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Taxpayers League of Minnesota eUpdate
1. David’s guests this week are State Rep. Doug Magnus, State Sen. Geoff Michel and Peter Hong.
2. “DFL may attempt to keep Pawlenty out of roads fight.” Really? How?
3. The Taxpayers League releases our 2007 Legislative Scorecard.
4. When do job losses benefit the economy?
5. Where do you fit into the transportation debate?
1. The David Strom Show presented by the Minnesota Free Market Institute.
Tune in this Saturday to AM 1280 The Patriot at 9:30 am when David will be joined by State Rep. Doug Magnus to talk about the I-35 bridge funding controversy.
At 10 am, David’s guest will be State Sen. Geoff Michel [R-Edina] to talk about the John McCain’s presidential campaign and Peter Hong from the Mike Huckabee campaign.
Also, be sure to tune in at 9:15 am for the Capitol report with Phil Krinkie. Up this week, a 2008 legislative session preview.
2. “DFL may attempt to keep Pawlenty out of roads fight.” Really? How?
From Tuesday’s Red Wing Republican Eagle:
“The Minnesota Legislature’s upcoming battle over transportation spending could lack a key element of most Capitol funding decisions: negotiations with the governor.
“After more than three years of failing to reach a deal on transportation funding with Gov. Tim Pawlenty and six months since the Minneapolis bridge collapse, top Democratic lawmakers say they will take a different route this year.
“The 2008 legislative session convenes Feb. 12, but Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party lawmakers already are working on a road, bridge and transit funding bill and plan to send it to the governor early in the session.
“Those ongoing discussions do not involve the Republican governor.
“‘He’s not really a factor,’ Senate Transportation Chairman Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, said of Pawlenty. ‘He wants us to compromise to his position; that’s not going to happen.’
“‘We’re going to pass a bill, the governor’s going to veto it and we’re going to try to override it,’ Murphy added.”
Four days before the start of the 2008 legislative session and Sen. Murphy is already ready to take his ball and go home if he doesn’t get what he wants. At least this story makes it clear exactly what taxpayers are up against this year. Liberals want to raise your taxes and they don’t care what the Governor or anyone else has to say about it. The way I see it, you have two options. You can get rid of your car (because really, that’s what the left wants you to do) to save yourself from the coming crush of new taxes, or you can stay current with legislative news, read the eUpdate and when the transportation bill hits the House and Senate floor you can contact your legislator and tell them to stick their $5 billion in new taxes and fees up Senator Murphy’s eco-friendly tailpipe.
3. The Taxpayers League releases our 2007 Legislative Scorecard.
The Taxpayers League of Minnesota today released their annual Legislative Scorecard for the 2007 state legislative session; a release which marks the 11th year in a row that the Taxpayers League has ranked Minnesota legislators based on their votes on issues related to taxes, spending and economic freedom.
The Taxpayers League’s annual Legislative Scorecard is Minnesota’s most authoritative ranking of state legislators based on fiscal issues and not only provides a substantial accounting of each year’s legislative record, but also a lifetime score for legislators that have served multiple terms.
The primary focus of the 2007 Scorecard was transportation spending and legislators’ votes on bills that would have raised taxes on nearly every facet of automobile ownership; gas tax, wheelage tax, sales tax and license tab fee increases. Also included in the Scorecard were votes on income tax increases, raising the minimum wage and hundreds of millions in pork-barrel spending.
“The Taxpayers League Legislative Scorecard is the best device Minnesotans have to determine who’s after their paycheck and what lawmakers intend to do with it once they’ve got it, said Phil Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota and himself a recipient of a “Lifetime Best Friend of the Taxpayer” award from the League (with a lifetime score of 95%). Krinkie added, “politicians are famous for promising one thing during a campaign and then voting another way during the legislative session. Our Scorecard aims to bring some accountability to the process.”
To be named a “Best Friend of the Taxpayer” during a legislative session, a Representative or Senator must score a perfect 100% on the votes selected by the Taxpayers League. The 2007 “Best Friends” were Rep. Bruce Anderson [R-Buffalo Township], Rep. Mark Buesgens [R-Jordan], Rep. Chris DeLaForest [R-Andover], Rep. Tom Emmer [R-Delano], Rep. Mary Liz Holberg [R-Lakeville], Rep. Paul Kohls [R-Victoria], Rep. Mark Olson [R-Big Lake], Rep. Ron Shimanski [R-Silver Lake], Rep. Kurt Zellers [R-Maple Grove], Sen. David Hann [R-Eden Prairie] and Sen. Pat Pariseau [R-Farmington].
Print and PDF copies of the 2007 Legislative Scorecard (as well as previous editions) may be obtained at our website (under the Legislative Scorecards menu) or by emailing Mark Giga at markg [at] taxpayersleague [dot] org.
4. When do job losses benefit the economy?
“Job Losses for Bureaucrats” from Stephen Moore and OpinionJournal’s Political Diary:
“Friday's lousy jobs report of negative growth wasn't all that bad -- since one of the new unemployed Americans was John Edwards. But economists assure us that there's another reason not to panic just yet. The 17,000 jobs losses in January overshadowed a revision upward to 82,000 new jobs in December. Job growth has certainly slowed dramatically but private employment growth has still not turned negative.
“One piece of overlooked good news in the January report is that the net decline was entirely accounted for by government. The public sector had 18,000 fewer workers on its payrolls last month. Folks, that's not an economic downer, but cause for celebration. We should be thrilled to see many more such pink slips issued in Washington, D.C. and state capitals. Fewer government bureaucrats is one of the best economic stimulants we can possibly think of.
“Overall, today's 4.9% unemployment rate is hardly a measure of job scarcity for those searching for work. That number underscores the folly of the Democratic proposal to extend unemployment insurance benefits -- a policy that increases joblessness by giving people an incentive to sit on the sidelines rather than aggressively seeking the private-sector jobs that continue to be created.”
5. Where do you fit into the transportation debate?
“Minnesota’s legislature comes back in session on February 12 – and no issue is more pressing for lawmakers than transportation. The tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge last summer crystallized a focus around improving our transportation infrastructure. But no decision was made on a plan to execute – and pay for – such improvements. Nor was there a true consensus on what improvements should be undertaken.
“So, on the eve of the new legislative session, Minnesota Public Radio wants to set the stage for what will be THE debate at the Capitol. MPR will host a forum on the topic, moderated by Midmorning’s Kerri Miller, on Feb. 11.
“We'll take a forward-looking approach to this discussion -- what should our transportation system look like in 10-15 years? And we will ask people to tell us how they see themselves as being part of the transportation problem -- or the solution -- in this state.
To register for the event, click here.
What: MPRs Where do you fit into the transportation debate? When: Monday, Feb. 11, 7-8:30 p.m.Where: UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio offices (480 Cedar Street in St. Paul)Who: You and Midmorning host Kerri Miller
The Taxpayers League of Minnesota's eUpdate is written by Mark Giga
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