference would be for DFL legislators to work with me on a reasonable budget solution, but if they can’t get that done I will take executive action to balance the budget.”

“A key principle is that the DFL-controlled legislature shouldn’t spend more money than the state has available,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Unfortunately, they have done just that and now I’ll fix it.”

Over the past week, DFL majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate passed budget bills that leave a $3 billion shortfall between spending and revenues.

Governor Pawlenty announced today that he would use line-item vetoes during the upcoming period and his unallotment authority in July 2009 to bring the state budget into balance.

“Passing a balanced budget is the legislature’s most fundamental job. Unfortunately, so far this year the DFL majority has failed to get the job done,” Governor Pawlenty said. “In January, I outlined a balanced budget that prioritized important areas like public safety, military and veterans, and K-12 education. Now we’re in the final days of this legislative session and it’s time to let the people of Minnesota know that this will be resolved. It should get done on time and I’m saying it will get done on time.

“If the DFL cannot balance this budget without reaching into Minnesotans’ pockets and increasing our already uncompetitive taxes in ways that will kill job growth, I’m prepared to make the tough decisions they’ve avoided and take action to balance the budget.”

The Governor said final decisions have not been made regarding possible impacts to state programs, but areas could include subsidized health care programs, welfare, and other social services; K-12 and highereducation; and local government aid. In addition, state employee layoffs could be used to save additional funds. In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle has said approximately 1,100 state employees could be laid off as
part of their budget cutting measures, along with 16 furlough days over the next two years.

A compromise offer from Governor Pawlenty to DFL legislative leaders earlier this week incorporated a House DFL position (a larger K-12 education shift than proposed by the Governor), a Senate DFL position (no funds included for the budget reserve, the Governor proposed $250 million for the budget reserve) and a reduction in a proposal that the DFL indicated they didn’t support (agreeing to use only half of the
tobacco appropriation bond funds). Even though the Governor was willing to move in their direction in all three areas, DFL leaders rejected the offer.

Governor Pawlenty has also compromised during this legislative session by showing a willingness to work with DFL legislators regarding their proposed fee increases for the courts system, their lower levels of funding for K-12 education and their lack of interest in the Governor’s proposals to reduce business taxes to grow jobs and spur investment.

The Governor stated that he is unwilling to raise taxes on Minnesotans, especially as the state looks to grow jobs and recover from the economic recession. DFL legislators have proposed numerous tax increases this session, including:

● New top income tax rate of 9 percent, which would befourth-highest in the nation, including:
● New top income tax rate of 9.25 percent
● Across-the-board income tax increases
● New sales tax on Internet downloads, including music
● Elimination of the local property tax cap, enacted just last year
● Higher taxes on beer, wine and alcohol
● Higher taxes on cigarettes
● Allowing counties to increase the sales tax by 0.5 percent
● Eliminating home mortgage interest deduction
● Eliminating deduction when a person donates an organ
● Eliminating elderly or disabled income subtraction
● Eliminating child and dependent care credit
● Eliminating exemption for Minnesota state and municipal bonds interest income
● Eliminating long-term care credit

“I’m willing to work with the DFL on a reasonable plan, but I’m not willing to let them squeeze more money out of taxpayers and further burden job creators and employers in the midst of the toughest economy in more than 60 years,” Governor Pawlenty said. “One way or another, we will get the budget situation resolved, keeping taxpayers and families first in our minds.”

When you have a bunch of spoiled teenagers, a/k/a the DFL in control of the State legislature, whining for Daddy's credit card, what's a parent to do?

Gene Pelowski: A DFLer Who Gets It.

DFLer Gene Pelowski has guts. He's one of the few with the balls (and the honor) to tell it like it is:

In the Middle Ages, a serf could petition the lord to stop paying taxes. The lord would come to the serf’s home and pour a quantity of wine on the serf’s roof. If the wine ran down the serf paid his taxes. If the wine ran up the serf did not have to pay.

