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Republicans believe that all of
us benefit economically from the spending done by individual
earners. Every proposed government spending project should be
severely judged as to whether its purpose can justify taking
hard-earned money from hard-working citizens. |
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Wrong: |
Over 40% of the $250
million earmarked by Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN; 8th) [senior
Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee] for
Minnesota from the 2005 Transportation bill went to bike trails,
transit, and other non-road related spending. There was even $25
million appropriation for a "non-motorized" transportation pilot
program in the Twin Cities. (2) |
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Right: |
While Minnesotans were
still in shock and grieving over the 35W bridge collapse, Congressman
Oberstar demanded that the federal
taxes on gasoline be immediately raised. Republicans suggest that
the congressman stop directing millions of dollars to his pet
projects and instead use that money to maintain our transportation
infrastructure. |
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Wrong: |
Integration Revenue
Program – $115.3 million (Session Laws 2005 (1st Special Session),
Chapter 5, Article 2, Section 84, Subdivision 4.) These are grants
to school districts for integration-related activities and represent
another example of a government program that rewards failure. A 2005
report by the
Legislative Auditor found that racial concentration has
increased in many of the districts that receive this revenue. The
program creates a disincentive to integrate—the more integrated a
district becomes, the less money it receives. In this way, the
program promotes racial segregation. The auditor’s report noted the
vague guidelines of the program and the lack of measurable outcomes
for program evaluation. Some districts use the money to boost their
general budgets, including purchasing books and computers. There’s
no accountability for how this money is spent. (2. p14) |
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Right: |
This program shows how
easily the legislature can create simultaneously expensive and
harmful programs, and why Republican oversight is needed to prevent
such boondoggles. |
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Wrong: |
During the 2007
Legislative Session a transportation bill was passed that would have
increased taxes and fees by up to $5 billion; including a 7.5 cent
gas tax increase, a new Metro-wide sales tax, increases in tab fees,
and a host of locally imposed taxes that could pass without
voter approval. The tax increase could have cost a Minnesota family
of 4 about $500 a year. (2) |
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Right: |
Republican Governor
Pawlenty prevented this massive tax increase that would have harmed
both the economy and Minnesota family budgets by vetoing the bill.
He was backed by a
veto-sustaining Republican House caucus. |
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Wrong: |
Rep. Steve Simon (D-St.
Louis Park) wants to give cash bonuses to illegal aliens. The bill
would create a tax credit for English classes, citizenship classes,
and application fees. If an alien’s tax bill is lower than the cost
of these expenses, the bill would give the balance of the credit to
the alien in cash. (House File 747) (1) |
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Right: |
Taxes paid by hard-working Minnesota
citizens should not be given away to those who scoff at our laws. |
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Wrong: |
The City of St. Paul
took out huge state loans to build the Xcel Energy Center and the
adjoining RiverCentre convention complex. Now, the city wants to
spend money on other things, instead of making its promised payments
on the bonds. Rep. Alice Hausman (D-St. Paul) wants the Legislature
to forgive the rest of the $65 million owed to the state on the Xcel
arena and the $43 million owed to the state on the convention
center. (House Files 859 and 860) (1) |
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Right: |
By means of this proposal Democrats
would give $108 million dollars to St. Paul to spend on projects not
reviewed and not under control of the legislature. Republicans
believe that state funds should be allocated pursuant to open and
transparent review processes. Democrats should not be allowed to use
the ploy of debt forgiveness to subvert the normal legislative
review of funding proposals. |
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| Wrong: |
Rep. Frank Hornstein
(D-Minneapolis) would give you a tax credit for buying an
“alternative fuel” car. If you don’t owe any Minnesota income taxes,
the state will pay you 10% as a cash refund. (House File 1002) (1) |
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Right: |
Since the bill has no limit on the 10%
credit, the refund, the price of the car, or how long you own it,
you could buy a $40,000 car for $40 million, sell the car back to
the dealer for $38 million, and keep $2 million. What a country!
(1) |
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Wrong: |
Rep. Jim Davnie
(D-Minneapolis) wants $5 million to give grants to local governments
to build windmills and put gardens on the roofs of government
buildings. (House File 1874) (1) |
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Right: |
Rep. Davnie
should be asked to show how this significant sum of taxpayer's money
is not being wasted. |
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Wrong: |
Rep. Steve Simon (D-St.
Louis Park) wants to set up a program of seven different grants to
godparents, stepfamilies, cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings,
grandparents, and de facto guardians who take care of related
children who are not with their parents. (House File 2143) (1) |
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Right: |
Given the track record of broken families caused by
previous welfare programs that had the effect of supporting teenage
parenthood and spouse abandonment, we should be very wary of injecting state money
and rules into what should be extended family matters. |
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Wrong: |
Rep. Frank Hornstein
(D-Minneapolis) wants to increase the surcharge on everyone’s retail
electricity bills to pay for solar panels for selected people. If
you qualified for low-income heating assistance, you don’t have to
pay the surcharge. (House File 2384) (1) |
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Right: |
Rep. Hornstein
wants to raise our taxes to fund the solar power industry which,
Republicans believe, should be left to prove itself in the
marketplace without being given unjustified subsidies. |
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Wrong: |
Rep. Melissa Hortman
(D-Brooklyn Park) wants working taxpayers to provide $200,000 to pay
off the loans of law students. (House File 1974) (1) |
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Right: |
This proposal shows once
again that there is seemingly no limit to the amount of other
people's money Democrats are willing to transfer to their friends. |
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Wrong: |
Rep. Carlos Mariani
(D-St. Paul) wants to take a half-million from the poor taxpayers to
pay for legislators to think about how to get more money to the poor
taxpayers. The money would fund a “Legislative Commission to End
Poverty in Minnesota by 2020.” (House File 1616) (1) |
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Right: |
This commission is not
needed. For decades, Democrats have told us they already know how to
end poverty: higher taxes and more government programs. Republicans
will continue to promote the idea that economic opportunity and
lower taxes allow individuals to climb out of poverty. |
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Sources: |
| 1. |
MN House Republicans, Marty Seifert's
office, 2007. |
| 2.
|
"Test your Minnesota Transportation I.Q." from the
Taxpayers League of Minnesota; 8/21/07 |
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