A Party Gone Wild!

 

 

 

"We will party like there is no tomorrow (and at this rate, there might not be)..."

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, along comes another whopper. First we had the higher tax on top income earners, then the idea of a "temporary tax" to fix school funding and soak the rich further, and then the additional, regressive tobacco and alcohol taxes, which range from the very high to the obscene. It was as if there was no limit, no stopping this tax and spend juggernaut. Last election cycle the Republicans allowed their majority to slip through their fingers. So along with us, they are just spectators to this DFL supported financial blood bath.

Getting back to being safe going into the water. Senator Bobby Joe Champion (DFL District 59), and Representative Melissa Hortman (DFL 36B), recently decided it was not enough to let them eat cake - they wanted the frosting also. Together they introduced an annual $332M transit tax to fund a bevy of transportation projects. This would be split $300M for the metro and $32M for the rest of the state.

In the world of "La-La Land", Representative Hortman must well thought of. When asked why in the world we needed to fund more bike and walking trails, she responded as follows:

“Across the state, people want more options and support investment in public transportation. And they want bicycling and walking to be part of that investment,” a news release quoted Hortman, the chief author of the bill in the House. “This bill is an opportunity to solve problems for Minnesotans, creating a more competitive, healthier state.”

Forget the fact the unelected Met Council already has an annual budget of $700M. This additional annual tax will be funded by an additional 3/4 cent sales tax, and a $20 vehicle excise tax. This additional money would be allocated as follows:

• 41.5 percent to the Metropolitan Council for bus transit;
• 41.5 percent to the Counties Transit Improvement Board;
• 7 percent to cities in the metro area to provide transit service and provide increased access for transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists through projects such as sidewalks, bike routes or shuttles;
• 7 percent to counties in the metro area for the same use as cities and
• 3 percent to the Metropolitan Council for regional bicycle, trail and pedestrian infrastructure and maintenance.

The moral of this story is this - if you don't like one party rule and having your pocket picked constantly, remember elections have consequences. Or you can just say, "Party on Dude!"