The high cost of staying here

"Want to change that this November? Jeff Johnson and a Red House and Senate will fix this mess. If not, we will continue on our path to California. A sanctuary state will sky high taxes and no seniors. No seniors? They will be getting sunburned in a NO TAX state like Florida."  

"We are a high tax, high value state!", proclaimed Sir Goofy of the Northland right after he spearheaded the passage of a bill to raise our top income tax to a hair under 10%. The good news for him? That rate put Minnesota up with the big boys - almost as high as the tax rate his idol, Sir Moonbeam of La La Land visited upon his state.

The bad news is simply this. The Minnesota House just passed a very parsimonious tax relief bill. Why Bird, is that bad news? Because it will never become law. It was just for show. The Minnesota Senate may or may not pass it, and if they do, it will be by barely. Then Sir Goofy of the Northland will veto it, knowing the House and Senate do not have the juice to override it. 

Minnesota has been a high tax state for quite a while, and the Blue Kool Aide crowd is quite happy with it being as so. But to live here, if you are not getting some kind of welfare relief, is turning out to be quite a pricey proposition indeed. For example:

• State Income Tax - With a top rate of 9.85% (Thanks, Goofy!), according to Monster.com, we are one of the five worst states to live in to keep a decent portion of your paycheck.
• Sales Tax - With an rate of 6.875, it can be as high as 8.375% depending on where you live. It is one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation, even with clothes and grocery foods not being taxable.
• License Tabs - Buying a $60,000 car, SUV or truck these days (trust me - not hard to get to that price), will cost you $760 in license tabs. This only goes down about 10% per year. MANY states only charge $75, no matter of the price of the vehicle or the year.
• Gas Tax - At 28.6 cents/gallon, we are higher than over 60% of the other states. 
• Death Tax - According to the Center of the American Experiment, Minnesota has the 6th most burdensome death (inheritance) tax in the nation. 
• Social Security - Minnesota is one of only 13 states who tax some or all of you Social Security. Of those 13 states, Minnesota is in the top five.
• Military Pensions - Prior to just a few years ago, Minnesota was one of a handful of states which taxed military pensions. Due only to some cleaver bill crafting, this was eliminated a couple years ago. Sir Goofy of the Northland, was NOT  happy he was had on this one!

What can I say? Do you want to stay living in the place of your birth, your graduation, where your kids and/or grand kids live? If that state is Minnesota, get ready to pony up. There is a cost to staying here. With the right government, it should not be that way. But right now we are ruled by the Blue Kool Aide drinkers and Sir Goofy of the Northland.

Want to change that this November? Jeff Johnson and a Red House and Senate will fix this mess. If not, we will continue on our path to California. A sanctuary state will sky high taxes and no seniors. No seniors? They will be getting sunburned in a NO TAX state like Florida.