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#1 Dayton - "Taxing the Rich" is the Answer to the States Budget Deficit
#2 Our Tax Dollars Wasted by the Department of Human Services
#3 Runaway Spending - On More Trains
#4 St. Paul Mayor Plans to Borrow Millions for Pools as City Drowns in Debt
#5 World's Wealthy Tapped to pay More
#1Dayton - "Taxing the Rich" is the Answer to the States Budget Deficit
Governor candidate Mark Dayton has Minnesota's budget problems all figured out. Dayton claims that economic growth is not a realistic solution for balancing the states budget. Taxing Minnesota's highest wage earners to provide $3.8 billion in additional revenue for the current biennium and over $4 billion in the next biennium is the answer.
In addition to "taxing the rich", the Dayton budget plan includes adding at least two probably three upper-income tax brackets and increasing state tax compliance staff.
Surely taxing the rich and increasing government staff is the answer to our states problems.
Click here to read more about Dayton's definition of "fair"
#2 Our Tax Dollars Wasted by the Department of Human Services It seems nothing can stop the Department of Human Services from overspending even if it means paying for work that was never done. Despite a scathing 2009 legislative audit and a major computer system overhaul DHS continued to overpay for personal care services. DHS paid claims to personal care attendants that billed for more than 24 hours of work a day. Hundreds of other invoices were paid over the last year even though they exceeded a new 16-hour work day limit. A new audit revealed that more than 400 improper payments were made in one month to companies that claimed attendants worked more than 24 hours a day.
Click here to find out how DHS is wasting your tax dollars
#3 Runaway Spending - On More Trains
Not even 24 hours after the Met Council got word that The Central Corridor connecting downtown Minneapolis with St. Paul could enter the "final design" stage, essentially ensuring the federal government will pay half of that $957 million project, the Met Council voted to proceed with plans for the light rail boondoggle....the Southwest Corridor LRT connecting downtown Minneapolis with Eden Prairie. With no funding source to build let alone subsidize the operating cost, Met Council Chair Peter Bell stated "World-class cities have growing, vibrant transit systems," The Southwest LRT line is estimated to cost $1.25 billion, can say 'billion dollar boondoggle." Click here to find out where the runaway train spending is headed next
#4 St. Paul Mayor Plans to Borrow Millions for Pools as City Drowns in Debt
Despite tight economic times, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman wants to sell $24 million in bonds to finance a new pool at Como Park, a new community megacenter and renovate the Highland Park pool. In a time where St. Paul residents have seen tax bills increase and city services decrease. City officials have been scrambling to close mid-year budget gaps as state aid has been reduced. Is it the right time to borrow millions of dollars for pools and recreation centers? Find out if St. Paul taxpayers will sink or swim here
#5 World's Wealthy Tapped to pay More "Tax the rich" mentality is not exclusive to Minnesota, from Athens to Olympia, Washington; governments made poorer by the recession are looking to higher taxes on the rich for cash. The top U.S. tax rate is set to rise in 2011, while at least 14 states have lifted rates or are considering increases. Scott Pattison, executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers in Washington rationalizes the shift by claiming "It's awful easy to push a tax increase that affects a minority of the populace." Continue reading why the world's wealthy will be forced to provide a government bailout here
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