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Taxpayers League of Minnesota eUpdate
1. Taxpayers League Live! with David Strom.
2. What part of “replacement only” doesn’t Rybak understand?
3. Minnesota Liberals and reality finally part ways.
4. Volunteering at the State Fair is great. No, really.
5. Congressman Oberstar’s still bringing home the bacon.
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 Steve Hayes and Bob MacFarlin. Hayes, a national spokesman for the keepers of the FairTax,Americans for Fair Taxation, will update us on the campaign to abolish the IRS and how some guy named Mike Huckabee used that idea to place second in last weekend’s Iowa straw poll.
During the second hour, MacFarlin, Assistant to the Commissioner for Transportation Policy and Public Affairs, will update us on the bridge collapse investigation and I-35 reconstruction plans.
Also, be sure to catch Taxpayers League President Phil Krinkie tonight on Almanac on TPT channel 2, and David on At Issue on Sunday morning on KSTP channel 5.
2. Another example of great opposition coming from little minds.
No sooner did MnDOT release plans for the reconstruction of the I-35 bridge did state and local politicians start sputtering that they were just too important to be left out of the decision making process. Never mind the fact that the federal government is providing federal funds to completely rebuild this part of the federal interstate system. No, that’s not good enough for some. Some folks would rather “speak with one voice” and adopt a “broad set of principles” that will do nothing but delay construction and increase costs. And unfortunately, because Minneapolis will be asked for their “municipal consent” on any new construction, Mayor Rybak and his League of Extraordinary Social Engineers will pout in their corner until someone is forced to deal with their “we have to have tranist options” temper tantrum.
Perhaps Mayor Rybak should take a look at the letter Federal Highway Administration Minnesota Division Administrator Thomas Sorel sent to Lt. Governor Carol Molnau last Friday that explained what Emergency Relief (ER) funds were to be used for:
“The ER program provides for repair and restoration of highway facilities to pre-disaster conditions. Restoration in kind is therefore the predominate type of repair expected to be accomplished with ER funds. ER funds are not intended for new construction to increase capacity, correct non-disaster related deficiencies, or otherwise improve highway facilities.”
Add to that the letter from Lt. Governor Molnau and Met Council Chairman Peter Bell that succinctly makes the case against adding an LRT component to the new bridge and now I’m asking myself “why hasn’t construction started already?”
Oh, that’s right. We’re waiting for Pericles to chime in from the Minneapolis City Council.
3. The Liberals have lost their minds.
A pretty good example of this took place on MPR this week during Gary Eichten’s Midday program. After much on-air hand-wringing from the legislative panel (including this gem from State Sen. Steve Murphy DFL-Red Wing, “the Taxpayers League is a group that just can’t be trusted with the truth.”), State Rep. Alice Hausman DFL-St. Paul, using the always convenient modifier, “some of my colleagues,” went on to make that case that while investing in road and bridge infrastructure is important, we can’t forget that our children our important infrastructure, too. And there it is. A convenient little segue from the topic at hand to the liberals’ true endgame. A crack in the façade of government in one place necessitates massive “investment” and more government everywhere else. For every politician that has called for an immediate special session to address this “crisis” it truly is “leave no opportunity to exploit a tragedy behind.”
4. You want the truth about volunteering at the State Fair with the Taxpayers League?
In my desperate bid for more volunteers for the Taxpayers League booth at the State Fair, I’ve asked past volunteers to tell you why they enjoyed helping us out (and why they’ll be back this year):
First up, Alan Matthew Petermann from Crystal says: “I never realized just how vital the work of the Taxpayers League was until I stood face-to-face with some of the people who stopped by the booth at the Fair. They really needed an education and I’m just glad that me and Taxpayers League were there. I’ll definitely be back this year (and Mark was great, too).”
Ray Bentley from Buffalo said much the same thing:
“I guess I just assumed that people understood that politicians don’t have a right to the money we earn. Boy was I wrong. But that’s ok. I’ll be back again this year to help folks see the light (and Mark really did a great job).”
There you have it, folks. Testimony that would stand up in any kangaroo court in the land. Reply to this email and soon you too will be doing your part for the conservative movement in Minnesota (and telling Mark he’s doing a great job).
Also, there are still a few complimentary subscriptions to National Review magazine available for any volunteer that signs up for two shifts at the Fair.
5. A commute that any granola-eating, tree hugging, yogurt-chuckin’ fool would love.
Right on the heels of being named Citizens Against Government Waste’s August “Porker of the Month,” a press release from Rep. Oberstar’s office proudly announces: “Minneapolis Awarded a $133 Million Urban Partner Grant to Reduce Congestion.” Tops on the list of innovative congestion relief programs will be construction of new “Park and Portage” lots along the Mississippi river. Want to avoid taking I-94 or Highway 100 into Minneapolis? No problem. Park your car in Fridley and hop on your kayak. Better yet, grab a friend (or two) and “canoepool” to work. The possibilities are endless and so are the myriad ways Washington can waste taxpayer dollars.
I don’t know what you were doing 20 years ago this summer, but I sure know what I was doing: the Berenguer Boogie.
The Taxpayers League of Minnesota's E Update is written by Mark Giga
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