Saint Paul/ Budget shortfall update.
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posted by Bob at Monday, July 23, 2007
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Monday, July 23, 2007
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63 Comments:
City aims budget ax at parks, libraries
Facing a $16 million shortfall, St. Paul officials discuss a 'historic shift' in priorities
BY TIM NELSON
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 07/22/2007 11:06:42 PM CDT
St. Paul is weighing closure of at least two libraries and as many as eight recreation centers as it grapples with an anticipated $16 million budget gap for next year. The plan could include dozens of layoffs and charging for parking in some city parks, as well as a property tax increase, according to planning documents just released at the request of the Pioneer Press.
"We have been waiting for decisions to be made differently at the state level, and clearly that isn't going to happen," said Ann Mulholland, chief of staff to Mayor Chris Coleman, who is leading discussions on the city's 2008 budget. "It's going to be a new day, and we're going to do things differently."
While she declined to discuss specifics detailed in the preliminary paperwork, Mulholland said the budget Coleman releases early next month will lay out "a historic shift in the way the city does business. ... We're not going to run a race to the bottom."
The changes come five years after the state, suffering a $2 billion budget crisis of its own, made significant cuts to aid to local governments. St. Paul has made do with about $18 million less annually than the state and city expected as recently as 2003.
To compensate, the city has raised property taxes in each of the past two years - by $1.9 million, or 3 percent, in 2006, and by an additional $5.5 million, or 8.5 percent, this year. The city, since 2002, also has doubled the street fees it collects from property owners. But levies haven't kept pace with the drop-off in nontax revenue.
City officials had hoped a tax bill passed by the new DFL majority at the Capitol might ease the pain: The measure included $9 million more in aid for St. Paul next year. Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed the measure May 30, citing concerns about its inflationary assumptions and other details.
But planning for 2008 was well under way in City Hall by that time: Ten departmental finance memos (requested by the Pioneer Press under the Minnesota Data Practices Act) were dated just five days later and outline responses to a mere $2 million drop in overall funding, a fraction of the impact of the tax bill veto.
Still, the documents suggest some major changes were in the works even before the Legislature adjourned - at least outside of the police and fire departments.
The memo from city library director Melanie Huggins indicates her agency had estimated the proceeds from closing the Hamline Midway and Hayden Heights libraries, selling the latter and eliminating six jobs. The city apparently has approached Hamline University about co-locating a library, as was done with Metropolitan State University, on East Seventh Street.
The budget documents also suggest the city is contemplating major information technology changes, such as refocusing the city's cable TV operation on Web content, converting city phones to a voice-over-Internet system, and significantly improving computer hardware.
The most dramatic changes, though, appear in the Parks and Recreation memo.
Parks Director Bob Bierscheid identified $431,000 worth of options to make a $283,000 budget reduction, his department's share of a proposed $2 million citywide cut. They include exiting the Frost Lake, Highwood Hills and Northwest Como sites, all co-located with public schools. The preliminary plan also includes closing the Como Park pool, shuttering as many as five of the city's 38 other recreation centers, and cutting at least 16 jobs.
In an interview, Bierscheid confirmed the city also was looking at additional revenue measures, including charging for parking at local parks. Minneapolis does this at some of its popular locations, including Minnehaha Falls and around the city's lakes.
The budget's actual nuts and bolts are being kept under wraps but aren't likely to surprise close observers. City Council Member Jay Benenav said the budget ax has narrowly missed the Hamline Midway library before, and he said he wasn't surprised to hear the facility may be back on the chopping block.
He also said he's skeptical of "reforms" that involve drawing back the city's reach. He considers recreation center consolidation a "suburban model" of public service, one St. Paul can't accomplish the way Woodbury can. "There are people here that don't have cars, that can't just hop in and drive across town. Not that we should be encouraging that anyway."
Spokesman Bob Hume said the police department, the city's largest single expenditure, hadn't been asked to prepare a preliminary budget document outlining cuts. Mulholland, the mayor's chief of staff, said the city still is committed to adding officers promised in 2005 by then-Mayor Randy Kelly. He wanted to put an additional 100 officers on the force.
The document from the fire department lists topics for a meeting agenda and a proposed $474,000 cut but no details about how that might be achieved. The city did spend $215,000 on an outside study of the fire department released in March, and Mulholland said that study and its financial effects were still working their way through the fire service.
She added that she did not anticipate staffing reductions among public safety personnel, but she wouldn't talk specifically about any other job changes other than to say it would be "extraordinarily difficult" to balance the city's 2008 budget without layoffs.
"At this point, all the options are on the table," Mulholland said.
Tim Nelson can be reached at tnelson@pioneerpress.com or 651-292-1159.
Well first of all a $10 MILLION dollar police precinct was a really DUMB idea.
Close the rec centers and we may as well save that money for extra policing because the crime rate will sky rocket among youth.
I think we should CAN these well educated people on the city council and in the Mayors office. It seems along with getting an education the common sense was DUMBED right out of them.
This is a classic case of a city being badly mismanaged. They need to fire the dipshits and get new leadership.
Bob, this is another scare tactic on the public to put pressure on our Governor.
What losers!
A couple of quick points. It would be so nice if the money that the City gets from diferent sources could be spent where ever the Mayor (any Mayor) and Council (any council) would like to spend it.
The money that is spent building buildings isn't the same money as used to pay salaries.
Much of the money that the City uses to build things is Federal Dollars (the taxes you send to DC) that are assigned as Community Development Block Grant Dollars. The Fed's send out that money to each City based on their population and poverty levels and the bulk of that money is to be used building things. You just aren't allowed to use it to pay salaries. I wish you could but you can't.
