|
Taxpayers League of Minnesota eUpdate
1. Taxpayers League Live! with David Strom.
2. Minnesota needs a special legislative session like I need a hole in the head.
3. Changing the tone in Washington one secret slush fund at a time.
4. An energy policy that is just as bad now as it was in 1978.
5. Talk radio isn’t ruining America, pompous U.S. Senators are.
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 John Lott and Phil Krinkie. Lott, author of Freedomnomics: Why the Free Market Works and Other Half-Baked Theories Don’t, will tell us how the free market creates incentives for people to behave honestly, how political campaign restrictions keep incumbents in power, why affirmative action in police departments leads to higher crime rates, how women's suffrage led to a massive increase in the size of government and why state-owned companies and government agencies are much more likely to engage in unfair predation than are private firms.
During the second hour, Krinkie, former chair of the House Tax Committee and current President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, will help debunk some of the myths surrounding local government aid (LGA) and why sending bags of cash to your city or county isn’t going to lower your property taxes.
2. 1-2-3-4 we don’t want no stinking…special session.
One month ago yesterday, Minnesota taxpayers were celebrating a legislative victory the likes of which they hadn’t seen in a number of years. And despite doom and gloom predictions from many corners (mostly these dark, smelly ones), the sun still rises, the birds still sing and my dog still sheds – everywhere. But just when you thought it was safe to ignore the B section of the Star Tribune again, here come rumors of a special legislative session. Why? Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Or what could possibly lead Governor Pawlenty to think he can trust Democratic majorities that would’ve passed nearly $5 billion in tax increases if his back was turned? Folks, we don’t ask for help often but this time we really need you to contact Governor Pawlenty and tell him “No Special Session – for any reason!” (651) 296-3391 or Tim [dot] Pawlenty [at] state [dot] mn [dot] us. A victory is a terrible thing to waste: So make ‘em wait until Feb 08!
After all, Governor, once you call ‘em in, you can’t make ‘em leave.
3. The RSC to American taxpayers: “Let me be your hero.”
The Taxpayers League is back from Washington, D.C. and despite a few minor bumps, bites and bruises to some limbs and organs we are happy to report that there was action in Congress last week that needs to be celebrated. Long story short, rather than openly debating proposed earmarked appropriations in various House budget bills, Democratic leadership wanted to wait until after the bills had been passed to insert millions in junk spending. Luckily, our friends at the RSC – The Caucus of House Conservatives – were on the case and the crisis was averted.
4. “Full of Hot Air” by the Editors at National Review.
“Summertime is here, and with it, the annual spectacle of our representatives in Washington competing to see who can come up with the worst solution to the problem of higher gas prices. This year, Congress has outdone itself. The energy bill wending its way through the Senate this week [ed. and passed last night] would do nothing to reduce the price of gasoline. But if it’s most ambitious goals are realized, it might create gas shortages and make electricity more expensive.” To continue reading the rest, click here.
Unfortunately, both of our U.S. Senators supported the bill.
5. Fine, you take TV and newspapers and we'll take talk radio.
Because they hate America, Moms and apple pie, the progressive [ed. read, “we didn’t have any friends in high school and we’re still mad at the world.”] think tank Center for American Progress (CAP) conducted and just released a report titled The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio. While the entire report is there to read for yourself, I just want to highlight one line I’ve chosen to take completely out of context and then use as the basis for writing-off the whole report:
“These empirical findings may not be surprising given the general impressions about the format, but they are stark and raise serious questions about whether the companies licensed to broadcast over the public airwaves are serving the listening needs of all Americans.”
It’s the word “needs” and how it’s used here that I have a problem with. So many people on the Left (but more unfortunately in government), are so absolutely sure about what they think we need, that they are ready take away every last measure of free will we have left to prevent one person from getting their feelings hurt. A handful of families can’t afford monthly dues at a health club? No problem, now the city needs a new community recreation center. Don’t want to buy a PC for your home? Don’t worry about it, every kid in the school district needs their own laptop computer. It’s that kind of self righteousness combined with some modicum of authority that requires our eternal vigilance.
That, and Trent Lott needs to quit complaining. Don’t think we’ve forgotten how you screwed up before.
The Taxpayers League of Minnesota's E Update is written by Mark Giga (who wants to remind you that there are only seven shopping days left until his birthday - I'm not saying, I'm just saying)
|