The Minnesota Legislature is sending tax bills to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s roof in the hope that he will sign them. Much as the medieval serf hoped the wine would run up, the Minnesota Legislature hopes that Pawlenty will sign a tax bill. The medieval serfs had an excuse — they had no education and had never heard of gravity. The Minnesota Legislature and Pawlenty only have the excuse of playing politics.
The economic crisis in this country and in Minnesota demands that a politician become a statesperson and do what is best for Minnesota and the country. Whatever is done this session will only be the beginning of a process that will take years to resolve Minnesota’s economic woes. The $6.4 billion crisis can only be addressed by the Minnesota Constitution and its requirement to balance the budget that can be accomplished with a combination of revenue increases and cuts or just cuts, but the budget has to be balanced.

Pawlenty has repeatedly stated that he will not sign a revenue increase. There are not enough Republican votes in the House for an override of his veto of a tax bill, so the entire $6.4 billion shortfall will have to be addressed with cuts. Since the session ended in May 2008, I have met with local units of government and constituent groups asking them to prepare for what was then predicted to be a $2 billion to $4 billion shortfall (and is now a $6.4 billion shortfall) and to prepare their budgets accordingly.

Cuts this deep will transform Minnesota’s relationships with local units of government, K-12 education, higher education, and state agencies. Services once taken for granted will no longer be part of Minnesota’s quality of life. The impact the cuts will have on every aspect of life in Minnesota should have been the discussion all during session.

Instead we are pouring wine on Gov. Pawlenty’s roof and hoping it will run up. The gravity of this crisis requires that we at least tell Minnesota the truth and do the best with the resources that we have, with or without a tax bill.

DFLer Gene Pelowski represents District 31A in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Minnesota DFL has a collective hissy fit...

Uncontent until they can tax everything and everyone under the sun, the Minnesota Democrats (DFLers) in the Minnesota House and Senate are throwing a collective tantrum, because Governor Pawlenty doesn't want them to have their way on tax increases.

So, instead of setting priorities, instead of looking at substantially trimming their own budget before asking Minnesota taxpayers to trim theirs, the DFL-run Minnesota Legislature has passed a "Lights On" bill that would have the effect of forcing a government shutdown, in an attempt to force Governor Pawlenty to sign on to what amounts to onerous tax increases.

This "Lights on" bill would mean that government would essentially go on as is, without any reforms or downsizing, nor setting of spending priorities, until the government literally runs out of money. This, of course, is unsustainable.

This proves that the DFL cares nothing for Minnesota's taxpayers, and only cares about paying off their cronies in the unions and other teat suckers of the government's taxpayer-funded largesse.

There is still ample time for the Minnesota DFL to come to the bargaining table. Governor Pawlenty has presented no fewer than two balanced budget options. The Governor was even willing to compromise with DFLers on some budget targets. What he won't compromise on is to burden Minnesota taxpayers with even more taxes in what is a demonstrably shaky economy, that will become even more shaky as wealthier taxpayers register their disapproval with higher taxes by moving out of state.

But it is clear that the Minnesota DFL would opt for a scorched-earth policy than even fathom the thought of setting priorities and budgeting without tax increases. Governor Pawlenty showed them how to do it.

But like self-indulgent teenagers with taxpayer-funded credit cards, the Minnesota DFL, including Larry Haws, Larry Hosch, and Tarryl Clark will have none of it.

Another day, another DFL tax increase in Minnesota

Just as sure as the sun rises in the East...

Once again, the Minnesota Democrats (DFL) have turned to tax increases to balance the budget.

Surprise, surprise.

This tax increase, passed under cover of darkness, provides for yet another billion dollars that they expect will be foisted on the backs of Minnesota taxpayers. No reform. No reductions of waste. Just tax 'em to death.

This tax increase:

● Imposes a new income tax rate of 9 percent for single filers earning more than $141,250 and joint filers earning more than $250,000 that will take $516 million out of Minnesota’s economy and give it to the government.

●The new income tax would be tied for the fourth-highest in the country (quite an accomplishment, if you're an avowed socialist. No doubt the Tarryl Clark, Larry Haws, and Larry Hosch look at that statistic as a badge of honor--ED)

● This is an absolute job killer: 61.6% of all returns in the $250,000 tier report income from a business

● Here is how Minnesota would compare with surrounding states on
the Democrats’ new 4th-tier income tax:
o Wisconsin: 6.75%
o Iowa: 8.98 %
o North Dakota: 5.54%
o South Dakota: 0%

●This would allegedly “blink off” in 2014 if there is a surplus. [Yeah... like any tax "blinks off." I've got some primo swampland in the Sahara desert to sell you if you believe that--Ed].