So, every time one bitches about how the money shouldn't have been used to build this thing or that, your just whistling in the dark... they can't use it for anything else.
There is one reason why the City is in this situation. The State government has fucked us. The money that we send to the state as our income tax dollars is no longer being returned to assist cities the way that it had been before this governor. Our Republican governor has figured out what our Republican president figure out a long time ago. Most of the people who live in cities are Democrats that don't vote for Republicans, so screw them. Cut taxes for the wealthy suburbanites and they will keep reelecting you. Who cares if the cities go to hell in a hand basket? Just disown them. Suck the tax money out of them, don't allow them access to the income tax, restrict them to only using property taxes and let them sink. What difference does it make, they don't vote for you anyway? And hell, if you screw them bad enough, you can make it look like its the cities governments fault that they weren't able to make money appear out of blue sky!
And, it ain't just happening here. The same problems are happening in Minnneapolis, and Duluth. They are DFL towns so f' 'em what does the governor care? It is also becoming a nationwide GOP stratogy cut taxes to your wealthy voting blocks and let the Democrat cities starve.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Just wait till the City faces a $100,000,000 judgement against it for the federal lawsuits.
Let's look at history here.
For years a portion of our budget came back from the state in the form of millions in Local Government Aid. We used it to fund cops, parks, fire fighters, public works, libraries in lieu of raising taxes to do so.
The governor and republican house cuts LGA dramatically. The year before, the new President and Congress cut CDBG funds and other federal funds to help cities. Locally, the previous two Mayors had used a portion of that money to keep taxes down (and increased fees). This Mayor is elected the year after the state withdraws a huge amount of LGA. Where does the money come from to even maintain the level of service from before? Property taxes except, you can't possibly raise it to the level to match what was cut so some basic services have to be cut.
So here were are. And no, Pawlenty didn't make as big of cuts in suburban areas as he did Mpls, St Paul and Duluth. I'm not saying its political but, some of those cities had half their budget tied up in LGA. The voted republican and were not hit so hard with cuts.
Some of you love the governor and love to hate the city and won't follow the line of logic here (I also suspect you don't see the need for libraries and rec centers), so your responses are expected as I read above.
Eric M.
Chuck, you can not honestly tell me the City of Saint Paul is not spending money on the construction of this police precinct.
Also, the tax payers will be paying to maintain this structure. There will be utility cost related to the building. We will have to hire a staff just for maintenance and cleaning.
How many of the buildings the city made vacant are a loss for contributing to the tax revenue now?
They can't figure out any other way to make these cuts without jepordizing children?
Removing recreation centers and libraries is not the needed cuts to make.
Bob,
I believe Chuck is explaining the term 'dedicated funds'. The funds used for that building cannot be transferred over to salaries. Its for bricks and mortar only. Doesn't matter if they are local, state or federal. They are dedicated funds to buildings.
Eric M.
A page from the DFL when there is a shortfall do the following:
1. Blame the Republicans even though they do NOT control the house or the senate.
2. Threaten to close hot topic services.
1. Libraries
2. Recreation centers
3. Police
4. Fire
Little Dave (Chuck Repke) and Big Dave have a scam going in St. Paul that is unmatched, bar none.
One thing to Chuck and the DFLers on this list, the answer is not tax, tax and tax some more. You see what happened in the 1980's. Our good mayor George L. really screwed things up, by letting Whirlpool and Stroves just walk out of town. Then and Jim S. took over where George left off. Chuck what you are really pushing is Socialism with your tax mentality to solve the fiscal situation in St. Paul. THIS IS JUST THE WRONG DIRECTION TO BE TAKING. So you want the government will give you a place to stay, food and medical care and all you have to do is work a few hours a day if you want. This way everyone will have the same amount of everything. If one guy is industrious and hard working, we will just take this away from him and give it to the slob who refuses to work.
Chuck if that happens, we will have a revolution in this country like you have never seen before. Oh yeah, the DFL wants to take away your guns as well, I wonder why? Have you ever tried to purchase a long gun in St. Paul, Jay Bennanav saw to it that you could not do so, Wal-Mart letter and gun store on Snelling?
Chuck or I should say Little Dave, all you DFLers need is a crying towel because you are going to have to cut back on your socialist agenda some. Get used to it, we all have been doing it for the last five years.
Mayor Coleman and our current city council members are simply unprepared to lead our city. Mayor Coleman's economic plan is a page out of Socialist Karl Marx book. It would be helpful to have a person leading St. Paul who actually understands how the economy works. These last two years under Mayor Coleman have been a steady downward slide and Mayor Coleman can only blame himself instead of blaming Republicans for all of it’s troubles. Sending Chuck and Eric out to float the “Blame Republican” angle on this forum and others to get the polling numbers for his budget speech is really pathetic. What Mayor Coleman and his staff need to do is really take a good look at the budget situation in St. Paul and identify what has failed in their budget policies before blaming the Republicans.
The other day there was a sign on the mayor’s door that read, “Out with Adam Smith and in with Karl Marx." How true this sign was.
Hi all,
I found this posting on SPIF, August 2, 2006, in response to Mayor Coleman’s budget address last year.
Mr. Krenik had a good response to mayor Coleman and the budget situation in St. Paul, but as usual the DFL controlled papers ignored this information.
-----------------------------------
For Immediate Release
Response to Mayor Coleman’s Budget Address - August 2, 2006
Contact: John F. Krenik
Re: Low Taxes Will Keep St. Paul’s Economy’s Tank Filled. Raising Property Taxes Will Keep Us on Empty
“Today, Mayor Christopher Coleman announced an 8.5% increase in property taxes for St. Paul residents. This is in addition to Ramsey County’s proposed property tax increase of 5%. This is an unwise decision by Mayor Coleman and will hurt the fiscal health of our city now and in the future.”
