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e-Update July 16, 2010
1)Back to the Future
2)The Taxpayers League Fights for First Amendment Rights
3)Officials are Going Full Speed Ahead to extend the Northstar Line, Despite Underwhelming Ridership Results
4) The Price of Priceless History for MinnesotaTaxpayers
5) Its Easy to Vote for tax Increases When you Aren't Paying Taxes
6) Saying 'Yes' to a Strong, Thriving, Profitable Private Sector
1)Back to the Future
Time travel may seem far fetched, but then again anything is possible when taxpayers are footing the bill. Ramsey County Board members have decided to waste $240 million of your tax dollars to turn the 90 year old train station in St. Paul into a 21st century transportation center: Not an airport, a train station. But despite their desire to time travel, there is no amount of money or government regulation that will return the St. Paul Depot to the bustling transportation hub it once was in the 1920’s.
Find out just how much it will cost you to turn a train station into a..... train station here.
2)The Taxpayers League Fights for First Amendment Rights
The Taxpayers League of Minnesota has signed on to act as a plaintiff for a suit challenging unconstitutional provisions to Minnesotacampaign finance law. These provisions have taken even more power away from the job creators and business owners by forcing them to use a political fund or conduit fund to engage in political speech. We believe that victory will result in greater ease for corporations in Minnesotato participate in political speech and association.
Find out how the Taxpayers League is fighting for the voice of job creators here.
3)Officials are Going Full Speed Ahead to extend the Northstar Line, Despite Underwhelming Ridership Results
It seems as though even facts and reason can't stop the runaway train spending. A new express bus from St. Cloud to Big Lake was created to mimic the proposed rail extension and prove the need for rail service, but raised several questions about demand for rail service between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud.
The new Northstar Link bus service has raised red flags for planners; it has managed to attract less than 60 percent of its projected passenger load averaging 1 filled seat for every 9 empty seats per ride.
Clearly the demand does not justify the $150 million capital cost of bringing Northstar trains to St. Cloud, plus operating costs.
Click hereto find out how many red flags it will take to stop this boondoggle.
4) The Price of Priceless History for MinnesotaTaxpayers
The Historical Society has managed to waste more than $3 million collected from Minnesota sales tax through legacy grants distributed to Minnesota communities under the guise of preserving and enhancing Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources.
Some of the projected prices of approved projects should raise taxpayers’ eyebrows. The 3 million includes $88,000 dollars worth of window repairs for the James J. Hill Library and a $200,000 elevator for Turner Hall in New Ulm. The Islamic Resource Group will receive over $36,000 of taxpayer money to document the Muslim experience in Minnesota. The city of Minneapolis walked away with $75,000 of your tax money to develop a Warehouse District Heritage Street Plan; not to actual produce anything, but a plan to spend more taxpayer money.
See if any special interest projects in your city made the list here.
5) Its Easy to Vote for tax Increases When you Aren't Paying Taxes
Two state legislators with a history of voting for tax increases announced last week that they owe over $280,000 in back taxes.
State Rep. Marsha Swails, The two-term lawmaker, who is seeking re-election, said she owes $33,000 in state and federal income taxes and State Senator Chaudhary who has voted for a tax increase every chance he can admitted he owes the federal government over $250,000 in past-due income taxes. No wonder they continually voted for tax increases; they weren't planning on paying them!
See why they think the tax rules they make don't apply to them here & here.
6) Saying 'Yes' to a Strong, Thriving, Profitable Private Sector
TheSt. Paulcity council is considering a zoning variance that will allow a Home Depot inSt. Paul's midway neighborhood. In a city with a too-narrow tax base, a shortage of private-sector jobs and a reputation as a difficult place to do business, saying 'yes' to commerce would be the right choice. The project is still up for debate over concerns that the store sign will be too large. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that the money needed to run our schools and other public programs is a product of commerce in a city that depends so much on the presence of state government, institutions of higher learning and non-profit entities, but will this lack of perception lead to another missed opportunity to improve the economy?
Will the height of the store sign keep valuable commerce out of St. Paul? Find out here.
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