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1. Another Nice Mess They Got Us Into
2. No Budget Solutions – Just Football Fantasy
3. MPRThriving on Tax Dollars
4. Bridge Boondoggle
5. Send Your Entry Today!
1. Another Nice Mess They Got Us Into
Even though the state is bringing in less money than it’s spending – the DFL was shocked to learn this week that we are out of money. With tax collections bringing in about $800 million in July but the state paying out $1.6 billion – Minnesota is now looking to a “credit card” approach to cover the bills.
Refusing to take the advice of conservatives to live within our budgetary means, the liberals have spent our state into economic disaster. Now the state is weighing several options for short-term borrowing loans, ranging from a negotiated line of credit to selling certificates of indebtedness through the state Board of Investment.
To read more click here.
2. No Budget Solutions – Just Football Fantasy
This week the DFL-controlled Rules Committee in the Minnesota House voted along party lines to join a lawsuit opposing Governor Pawlenty’s budget balancing actions in June. This action to challenge Gov. Pawlenty’s reductions comes five months after Pawlenty’s decision to balance the state’s budget through unallotment.
But just last week Speaker Anderson-Kelliher announced that she will appoint a “Purple Ribbon” panel to study the possibility of funding a new billion dollar stadium with 75% of the funding coming from taxpayers.
As the possibility of short-term borrowing looms and the forecast of the largest budget shortfall in state history on the horizon, the Speaker seems to be more concerned about a new Vikings stadium rather than trying to find real budget solutions.
To read more click here.
3. MPR Thriving on Tax Dollars
In stark contrast to privately owned news organizations like the Star Tribune which has been plagued by bankruptcy and the Pioneer Press which has implemented layoffs to stay afloat, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is booming with the help of your tax dollars.
Thanks to $2.65 million from constitutional sales tax revenue, MPR recently added 15 newscasts, bringing its weekly newscasts to 269. While many believed that the revenue from the constitutional sales tax would be spent on water quality improvement, some is in fact being funnelled to government subsidzed radio stations and pushing private run new organizations out of business.
To read more click here.
4. Bridge Boondoggle
Faced with two design options for the construction of a new Lowry Avenue Bridge, the Hennepin County Board voted for the more expensive “tied arch” design – for an additional $14 million in taxpayer money.
The Board rejected the “concrete box” design, which would look much like most other bridges in the state of Minnesota in favor of a “signature” design which focuses primarily on the uniqueness and beauty of the structure.
At a time when the county is cutting programs, laying off employees, raising the property tax levy and planning a capital investment program that is exploding over the next five years, it seems a little irresponsible to be spending $14 million more than is necessary on a bridge.
But then again, it will look really cool.
To read more click here.
5. Send Your Entry Today!
Time is running out to claim your stimulus cash from the Stupid Stimulus Spending Contest! November is quickly coming to an end so send us the most outrageous, ridiculous or down right egregious ways you have seen stimulus money being spent and win!
From “Cash for Clubbers” to “Cash for Clunkers” - this assignment should be easy!
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us the most outrageous way in which the U.S. Federal Government is spending stimulus money by November 30, 2009 and win!
1st Place - $100
2nd Place - $50
3rd Place - $20
If your story is a winner, you will receive a stuffed pig to accompany your cash winnings. Don't delay send your entry today! |