“With soaring gas prices dipping into our already stretched family budgets and the growing concern about inflation, it’s not surprising the citizens of St. Paul are expressing great concern over this proposed property tax increase and the impact it will have on their ability to provide for their families.”
“The Mayor’s “pay as you go” budget plan is just the latest ruse to raid the wallets of St. Paul taxpayers under the guise of fiscal discipline. Mayor Coleman prefers to raise taxes on working families. Keeping taxes low is the number one thing our City Council can do ensure our economic health in St. Paul.”
“With the proposed tax increase, St. Paulites will suffer from a form of sticker shock as they open that dreaded envelope and discover how much their local taxes are being raised. This will amount to a $260.00 increase on the average home in St. Paul. The real estate boom in St. Paul (increased property values) and the increased housing tax base from Housing 5000 has given local officials a windfall of added revenue. Our Mayor and some members of the City Council seem determined to spend it instead of lowering the tax rate so that taxpayers may keep more of their hard-earned money.”
Back to the Basics
”In this time of war, the public safety of our city needs to be a top priority for our Mayor and City Council. In the 2006 budget that was approved by the Saint Paul City Council, called for the addition of 25 NEW police officers for the City of Saint Paul. This was a commitment by the Mayor (Randy Kelly) and City Council to hire 25 additional police officers in addition to hiring replacement police officers for retiring police officers for our basic public safety. This budget (2006) allowed for full funding of 576 full time sworn officers and the addition of 25 officers for a grand total of 601 police officers for our city by the end of the year 2006. The current strength of our city police department is based on 2 police officers for every 1000 residents. Police to resident levels in cities like Minneapolis is based on 2.07 to 2.2 police officers per every 1000 residents. The Mayor’s proposed 2007 budget staffing for our already stretched police department is 581 officers instead of 601 officers as outlined in the 2006 budget (2.0 officers to 1000 residents). Understaffing our police and fire departments is a disservice to the citizens of St. Paul and creates a safety risk to the public.”
“On July 27, 2006 the St. Paul Police Department graduated 12 of the proposed 25 police officers and three replacement officers for a total of 15 police officers. This is less than half of the 25 police officers that were budgeted for in the 2006 budget. Instead of using this 3% dedicated property tax increase for the intended purpose of hiring police officers, Mayor Coleman has used it to pay overtime instead of hiring permanent replacement police officers. This is not solving the shortage of police officers and is a misuse of taxpayer money.”
“Lets make no bones about this issue. The public safety of our city must be the most important priority for our Mayor and City Council. Saint Paul needs a total of 601 police officers to maintain the strength of their police department in relation to the population (2.2 police officers to 1000 residents). The Mayor is only proposing 581 sworn officers in the 2007 budget. The hiring of additional fire fighters and the continued replacement of old fire-fighting equipment is a MUST for our public safety. Being the Capital City, it is our obligation to provide a safe and secure city. Cutting corners with public safety will only result in the mess Minneapolis is now facing.”
Public Health
Exxon-Mobil housing site on West Seventh Street known as Victoria Park
“It is very irresponsible of the city to proceed with this residential housing development due to health concerns just for money. The current owners of the property do not want to sell the property due to serious health and safety concerns associated with the property. This site is not appropriate for residential development as proposed by the city as this site is heavily polluted with petroleum byproducts. Exxon-Mobil has done some cleanup work at the site, but being able to take out all petroleum byproducts and to bring the land up to residential standards has not been done. Simply put this site is better designed for industrial or commercial uses and not for residential development. This housing project is being pushed by some on the City Council as a way to expand our tax base in St. Paul. By using eminent domain to take this property from Exxon-Mobil for residential housing (Victoria Park) is simply putting people at risk for increased revenue for the city. This is morally and ethically wrong.”
Holding the line on Spending
“The Mayor and City Council have an obligation to hold the line on spending and not follow a policy of “pay as you go.” This is simply not addressing the financial problem our city faces. Raising property taxes so excessively is NOT the answer and by doing so will only hurt the economy in St. Paul. The city council needs to look at the overall size of the budget, the number of public employees and taxes in relation to services being provided. If there is a budget shortfall then they need to look outside the box in solving this budget problem. Raising property taxes so excessively is not the solution, but adds a band-aid to the problem and does not solve the problem. In my family budget, I have to do with what I have. I do not have the ability to raise my own wages when I feel I want something I currently do not have. The Mayor and City Council have to treat the St. Paul budget the same way you and I treat our budgets by doing with what you have and finding new solutions to get the things you want, thus making the taxpayer’s dollar go farther. The Mayor and City Council need to be problem solvers, not problem makers. Raising property taxes will only create problems, both short term and long term for our city. By the city raising property taxes by 8.5% and Ramsey County raising property taxes by an additional 5% (based on the increased property values) is excessive. I do not get a 13.5% raise in my wages for 2007 to cover this increase. I have to ask the question, “What financial condition would our city be in if Mayor Kelly had not been proactive and committed to expanding our tax base through Housing 5000?” We would be in a greater financial mess if Mayor Kelly had simply taken the “pay as you go approach” (reactive) by raising property taxes as advocated by some on the city council then and now.”
Thank you for your comments 12:34.
I would urge everyone on the list to go to the City web page and try the "budget cruncher" see where you kind find the money or make the cuts to keep the City a float.
This is no scare game or blame the GOP. The governor quit sending almost 9 million of your tax dollars back to you four years ago and there is nothing for the City to do but cut.
The State of Minnesota has said it is our job to take care of the wealthy and the cities are on their own. Its just a fact.
