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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2008
Contact: Phil Krinkie
(651) 294-3590 ext 202
Same, Same, Same – Nothing is Different
ST. PAUL – Picking up right where they left off in May, the liberal majority introduced a bloated Transportation funding bill today jam packed with a multitude of tax increases.
Liberal leaders, with this action, seem determined to again be headed for legislative gridlock. Governor Pawlenty has repeatedly stated his opposition to massive tax increases that fall most heavily on lower income families.
Legislative leaders continue to ignore public opinion polls showing that the majority of Minnesotans are opposed to new taxes.
There is nothing new with this funding proposal, yet Senate Transportation Chair Senator Murphy and House Transportation Chair Representative Lieder keep repeating their worn-out refrain of regressive tax increases.
Failing to recognize Governor Pawlenty’s warnings or heed public opposition, DFL legislators are ignoring economic reality. The State’s chief economist Tom Stinson has warned that Minnesota is headed towards a recession. “Now is not the time for legislators to increase working families’ tax burden,” stated Phil Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.
“Increasing the gas tax, imposing a wheelage tax, and raising the car registration tax, plus adding to the sales tax will only further burden Minnesotafamilies,” added Krinkie.
Krinkie warned, “The liberals’ ‘might makes right’ attitude toward transportation funding with huge tax increases is out of touch with the very people they claim to want to help: low income workers!”
Their proposal would heap an additional tax burden of $400-500 per year onMinnesota families.
Liberal leaders at the State Capitol appear to want to make the tragic 35W bridge collapse into a political rallying cry rather than an opportunity to work with Governor Pawlenty to reach a common sense funding solution.
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