As I wrote in an earlier Brain Trust submission:
[On 3/6] Governor Tim Pawlenty sent a letter to legislative leaders reminding them of Minnesota's fiscal outlook. The letter's other goal was to avoid "any misunderstanding or miscommunication" about Pawlenty's position on raising taxes. Translation: don't raise taxes.
Pawlenty wrote:
When you consider various budget proposals, I encourage you to join me in holding government accountable, setting priorities, and spending smarter. We should spend what we have, not what we want. The approximately $3 billion, 9.3 percent increase I have proposed is sufficient to fund government services and to address key priorities such as education, health care, renewable energy, and property tax relief.
Although we've made progress over the past few years, Minnesota is still one of the highest-taxed states in the country. In order to keep Minnesota competitive and growing, we must hold the lines on taxes.
But one day before Governor Pawlenty sent this letter to legislative leaders, a DFL legislator introduced a bill that would raise the tax rate from 7.85 percent to 8.5 percent. In published reports, the legislator estimated her new tax increase would generate $252,000,000 by next year.
... DFL legislative leaders have been quoted in publications claiming they want Governor Pawlenty to be a "successful governor." DFL legislative leaders could put the taxpayers' money where their mouth is and not raise taxes, therefore keeping their word to help Governor Pawlenty become a "successful governor."Hoping the DFL would play nice, I wrote in that earlier Brain Trust submission:
DFL legislative leaders can't prevent their caucus members from authoring massive tax-increases. But they can ensure these massive tax-increases don't become a part of any formal caucus position or proposal.
The DFL legislative leaders have done the exact opposite, engaging in what Minnesota Republicans have called "taxapalooza." The Minnesota Senate has based a tax-bill that would create the highest-in-the nation tax rate, while a companion bill is being considered in the Minnesota House. A 10-cent gas tax increase passed both the House and Senate earlier in the session. State Senator Steve Murphy, a DFLer from Red Wing, claimed a 10-cent gas increase would cost a family of four about $550 per year.
Even freshman Senate Democrats said last week they felt "very uncomfortable" with voting for some of the DFL tax proposals. This begs the question: when is enough, enough?