When people say that the City threatens to cut parks, libraries, cops and fire fighters, excuse me but that is all that the city does with your tax dollars. Everybody else is pay as you go. The public works worker gets paid out of the road project he/she is working on, as is all of their admin people.
And you can't take the money that is assigned from the state to fix roads and pay cops with it!!! They won't let you!
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Come on Henry... $100,000,000 million?
I think your 0 key must have been stuck.
I have an offer for the plaintiffs on behalf of the city and its citizen.. "0"
Hey Repke....I drove by one of the landlords houses one night last week and Santa Clause was up on the roof droping bags of money down the chimney. It was your non profit money Repke. I'm afraid you're all done in this town pal. No more handouts for your projects. You hear me Repke, you're through, done, over as in a bad movie. You're time has come. Pack 'r up and head for the hills big boy.
Once again Chuck and Eric lend credibility to this forum. :-)
You guys would be lost without them.
The thing Chuck Repke does not understand is if you invest to keep businesses in St. Paul and do not drive them out due to high taxes, then these businesses have a chance to compete in the marketplace and be competitive. These businesses in turn hire people. These people then spend money in St. Paul. It is called the economic circle. These concepts are unfamiliar to the DFL. The city could be self-sufficient and business friendly, but the DFL leadership has taken a different path, one of high taxes and an unfriendly business atmosphere.
The city would not have had to have their hand out for any money from the state if they did not chase away good businesses from St. Paul like mayors George L., Jim S. and now Chris C. have done.
In World War II we had listen Tokyo Rose spew her anti-American propaganda, during the Vietnam War you had Jane Fonda and now we have DFLers Chuck and Amanda as the Socialist Party voice of St. Paul.
Just wonderful.
Bob likes to brag about A Dems googles rating. I think googles has made a mistake! I look to the top of the page and there it is, how can this be?
The only answer I can think of is Chuck and Eric earned the rating for A Dem. :-)
To my old landlord,(I sent him a link) May 40 gals. of sewage rain upon your head, soo...n, tonight, now, or when you are done reading this.
3:36 Where do you get that stuff from? Jim S started what was twelve years O% tax increases. The City is only a small part of the property tax (less than 1/3) and property tax rates for commercial properties is set by the state not the City. The property tax rates residential vs industrial vs commercial is set by the state and the rates for commercial properties have gone down over the last twenty years.
So, in you world the reason why we have issues with business in Saint Paul is because of the fact that commercial tax rates have gone down over the last twenty years. Is that what you are trying to say?
Again nobody is looking for any hand outs from the State what the cities want is a part of the income tax monies collected from Saint Paul residents and business to be put to use paying for cops, firefighters libraries. Because otherwise the governor sends it away from Saint Paul to take care of his suburban friends.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
That's it, you have hit the nail right on the head. Every time the city wants to get a point accross or some disinformation to the taxpayers, they roll out this Repke on a 2 wheeler and wind him up and let him go spew thier politically correct junk. It's curtains for you Repke, your energizaer batteries are losing energy quick. You hear me Repke......curtains......your boat is sinking, and so will the current leaders in the nextr election. People are all done with this style of leadership. Move 'r on out Repke, your non profit money is going to heading up 94 in trailers of the landlords when the lawsuit is settled.
It doesn't make any difference if gthe Federal Government foots the bill for this building that is going on. We the taxpayers have to pay the ongoing upkeep and service the new residents use, and it has got to the point where it is breaking our backs trying to do it. What good does it do to take free money to build something if we can't afford to pay for the schools, fire, police, sewer, roads and other service it takes to maintain these new builds?
Amanda, I think we have had enough of your B. rown S. ugar.
Bob finds value in your statements, I don't see it!
What were you doing before you found us? Whatever it was consider going back to it.
Amanda you remind me a junior high school student that doesn't fit in anywhere. Grow up Amanda and/or get a life elsewhere. Your points of view are meaningless and pointless.
9:05, Chuck Repke said, "3:36 Where do you get that stuff from? Jim S started what was twelve years O% tax increases."
Where do you get your information? Jim S. was only in office for 4 LONG years. He only knew how to raise taxes and raise them some more. There was no such thing as a 0% tax increase under Jim S. If you try and tell this group Jim S. never raised taxed, I got some swampland for you.
Chuck this negative attitude by the DFL towards the business community hurts business in St. Paul. As a business owner in St. Paul I think Chris Coleman is bad for St. Paul.
Norm Coleman brought fiscal responsibility back to St. Paul. Norm looked at all department budgets and asked the question, is this a need or a want when looking over the budgets just like we do with our own family budget. Chuck we do not all run a nonprofits to line out pockets like you do, we actually work for a living.
Chuck, it is no secret that you have connections down at city hall. That is how you have been able to get money for your nonprofits and other things.
Chuck, we work very hard at our jobs and we do not want a government handout or the government telling us what to do. We just want to provide for our families. We are tired of the government taking our hard-earned money for social equalization. Now I am all for helping a poor stiff when he is down, but three generations of being down is enough as the well is dry. This brand of social engineering by the DFL has failed.
I have worked hard, I started with nothing, built my business. I worked hard for what I have, sacrificed many things. Now, just because I have made some money by working my butt off, the DFL says I am rich and I need to support some poor stuff who does not want to get off his butt and work, I say hell no. It is all of these rich DFLers in St. Paul who want this social equality crap and it is not worth a wooden nickel. And another thing, the RICO suit has been a long time in coming.
I have got to get to bed, as I have to work hard pouring concrete in this heat tomorrow. Why don’t you send some of those hippies, no good freeloaders over to my job site and have them really work for a living. Better yet, why don’t you send some of those rich DFLers over to see who they consider rich, really have to do to get rich. Chuck, individuals like you do not have a clue what life is about. You think you do, but you are as green as they come.