● Raises alcohol taxes by $240.9 million, including increases of 275 percent on 3.2 beer and 143 percent on strong beer [That does it. Now they've gone and taxed my beer. I'm sure you know that this means war--Ed]

● Puts a new tax on high interest rate loans that would give the government another $216.3 million.

And again, in their zeal to get even with the "evil rich," the DFL thinks they can fleece the 'rich' with impunity, in the mistaken belief that like some kind of docile cow, the 'rich' will stick around to get fleeced again and again and again:

Experts have long warned that Minnesota start-ups would flee to Wisconsin. Despite an early push from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the DFL-controlled Legislature, a proposal to create angel investment tax credits now remains bogged down in contentious budget negotiations. The Senate tax bill includes the tax credits but the House version does not.

So Tarryl Clark, Larry Haws and Larry Hosch continue to fiddle while the Minnesota economy burns.

How...quaint.

***Update*** 9:06pm : This just in from a blackberry from a local legislator: The DFL didn't get their way on the tax hike

Their billion dollar tax increase did not get the required 90 votes, and
therefore did not pass. To punish us for that, they're bringing us back in
tomorrow during the Gov's Fishing Opener.

Poor babies.

If the track record of the infantile behavior of these teenagers with credit cards is any indication, with any luck the DFL will take their ball and go home.

MN State Representative Tony Cornish's Message To Taxpayers...

Click here.

Mr. Cornish explains...

Playing this morning's commute, over the noon hour and this afternoon's commute on 5 different am and fm stations in Mankato.

One woman called and complained that I was making future homeowners, "Live in Fear!"

The spending and taxing spree that's going on courtesy of the democrats in St. Paul (as well as in Washington, D.C.) should make every thinking taxpaying citizen tremble in fear. But as I've stated before, the liberal democrats' inevitable tendency to overreach will ultimately be their undoing.

Their days in power are, to say, quite 'numbered.'

Happy Debt Day!

With the profligate spending spree going at the hands of Barack Obama and his merry band of teenagers with credit cards, a/k/a the democrat-led congress, is it any wonder that:

April 26th is the earliest that Debt Day has ever fallen. Essentially, what it means is that about halfway through the fiscal year, Washington has run out of money to pay for its spending spree.

In Fiscal Year 2008, for example, Debt Day fell on August 5th. In fact, in every fiscal year since September 11th, Debt Day has fallen at least 3 months later than it falls this year.

Promises, promises.

Oh, and by the way... "Happy Debt Day!"

Cue the Music!!! Part MMCLXXI

:::Channeling Karl Marx::::::

(Must cue music first!!)

"Our dear Komrade from Bloomington, Rep. Ann Lenczeswki, from glorious Minnesota DFL Party, had this shining example of my wonderful (from each according to his means, to each according to his needs) philosophy:

"This bill proposes the most significant tax overhaul in 20 years," said the bill's chief author Rep. Ann Lenczeswki, DFL-Bloomington.

In addition to the tax hikes, Lenczewski's bill removes a variety of tax breaks for homeowners and businesses. Charitable contributions, the mortgage interest tax deduction and the property tax deduction for homeowners are eliminated and replaced with a tax credit based on income. The bill also eliminates several business tax breaks, like the Research and Development credit and parts of the governor's JOBZ program.

Lenczewski said she wants to clean up the state's tax code.

"Which is to sweep the tax code clean of all of the preferential treatment and subsidies and things we can't afford anymore and instead bring a fairer, more progressive income tax to Minnesotans based on the ability to pay," she said.

I am sure that if Komrades Stalin or Lenin were alive to see this glorious party member in action, they, too would be giving Komrade Lenczewski standing ovation!

