Vote No

The Taxpayers Legaue of Minnesota

A non-partisan, non-profit grassroots taxpayer advocacy organization for Minnesota

Liberalism 101 - 202

The case against raising taxes

Thanks to the Minnesota Business Partnership understanding the case against raising taxes has never been easier. In "Why Not Raise Minnesota's Statewide Property Tax?" and "Why Not Raise Minnesota's Personal Income Taxes?," the Business Partnership makes the case that our current levels of taxation are more than adequate to fund our state's priorities. Each of the two-page flyers are easily formatted for printing and perfect for mailing to state legislators who may not understand that onerous taxation will only drive jobs and resources to other states.

Minnesota's Legislative Session begins Jan 6th

Keep track of how the legislature proposes to balance the $4.8 billion budget shotfall, and how to stop them from raising taxes: sign up for Taxpayers League once-weekly email updates today!

Coming soon...

Local Taxpayer Watchdog groups. Email us today to start yours, or get more information.

2009 Session May Resemble a Vikings vs. Packers Game PDF Print E-mail
Written by Phil Krinkie   
Friday, 02 January 2009 15:47

With state lawmakers poised to descend on the State Capitol next week, there are many predictions being made concerning the outcome of the 2009 session.  Upon their return, lawmakers will be facing an enormous budget shortfall of $4.8 billion, the largest shortfall since Governor Pawlenty took office in 2003.  No legislator is looking forward to this daunting task of producing a balanced budget by the scheduled adjournment date in mid-May.

Constructing the state’s biennial budget is no easy task even in the best of times, but with a whopping shortfall that is likely to grow by the time the next budget forecast is released in March, it will prove most difficult even for the grizzled budget veterans.
Read more: 2009 Session May Resemble a Vikings vs. Packers Game
 
Governor Pawlenty Takes Good First Step to Balancing State Budget PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 19 December 2008 14:05

For Immediate Release

Contact: Phil Krinkie

Phone: 651-294-3590

ST. PAUL – Today, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced that he was taking the necessary step to balance the state budget by using his authority to reduce current state spending items.  This is only the first step in addressing the $5.2 billion dollar budget deficit.  Starting in January the State Legislature and the Governor will have to face the big challenge of the $4.8 billion shortfall for the 2010-2011 state budget.  But before they can deal with the next biennial budget they must first deal with the 2009 budget deficit of roughly $400,000 before June 30.
Read more: Governor Pawlenty Takes Good First Step to Balancing State Budget
 
A New Approach is Needed for State Budget Fix PDF Print E-mail
Written by Phil Krinkie   
Thursday, 11 December 2008 09:51

Responding to Minnesota's budget crisis, Dane Smith of the liberal think tank Growth & Justice offers "three fundamental facts" to support tax increases to solve the state's $5.2 billion shortfall. Unfortunately, Smith's opining is unsupported by economic principles. His "if government just spends more solution" is at odds with economic reality.

Smith's call for another tax increase continues the cycle of government expansion in good economic times, tax increases to support that expansion in bad economic times and then even higher taxes due to bracket creep when happy days are here again. He offers examples of a deteriorating infrastructure and an inadequate court system (constitutional obligations of state government) to justify tax increases, but the real problem is state legislators spending on non-essential but politically attractive programs.
Read more: A New Approach is Needed for State Budget Fix
 
eUpdate 12/30/08 PDF Print E-mail

1. A Great New Years’ Resolution

2. Stimulus Pork Feed

3. Government Shouldn’t Own Golf Courses

4. Happy New Year!
Read more: eUpdate 12/30/08
 
Greenbacks vs. Green Grass PDF Print E-mail
Written by Phil Krinkie   
Friday, 19 December 2008 09:48

With the State of Minnesota facing a $5.2 billion budget deficit and Governor Pawlenty about to unallot $240 million from current appropriations, it seems the Minneapolis City Council doesn’t understand the difference between greenbacks (dollars) and green grass (turf).  The Minneapolis City Council is on track to spend $5.3 million to install a green roof (grass) on the Target Center arena – home to the NBA’s Timberwolves.  The proposed green roof would have living plants growing in a thin layer of soil placed on top of a waterproof membrane.  This green roof according to consultants would cost twice as much as a conventional roof.  Perhaps the Minneapolis City Council hasn’t heard that there is a budget crisis in Minnesota or maybe just maybe they don’t need the $41 million the City of Minneapolis receives in Local Government Aid from the State of Minnesota, i.e. taxpayers of Minnesota.  Lots of good environmentalists will point out that it’s not about the greenbacks; it’s about doing the “right thing.”
Read more: Greenbacks vs. Green Grass
 
The Balancing Act PDF Print E-mail
Written by Phil Krinkie   
Friday, 05 December 2008 12:53

As the U.S. Congress continues with bailout after bailout and deficit spending bills reaching into the trillions of dollars, we should all be thankful that our State Constitution in Minnesota requires state lawmakers to balance our state budget every two years.  The State Constitution does allow long term debt, but only for the purpose of paying for capital projects, i.e. state buildings, the purchase of land or improvements to land and buildings.  So when state legislators convene for the 2009 Session, they will have a huge financial challenge waiting for them.

With a projected state budget shortfall of at $5.2 billion, getting to a balanced budget for the 2010-2011 biennium will be a very difficult task.  State lawmakers confronted a similarly large deficit a mere six years ago in 2003 during the last recession.  However, the circumstances this time around appear to be even more daunting.
Read more: The Balancing Act
 

Rankings for Minnesota's Congressional Delegation

As we have for the past 11 years, the Taxpayers League of Minnesota will again in 2008 publish our annual Legislative Scorcard. This year, however, we will not be rating members of Minnesota's Congressional delegation. But just because the Taxpayers League won't be including ratings for our federal delegation doesn't mean that their record on tax and spending issues isn't important. So to help fill the gap below you'll find links to a number of groups that rate not just Minnesota's representatives, but every member of Congress.

The American Conservative Union lists itself as the definitive conservative rating listed in all the major political almanacs and reference guides.

The Club for Growth conducts a comprehensive examination of each lawmaker's record on pro-growth policies and computes an Economic Growth Score on a scale of 0 to 100

The National Taxpayers Union rates every U.S. Representative and Senator on their actual votes - and uses every vote that affects taxes, spending, and debt.

Minnesota Free Market Institute

The Minnesota Free Market Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit educational organization dedicated to expanding freedom and free markets that conducts research, publishes materials, and holds public forums to educate citizens about free market reforms that will enhance the quality of life of all members of the community.

You already know that freedom and free markets are what makes our state and nation great. Click over to the Minnesota Free Market Institute and find out why you're right.

The Minnesota Free Market Institute is also the home of the David Strom Show on AM1280 The Patriot.