Amanda lives in one of those imaginary worlds. She doesn't know where she came from so how can she go back?
I'm sorry 11:01 but you are flat out wrong the last budget of jim's had no increase it was a hold your own budget.
I know, I was there. I was staff to council member Thune I had the budget books. Also that year Council Members Long and Thune pushed the consolidation of the Saint Paul Police pension fund with PERA that resulted in a 5 million dollar savings in both of the first two years of Norm's administration facilitating Norm being able to spend extra money on 3 labor contracts and still have a zero increase budget.
So I know facts can be an annoying thing but every once in a while they are worth paying attention to.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Wasn't it Norm Coleman who engineered the "Lawson" deal, only to have a buddy or soemthing cash in on it to make 30 million dollars?
Hi All,
Please let's not turn this thread into something personal with Amanda. She has not personally attacked a member here. She obviously has issues with her former landlord.
Maybe this is her motivation here.
If this is the case I think we should give her time to see what great people most of the property rights advocates who post here are.
Also, if I was Chuck or Eric I think I would appreciate her support even if there is little of any substance in her comments.
For all I know there is hundreds of people like Amanda cheering Chuck and Eric on.
Sometimes I find it hard to believe Chuck and Eric have posted here as long as they have. I appreciate their input.
We can disagree and enjoy each others company. A Democracy is a melting pot. BOOYA, so enjoy the flavor you won't find this type of forum any where but here in Saint Paul.
Thanks for the encouragement Bob, but I have been fighting guys who think like 12:31 my entire life.
There are some of us who remember that the Consitution was writen by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and not Adam Smith. Guys like 12:31 think that the only way that you can get ahead is to step on someone elses face. They believe that terms like "Liberty" and "Freedom" are words that allow them to have no responsibility for their fellow man or for their country. I don't buy it.
I think that the country was founded on self sacrifice by a bunch of radicals who were willing to put their lives and their fortunes at risk for the benefit of the common good. That the number one question wasn't what's in it for me, but what is in it for us?
Guys like 12:31 accuse people who worry about the common good of being "communists" it takes them about 10 seconds in a debate for them to break out Karl Marx, so I am use to it. They are the reason why our nation has fallen behind most of the rest of the planet in health care, why we have high infant mortality rates and seniors who can't afford meds because they think that if others can't get medical help because they are broke it might make it easier for them to buy it.
So, our country has a history of these guys who are in it for themselves. They were the toreys or "loyalist" during the revolution. The King had given them their "land rights" and be damned if this group of common men "WE THE PEOPLE," were going to have any say over them.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Hey Chuck,
Hit a nerve didn’t I?
You say, “we are the reason our nation has fallen behind most of the rest of the planet in health care, why we have high infant mortality rates and seniors who can't afford meds because they think that if others can't get medical help because they are broke it might make it easier for them to buy it.”
Well, again true to form, you have taken a page right from the DFL manifesto. The socialism you spew on this forum is really telling. The tax policies of the DFL controlled cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul show failed policy. You feel that it is your “right” to social equalize our society. Wrong. I busted my tail to make a better life for my family. Sure it would have been great to just sit around and have society provide for me. They tried this in Russia and this failed. Look at the health care system in England and Canada. Both placed I have relatives and they all want to come to the US for medical care.
Our country was not founded on individuals who wanted such regulation and taxation like the DFL wants. Our founding fathers wanted freedom not regulation and taxation, hell they fought against these two things. Chuck and another thing, may I remind you it was the “Radical Republicans” who freed the slaves and actually fought for the African Americans in the South to give them rights during and after the Civil War? It seems the Democrats wanted to institute “Black Codes” to keep the black man down, to prevent him from owning property, voting, getting a job and a whole list of other oppressive things. Chuck, try as you might, but you can not change the history books. I clarify by saying if given total control, the DFL will try and do what Japan has done and rewrite their history books to say they did not brutalize women during WWII or attack the US. Give the DFL time and they will oppress the masses for a minority few. Hell, why don’t we build a Red Granite mausoleum like Lenin's Mausoleum in Russia and put all of the DFL party leaders in it when they die.
The DFL Party in Minnesota is the Socialist Party of Minnesota. The DFL platform could be taken right out of Karl Marks’ handbook. The financial police of Chris Coleman reflects this socialism policy.
The last sentence of the last post should read as follows:
The financial policy of Chris Coleman reflects this socialism policy.
Sorry for the typo.
Don't worry about me Bob. I am having fun with these little boys.
And by the way this is my lunch break. My time my dime!
11:49 do you get out of the house much or do you just sit around all day and listen to right wing radio?
Like I said took you about ten seconds to get to Russia...
"Look at the health care system in England and Canada. Both placed I have relatives and they all want to come to the US for medical care".... you have got to be kidding me? The vast majority of the people in both of those countries wouldn't trade their systems with the US.
If you have relatives that want to come here for medical care than they must have plenty of money, because the average English and Canadian citizen laughs at us for not providing citizens with basic health care, they think we are fools. They can't believe that a country with our wealth would be happy with being 20th in infant mortality rates behind most of eastern Europe now. You think you got a good deal by paying an insurance company to try and figure out ways to stop you from getting medical help? That's a great system...
You are correct that it was the "Radical Republicans" that freed the slaves and tried to bring equality to the south... of course if you ever actually read history, you would know that by 1870 the "Radical" Republicans were out of power replaced by the "Rober Baron" Republicans of the 1870's who implemented most of the capitalistic policies that you like including, allowing for poll taxes in the south and supporting the efforts of the KKK and of course by 1876 President Grant ordered all of the Indians onto the reservation so that the "Final Solution" could be implamented with that race of people that wouldn't fit into their capitalistic view of the United States.