Bravo, Komrade Lenczewski! You do DFL party proud!" (::::Karl Marx Out:::)

------------------------------------

Really, folks, all kidding aside, If Ann Lenczewski and the Minnesota Democrat (DFL) party want to hang themselves by taking away homeowners' mortgage deductions on their state income taxes, I say, give them the rope.

It has proven to be axiomatic that when liberals get ahold of vast amounts of power, they will inevitably over-reach.

Their tax-raising orgies at the state legislature (not to mention at the federal level) will prove to be their undoing.

(h/t Gary Gross)

And the Democrats in Minnesota Still Wants to Raise Taxes...

This from the Coalition of Minnesota Businesses:

• Minnesota’s income tax burden is already high

• But Minnesota’s per capita personal income tax burden barely budged – falling from 4th highest in 1999 to 6th in 2006.

• Minnesota’s top income tax rate – 7.85% paid by single filers with taxable incomes above $74,650 – is the 10th highest in the U.S.
  

• Minnesota’s middle income tax rate – 7.05% paid by single filers earning $22,730-$74,650 – is higher than the top rate in 38 states.
  

• Even Minnesota’s lowest income tax rate is high. Single filers in Minnesota – taxable incomes under $22,730 pay a 5.35% tax rate – higher than the top tax rates in 19 states, including seven states with no personal income tax.

High-income families pay a disproportionate share of taxes

• Minnesota’s state and local tax structure is slightly regressive, meaning people with higher incomes have a slightly lower effective tax rate than middle- or lower-income Minnesotans. However, because of Minnesota’s heavy reliance on individual income taxes, our overall tax structure is less regressive than all but 10 states – including all of our neighboring states.
  

• Meanwhile, the top 10% of Minnesota households – those with annual incomes exceeding $124,000 – pay the majority (57%) of the income taxes and 39% of all state and local taxes.

Here is how the State of Minnesota is broken down into percentiles of income earners:

• Top 10%; 244,000 households; Incomes above $124,000
  

• Next 30% 735,000 households Incomes $51,500 - $124,000
  

• Remaining 60% 1.5 million households Incomes up to $51,500

People with money are necessarily people with mobility. If we should raise taxes on the geographically mobile, the results could be nothing less than disastrous. Again, according to the Minnesota Coalition of Businesses:

• 1995 - 2000: While 100,000 more people moved into Minnesota than moved out, Minnesota lost income due to migration.MSDC

• $100,000+: Among movers, those who left the state “had the highest median household income and per capita income and the highest proportion of households with incomes of $100,000 or more.” MSDC

• Not snow birds: Only 6% of those who left Minnesota were retirees.

If the DFL continues to kill the geese that lay the golden eggs; if the producers decide to go John Galt with their feet, Minnesota's economic straits will be dire, indeed:

• 12 to 1: Minnesota would have to attract 12 new households earning $31,000 to $40,000 a year to replace the taxes* paid by one household in the top 10% of income leaving the state.

• 18 to 1: Minnesota would have to attract 18 new households earning $31,000 to $40,000 a year to replace the taxes* paid by one household in the top 5% of income leaving the state.

• 49 to 1: Minnesota would have to attract 49 new households earning $31,000 to $40,000 a year to replace the taxes* paid by one household in the top 1% leaving the state.MBP/TIS

• 65 to 1: If just one of Minnesota’s roughly 6,000 households earning $1 million or more leaves the state, Minnesota has to attract 65 households earning between $48,000 and $66,000 to replace the lost tax revenue

So the DFL "feel-good" and politically-expedient mantra of "SOAK THE RICH!" and "MAKE THEM PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE!" will, in the end, soak all of us.

Now there's some forward thinking, DFL.

Keep it up and the entire state will be another Detroit.

Tea Party in St. Cloud Produces Massive Turnout

I had some comp time coming, so I took a couple hours off of work today to attend the St. Cloud Tea Party. I arrived around the time it started, and much to my pleasant surprise, there were no parking spaces left in the area, and I ended up parked two blocks away from the event. The turnout was, in a word, HUGE (click on pics for full size):

A rough guesstimate (and a conservative one at that) would have been between 700 and 800 attendees. Mind you, this was held during noon on a weekday, so a pretty good turnout, considering, unlike a rent-an-ACORN mob rally, most of these folks have day jobs, as well.

