Modernize Our Tax System
Minnesota has a budget imbalance that goes back to 2001. At that time, due to a strong national and state economy, Minnesota leaders decided to cut taxes at the same time that we increased the State’s portion of K-12 spending. As we now know, the level of growth taking place in 2000 was not sustainable long-term. We haven’t been willing to fix this imbalance and we keep cutting state spending while the governor claims we have no new taxes. Have you looked at your property tax bill lately?!? We have lots of new taxes! We need to modernize our tax code and make sure it is progressive and fair so that our income taxes are based on your earnings and we stop putting the burden on regressive property taxes that have nothing to do with your wealth.
We have been aware for many years that this gross imbalance is occurring, but our Governor has not been willing to fix this and we keep cutting state spending while the governor claims we have no need to recalibrate our tax brackets to fit the times.
Nobody likes taxes. But we all tolerate taxes when they are fair and we use the revenue for our schools, roads, snow removal, fire protection, cops and courts, public nursing homes, and colleges and universities. These are the pieces that sustain Minnesotans across our state. Without them, our quality of daily life would be reduced.
No Back Door Taxes
Unfair taxes are rightly condemned. Everyone should pay their fair share! That is something that has fallen by the wayside in the last decade. At the end of the legislative session this year, with terrible budget cuts looming for low and middle income families, the DFL tried to raise the income tax rates on the richest families in the state. The increase would have cost a family making more than $300,000 a year about $180. But the Governor vetoed the bill saying this would hurt those families too much. Then he turned around and “unalloted” 25% of the renters’ credit which goes mostly to moderate income families. An average senior living in an apartment on a fixed income is going to lose $140 a year. Somehow Pawlenty doesn’t think that pain is too great. How can we treat Minnesotans so unfairly?!
Governor Pawlenty has repeatedly said, “No new taxes”! Sometimes the Governor wants to call them fees, but if it comes out of your family’s wallet, it is a tax to me! We need to modernize our tax code and make sure it is fair and reasonable for Minnesota’s hardworking, middle class.
As Governor, I will pledge to stop putting an unfair burden on our middle class families. I pledge to fight against the current, backdoor taxes that are smothering Minnesota’s middle class. I promise that, as Governor, I will work every day toward a fair system of taxation that helps grow a Minnesotan’s quality of life.
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