I tend to trace my socialist roots to FDR who's New Deal policies that were supported from 1932 until 1980 brought about the most prosperous time in American History, created the American middle class, created virtual full employment and taxed the crap out of millionaires and billionaires. Those were the days when social security was solvent and young people thought that there was the potential that if you worked hard you could do better than your father did.
Of course today the chances of one getting out of poverty are almost nill. But, I forgot you need all of those people to stay poor to live in your trashed "investment" properties. That's why the current system is so appealing.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Chuck - 1:11 P. M. stated, “I tend to trace my socialist roots to FDR who's New Deal policies that were supported from 1932 until 1980 brought about the most prosperous time in American History, created the American middle class, created virtual full employment and taxed the crap out of millionaires and billionaires. Those were the days when social security was solvent and young people thought that there was the potential that if you worked hard you could do better than your father did.”
Let’s take a look at this prosperity you speak of. I remember the high taxes of the 1980’s, I also remember interest rates over 23%. I also remember the recession we were in as well due to these poor financial policies the DFL has forced upon us. The social equalization policies you speak of had a devastating effect on our economy. Do you remember all the businesses that moved out of St. Paul and Minnesota due to the ridiculously high taxes, I do? I had many friends at Whirlpool and at the brewery who lost their jobs. Also look at what happened to American Hoist. I also remember Mayor George Latimer and Jim Scheibel did not have a clue and they wanted to tax some more instead of reducing their budget. Yes, President Ronald W. Reagan cut taxes and this in turn helped our economy. As a union member, I prospered under President Reagan’s tax policy. Buildings were again going up and I was making money instead of receiving unemployment. I hate to consider what would have happened if President Jimmy Carter would have gotten a second term.
You also said, “11:49 do you get out of the house much or do you just sit around all day and listen to right wing radio?”
Chuck, I am a working stiff who is tired of the socialist policies of the DFL. I have to work 12 hours or more a day to support my family. I am tired of the Ramsey County Commissioners giving themselves a 25% raise, I don’t get this nor should I. I have high taxes and a mayor who likes to raise taxes instead of looking for ways to do more for less. I work hard for a living, I do not sit in an air-conditioned office like you do and reply to all of these posts. I am on my lunch break now after setting some steel on a building I am constructing. No, I do not listen to the radio, as I do not have the time. If I did listen to the radio, would this make a difference? I see Air America has gone down the tubes. Chuck, I have dirt under my fingernails, I work hard for a living and I am tired of you progressive democrats taking my hard-earned money or thinking they have a right to my money that I work hard for to support my family. Chuck, are you putting me down because I work for a living? Am I not as good as you sitting in your nonprofit air-conditioned office deciding whose property you are going to take next and make a buck off of? Chuck, I am also involved in my union. Yes, Chuck I do stand up at meetings and tell my leadership where they can go with their social bullshit. Many of our members think you and Dave are a big fat joke. You would be surprised to learn there are many more conservative democrats out there who think you are full of shit.
Yes Chuck, I do get out and see the city in a way you will never will. Try and get out of your air-conditioned office some more. You may have inside information because of Dave. Chuck, I see the drug dealing, I see the poverty, I see businesses moving out and I see the mayor and city council that is out of touch with reality due to their progressive tax policies. You are not helping the poor, but only enabling them.
Our downtown establishment has missed the boat. Since the legislature has cut funds, why doesn't the City Council just condemn the State Capital and require code compliance? After Mangner boarded it up, Wally Nelson would sell it as condos, while slipping extra money into the city.
Chuck is right in a way, there is a case to be made for making things better for all, and I think most people go along with that idea. Who wouldn't want things better for everyone? The reason people go to the communist thing or Russia right away is because of the NAZI tactics the city uses, such as in the housing code enforcement. Tell me one thing that is fair or for the better for anyone in that whole damn program. The renters don't come out better off. Niether does the neighborhoods in the long run, or will the city when the lawsuits are settled. So where is the better Chuck? Some new project that you or someone else has built that can't be sold or rented to anyone? Is that your idea of better? Or is ti all the landlords that have walked away from their properties or sold to green horns who went belly up only to litter the neighborhood with vacant buildings and ultimately vacant lots? Or perhaps it is the people who used to buy a lot of these properties and rehab them who will no longer work in St Paul because people like Magner won't stay out of their business?
7:16 Saint Paul is only slowly catching up with the suburbs on the way that they deal with rental properties. You are right for years people were able to come to Saint Paul, do little or no maintence on their properties extract as much money as possible out of them and take all the money home to the suburbs. They lived out in the burbs of course where they made sure that their kind of behavior wouldn't be allowed there.
We are now seeing efforts to have landlord licensing in the cities like they have had in most of the suburbs and many other cities for years. The notion of land lord licensing is of course that when you have one property that becomes a long standing problem the city has the ability pull your license to run a rental properties any where in the City. Shut them all down. That's how you get land lord compliance.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Now it's inspectors living out in the burbs of coarse, doing dirty and vicious things that would not be allowed there.
Inspectors and their superiors need to be licensed and accountable to citizen oversight. This is beyond Moremonds sham hearings. When an inspector becomes a long standing problem, such as using Nazi tactics, their license could then be pulled. Shut them down. That's how you get inspector compliance.
When Repke said "Shut them ALL down", he betrayed his real focus. When you look at ALL, you find a lot of really decent people who have shown a lot of committment and courage.
