The Taxpayers Legaue of Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2007

Contact: David Strom

Ph: (651) 294-3590

Higher Taxes, Bigger Government

Democrats revert to form in first weeks

St Paul—Higher taxes, Universal Health Care, and more and more government programs are being proposed by the new Democrat majorities in Minnesota.

And that’s just in the first full week of the Legislative Session. Nobody even knows how much money the state expects to take in over the next two years.

State Senator Linda Berglin today announced a plan to “move the state to universal coverage” for health care by 2010. Nobody has an idea exactly how much the proposals will cost, but it won’t be chicken feed.

“The Democrats have reverted to form,” said David Strom, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota. “We heard a lot of noises during the campaign and after about pursuing moderate policies, but once the Democrats started wielding real power they immediate set to raising taxes and expanding government.”

“We have already seen proposals to raise the gas tax by 50%, add a new sales tax, increase fees, and add new county taxes. We are now seeing a raft of new proposals to increase spending by huge, unspecified amounts. And we haven’t even gotten started.

“If his doesn’t count as tax and spend, what would?” Strom asked.

“Hold onto your wallets and get your dialing finger warmed up. By the end of this session taxpayers are going to have to get the phones ringing at the Legislature to keep the taxing and spending in check. We need to help Governor Pawlenty sustain his vetoes this session, or Katy bar the door,” Strom concluded.

The Taxpayers League is Minnesota’s largest taxpayer advocacy organization.