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Taxpayers League of Minnesota eUpdate
1. Taxpayers League Live! with David Strom.
2. Statement from Phil Krinkie regarding the I-35W bridge collapse.
3. If you’re waiting for a bribe to help us out at the Fair, here it is.
4. Attend the “Defending the American Dream Summit” in Washington, D.C.
5. Ever seen a 20,000% tax increase?
1. Taxpayers League Live! with David Strom.
Tune in this Saturday to AM 1280 The Patriot from 9 – 11 am when David will be joined by Phil Krinkie and Indur Goklany. Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, will join David in-studio to discuss the week’s events. Golkany, author of the book The Improving State of the World: Why We're Living Longer, Healthier, More Comfortable Lives on a Cleaner Planet, has worked with federal and state governments, think tanks and the private sector for over 30 years, and written extensively on globalization and environmental issues including sustainable development, technological change, food and health. He has represented the United States at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and in the negotiations that established the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He was chief of the Technical Assessment Division of the National Commission on Air Quality and a consultant to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation.
2. Statement from Phil Krinkie regarding the I-35W bridge collapse.
“We mourn the loss of life and the injuries. Now is a time for all Minnesotans to join together to comfort the victims and their families.
“Over the coming months there will be an investigation and a proper, informed debate about the causes and appropriate response to the bridge collapse. Until all the facts are known, it is not the time to assign blame or engage in political gamesmanship.
“Elected officials from both sides of the political aisle, charitable organizations, first responders, and all Minnesotans have banded together to heal this deep wound to our community. It would be disappointing indeed to see any irresponsible people attempt to use this tragedy for political or partisan purposes.”
3. Don’t ever say the Taxpayers League hasn’t given you anything.
There are two things that are vitally important to the Taxpayers League right now; volunteers for our booth at the State Fair and making sure your education in conservatism continues. Starting today, the Taxpayers League of Minnesota will give you a free, one year subscription to National Review magazine when you sign up for at least two shifts at the State Fair. That’s right, you give us six hours and we’ll give you the best conservative writing in America every two weeks right to your door. Reply to this email and let’s help each other out.
4. This is an opportunity you definitely do not want to miss.
I know taking time away from families and work is exceedingly difficult, but if you can manage to free yourself for three days on October 4-6 (Thursday-Saturday), I highly recommend you join the Taxpayers League as we take a delegation of Minnesotans to the Americans for Prosperity “Defending the American Dream Summit” in Washington, D.C. This summit, which will bring together taxpayers and activists from all over the country, will include presentations by John Stossel, John Fund, Mitt Romney, Michael Steel, Art Laffer and many of the most important people from the libertarian and conservative movement. There is, of course, some cost involved, and we have only 20 seats available, but with the availability of scholarships and discounts for early reservations, we think this is an opportunity that can be affordable to everyone. If you have any interest (either in attending or making a donation to have someone attend in your place), please email markg [at] taxpayersleague [dot] org or by phone at (651) 294-3590. More information about the Summit will be coming in the following weeks, but don’t wait until it’s too late.
5. From Steven Moore and Tyler Grimm at OpinionJournal’s Political Diary.
“Congressional Democrats are tax-happy these days, as they try to find revenue offsets for a new $35 billion to $50 billion children's health entitlement (SCHIP).
“So what easier target than the pariah products of tobacco purveyors? The federal cigarette tax is likely to jump from 39 cents to $1 a pack, or about 150%. A new Heritage Foundation study notes that there would have to be 22 million new smokers by 2017 for the tobacco tax to pay for the new entitlement.
“Now Congress is looking at new taxes on cigars as well. So for those who like to light up a stogie at night, how does a 20,000% increase in the cigar tax grab you? Under current federal law the tax is 5 cents per cigar. Under one Senate Finance Committee proposal, that would soar to as high as $10 a stogie. "When I first heard of this, I really thought they meant a tax of 10 cents, not 10 dollars," says Norm Sharp, the president of the Cigar Association of America.
“For what is possibly the largest tax increase in history, the plan may not even raise any revenue. According to the Tax Foundation, in many cases, high cigarette taxes have simply funneled tobacco dollars elsewhere -- to huge out-of-state, Internet, and tax-exempt Indian reservation sales. Indian tribes will become massive distributors of cigars.”
The Taxpayers League of Minnesota's E Update is written by Mark Giga
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