Go ahead and shut them down Chuck. Shut em all down, let these bastards live in the streets and see how much of the city is left unburnt in the end. You want riots in the streets and disorder, go ahead and shut them down. What is it with your type that doesn't understand that there is always going to be poor people who can't afford to live a home that is completely perfect? They rent houses in more emarginal areas that have torn screens etc. because that is what they can afford. If you want to take away that floor beneath them, they;ll have nothing to lose and we'll see some of the riots like we saw back in the 60's. This is just a simople economic reality Chcuk that you and all your socialist buddies are not going to change.....not ever. People with less buy less.
Thanks 2:33 PM, you said what I was thinking!
From now until the final budget from the city you are going to hear that the city is going to close libraries, cut this and that.
It is sad that the DFL used these tactics instead of addressing the real problem of over spending.
I am going to take a different approach here. One I'm not sure will be received very well, but here goes.
We should stop blaming the politicians for things like this and start looking at ourselves.
After all this is a democracy and these people didn't land in office magically. We put them there. We ignore the details and inner workings and pay little attention until seomthing like this creeps up on us.
No it isn't only the people in office who are to blame if your corner library closes...its all of us.
We need to take back control of our government and get off our asses and yes you might even have to sit through a boring City Council meeting or actually speak directly with your representatives....but if you don't take action you might as well hand them the keys to your bank account.
Here's how to get involved:
1. CALL your local representative and express your concerns, desires, hopes, dreams.
2. Go to the meetings and learn all you can about the issues.
3. Get to know your neighbors...yep, put down the remote, get off your duff and walk over to say "hello"
4. Organize, organize, organize...whether its around a specific issue or an entire ideology...theres no better measure than taken it to the people.
5. Run for office if your fed up and think you could do a better job.
6. Engage people on the street, the internet, the paper, the TV at church or the park...talk to your fellow citizens.
7. VOTE.
8. Community involvement like a district council or volunteer organization.
9. Keep an open mind and try to be reasonable about your expectations...government does NOT move on a dime.
10. Be polite to your opposition. You often learn more and see why someone is motivated to do what they do.
Martin Owings - Just some thoughts.
Excellent post Martin!
There are many on this forum who don't like my political views or the candidates I support. I would urge all of you to actually back away from the computer and get involved in your community groups, or political parties or any organization that is active in the community.
For some of you, it might be a good idea to do that before you try to become governor or attorney general, just a suggestion.
Here is the big reason why most of the current people in public office are in public office, they got active in some kind of civic organization, they got some experience as to how the goverment works (little things like knowing that the Mayor has no control over the schools or that the City doesn't have an income tax are good things to know before you run).
They developed a network of people who actually knew who they were before they ran. It could be a church group, school group, civic organization... cub scouts, something that actually showed someone that they were committed to something. Bob's a biker, join ABATE and have an impact on state laws.
It is just chicken s... to think that public officials fall from the sky or are created in the back rooms of political parties, they come people who get involved.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Chuck and Martin, thank you for the input. Both of you have covered information I have hit upon here a number of times.
And thanks for the ABATE tip Chuck.. I see the local media is rallying for helmet laws (highlighiting motorcycle accident injuries and deaths without helmets)lately and I think they should mind their own business. I am sure an attempt to make us all wear helmets again is in the near future. (I do wear a helmet when racing or dirt biking,not when I am crusin)
I know their is only a small number of posters here. However, we have a very large number of people lurking from all walks of life.
This blog has the potential to draw the average Joe into the arena of thoughts, and motivate people to activism and voting.
I will build membership here as I promised with my News Letter. I am not real informed on the inner workings of city politics. I am very grateful to Chuck, Eric and Martin when they explain how things work. This is important to me because the average citizen like me doesn't know the structure of city politics. We have been involved in raising families and working jobs and just assumed all was well in our government.
First of all the A democracy blog will be moving to a full fledged forum in about 2 months. This will be a big plus since anyone will be able to post a topic.
We will be getting many new members. Some will post and many more will lurk. We need to have people like Chuck, Eric, and Martin who know how the city works hang tough here to help us along whether you agree with Chuck and Eric or not, they have valuable information to share with others.
I am doing my part in attempting to draw citizens of Saint Paul into our discussions here.
Most blogs have a right or left leaning. I don't want to go down that road and minimize our base. A Democracy can be a focal point of involvement in city affairs for citizens.
"A Democracy is my contribution to the City I love and owe a debt too!
Thank you Bob and Chuck for your kind remarks.
Bob as much as I'd like to claim an understanding of City Government, I have to say that Chuck has probably forgotten more than I'll ever know.
My involvement has been more on the grass roots side of things, such a community activism etc. In those efforts I've encountered many people in politics and frankly I've found most of them to be well meaning, passionate people who genuinely want to improve the lives of their constituents.
It's just too easy to blame others and neglect our own complicity or lack of involvement. As others have pointed out in the past it takes more than complaints to make a difference. I know it's fun to bitch, but bitching rarely solves the tougher issues.
Thanks for providing this venue. And thank you for your efforts to promote civic discourse.
Martin Owings
Martin said- I know it's fun to bitch, but bitching rarely solves the tougher issues.
property investor- I respectfully disagree Martin. Thousands read here. they are reading about Helgen and tThune and others. You don't think this will have an effect on the vote? I DO!
Chuck said- I would urge all of you to actually back away from the computer and get involved in your community groups, or political parties or any organization that is active in the community.
Anonymous- Yeah Chuck, you would like us to quit telling our stories here huh? It isn't good for the up coming election for voters to be reading all this bitching here.
Bob, expect $100 bucks in your mail box from me. Just a little donation to help spread the word about our little Town Hall Meeting here.
Keep up the good work!
OK you last two guys have to be kidding me. This is fun but it isn't going to have any significant impact on the general voting public in a municiple election.