Of course, there were quite a few clever signs in the crowd:
And the poignant:

And this guy, who by the looks of him you'd have sworn came from the RNC welcoming committee, rose up to speak to the masses:
Not only did he have a great message, he seemed to be a guy who had "an in" with Willie Nelson and Jesse:

And of course, Jim Knoblach, our former Minnesota State Representative and former Chair of the Minnesota House Ways & Means Committee, not to mention current candidate for Committee chair for U.S. House CD-6 GOP, had this to say:

Admittedly, conservatives don't have the protest thing down as much as liberals, because for the most part we've been traditionally too busy producing, working, and "living the dream" to even have time. But the socialist policies of the current administration have served to waken a sleeping giant.

The "silent majority" is silent no more!

We may not have the protest thing down quite as well as you neo-marxists....

But we'll get there.

DFL to MN Taxpayers: Bend Over and Take it Like a Man

From an email from MN 15A Representative Steve Gottwalt on today's DFL legislative hijinx:

Frankly, I'm disappointed. Today, as Minnesota's unemployment rate hit 8.1 percent, House Democrats proposed $4.4 billion in tax increases on struggling Minnesotans. As I've emphasized before, we must focus on economic recovery by helping businesses retain and create more jobs. Raising taxes by $4.4 billion is an absolute job killer! You can't say you're for jobs and in favor of tax increases. It's like saying you're for eggs, but you want to strangle the chickens. They also clipped tax
aids and credits and workforce funding that help create jobs and economic opportunity

To make matters worse, House Democrats plan to cut veterans and public safety funding, cut health and welfare spending, and offer no increase in education funding. They propose a $1.77 billion education funding shift that's almost $500 million larger than the governor's proposal they criticized just days ago. The Senate Democrats want to cut education funding 7 percent. Education Minnesota, is not pleased.

We waited half a legislative session for this set of budget targets, and still do not have a detailed budget proposal from the majority.

Here are the basics of the House Democrats' budget targets released today:

* No increase in K-12, early childhood or higher education spending
* An education funding shift $500 million larger than the governor's
proposal
* Less Health and Human Services spending than the governor in 2010-11
* Cuts to veterans and public safety
* $4.4 billion worth of tax increases (no details yet on the new taxes)

FY 2010-11
$843 million in reductions
$1.77 billion K-12 payment shift (73/27) -- actually, a cut to our districts
$1.5 billion in tax increases
$750 million in federal deficit "stimulus" money

FY 2012-13
$2.1 billion in reductions
$148 million K-12 payment shift
$2.9 billion in tax increases
No federal deficit "stimulus" money

So the Minnesota DFL wants to raise taxes--during an economic recession leaning on the edge of depression. Yeah. That oughta help.

Sorta like trying to fix a headache with a sledgehammer to the skull.

The governor, who will certainly veto this bill, and the Minnesota House Republicans who will hopefully sustain the veto are the only ones standing in the way of this tax, tax and tax some more "final" solution. I say "final" solution because it will deal our already fragile economy yet another blow--a death blow from which it may take years, if ever, to recover.

At the DFL-led travelling salvation..er..listening show

Usually events like this tend to draw 10-20 people, tops. Funny how a looming $6 billion deficit gets people's attention.

***UPDATE***

What a joke. For every 'regular Joe Citizen' that gets to speak, there are three liberal special interest lobbyists, begging the legislators not to cut their programs. All that's missing are the violins.

***UPDATE****

I have it on good authority that the MN DFL has shot down a Republican proposal that would do away with the political contribution rebate plan. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the political contribution rebate plan rebates political contributions (up to $100 per year per couple) using taxpayer money. Pretty much operates like a slush fund to be able to utilize taxpayer money to fund campaigns. Doing away with this program would have saved the Minnesota taxpayers $10,000,000 per year.

That's why so-called "listening" tours are so much bullshit. They refuse to change their own behavior. They talk a good game, but in the end they're going to do what they're going to do, which is to sit around and cast aspersions on the Governor's plan while coming up with no constructive solutions of their own.

To call it "disingenuous" would be to pay the process tribute.

Feh.