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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2007
Contact: Phil Krinkie
Ph: (651) 294-3590 ext 202
No New Transportation Taxes!
House Republicans uphold Governor Pawlenty’s veto
ST. PAUL – Despite a last minute attempt to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto of the transportation bill, House Republicans (and a couple of DFL defectors) stood together and were able to deny the Transportation-Industrial complex billions of taxpayer dollars in the form of new taxes and fees. By a vote 83-50 (far short of the margin necessary to override the Governor), the bill went down and DFL floor managers were sent scrambling for the next piece of their doomed legislative agenda.
Integral to the success of the veto override was a statewide Taxpayers League media campaign that asked Minnesotans to thank Governor Pawlenty for his veto of the gas tax. The ad, which started airing last Thursday, continued to run through Monday: the last day of the legislative session.
“We were glad to support the Governor is his opposition to a gas tax increase. This vote showed a clear difference between the liberal tax-and-spend agenda and the prudent use of taxpayer dollars,” said Phil Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota. “With a $2.2 billion surplus there was clearly no need to raise taxes,” added Krinkie.
“The failure of the DFL, which holds a large majority in the House, to override the veto will strengthen the Governor’s position when the Legislature reconvenes again next February,” stated Krinkie. “Our hope is that the Republicans will continue to take a strong stand against raising taxes and resolve to hold working families in Minnesota harmless.”
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