You have to 1. live in Saint Paul and 2 get up off of your butt and vote to have an impact in the election. Talking to yourself here doesn't have the same impact.
You have seven ward races up and the opertunity to make a difference in at least three of them.
So, which races do you want to impact Wards 1, 5 and 6 all are in play and some think if they had shoe leather you could make an impact in 3 and 4.
I hate to tell you but there is no real opponent to Lantry (7) and Thune (2), so, you are just going to have to live with those two for four more years.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
We shall see about that Chuck. I do live here, and not only am I fed up with Lantry and her attitude, several of my neighbors are also. We voted for her last time. We'll vote against her this time.
With my friend Bobs permission I announce the following.
I am a concerned citizen who has had problems with the city. It is my wish to remain anonymous.
I have pledged $30,000 to the A Democracy blog to build partiscipation here. The money is in escrow to be released at the beginning of October.
Please donate if you are concerned about our city. This blog is and has been "Sunshine Politics" at it's best!
A big thank you to everyone who reads or post here.
Well there you go Chuck.. It looks like the city pissed off the wrong people. I don't have a clue what kind of money Bob is sitting on now but I see $30,100 here. That buys a lot of coverage Chuck.
I think this stuff printed here will piss people off when they read about these elderly people losing their homes and all the other horror stories will bring citizens of saint paul out in large numbers to vote. Even people who sit on their butt will be angered to vote.
I have a feelin this is going to be one of the most interesting city elections in years. Hey chuck you ever read Bob's News Letter. OH BOY, if you haven't get one!
I was at the Bruce Vento Elementry meeting. I would share my copy of the News Letter with everyone here only my cat yearnated on it.:-( I hope mr. johnson will provide me with another copy.
Speaking of the news letter. I seen a man with Bob's ontourage hand the News Letter to mr. helgen. I had already read my copy and I was curious how the councelman would react to it. When the councelman was finished reading it he went right up to Bob and the other guy and demanded they leave, they were already walking out the door when Mr. helgen went after them. Bob told Mr. helgen he had a right to be there it was a public meeting. The room was silent as the 3 men exchanged words.
And Chuck, Eric none of us jeered Bob or the man he was with. I and my sister are very concerned about the elderly who lost their homes. We are elderly. I think mr. johnson and this other man displayed great courage speaking publicaly under those circumstances. my sister and i pray for you mr. johnsen.
12:17, I am not angry with anyone. I believe this forum is good for Saint Paul.
I don't have many years left. I can't take it with me!
Hi All,
I had better say this so people don't get the wrong impression.
There is property rights advocates here who have been "delegates" and held positions on community council's were heavily involved in city affairs. And some still are.
I have been informed by several people when it comes to property rights and housing issues the city has stone ears. My experience over the last 2 years supports this fact.
When communications have broken down the only option left is civic discourse.
On the home improvement issues and code compliance for seniors, if any of you hear of seniors who need work done on their properties and have financial issues, all three of the Community Development Corporations (CDC's) on the East Side have home improvement monies and on a regular basis will give either grants or "do on sale" loans to seniors.
NENDC just last month gave a loan to a senior couple on SSI for a new roof 0% interest due on sale loan. So, they owe the money, but don't have to pay it until they sell the house, and they can live their forever. We are working with a senior couple now that got screwed by a private contractor on a chimney repair and the stack looks to be ready to fall off.
Back before the money got tight, we were able to give out all of the money out in forgivable loans, (I have over $300,000 of those on the books) but now most of them are low interest loans.
NENDC gives out $150,000 a year in low interest (3%) loans to low to moderate income residents on the East Side, ESNDC does the same and Dayton's Bluff NHS does at least twice that much. There are programs out there that can help. Don't just blow them off.
All three agencies were started by East Side neighbors with the purpose of trying to help people stay in their houses and improve the general neighborhood. The boards are still just average East Side residents.
Chuck Repke
E.D. NENDC
Thank you for the information Chuck.
I think we should require code enforcement to supply this information to people.
It has been shown here on a number of occasions code enforcement has been rude and abrasive with elderly home owners, offering no assistance.
Moving back into the realm of getting involved....
As pointed out by Chuck, its NOT enough to be ANGRY about the politics in Saint Paul.
YOU MUST GET INVOLVED TO MAKE A DIFFERNCE.
I know, I know, its too much work, takes too much time, is too boring....there are a hundred excuses to sit at home and bitch on the internet.
"The people in Government are evil a**holes out to suck every penny from us and screw over the innocent"
WRONG - People in goverment are your neighbors, your coworker, your lawyer (ok no more lawyers please)...they got elected because people like you supported their agenda.
Attack the ideas if you like, but attacking the person does very little to forward your agenda just speaking from my own experience.
Here is a simple fact of reality that should not surprise anyone...
Once you get involved and get to actually know how the system works and the people involved you quickly realize the work being done is NOT easy. NOT everyone is ever going to be happy.
We al like to bitch about our Boss until we become the Boss...then you realize its not such a simple job.
It may be appropriate for some people to support organizations or blogs or groups who are trying to "get the message out", so supporting Ademocracy is great way to do that if you agree with Bob's work on property rights.
Don't take this the wrong way, I appreciate Bob's passion and efforts here, but I choose to direct my $$ to a candidate in a race...in my case the Independence Party.
I wish I had more to give to support all the sorts of "grass roots" efforts and "voice to the people" causes. But like everyone I know, I am forced to make fiscal decisions about where to direct my limited resources.
That said, I appreciate that Bob is taking the message forward so people in government can hear them. It takes money to print things, to organize to run an issues based grass roots effort.
That's not to mention the time investment, so THANK YOU to Bob and others for getting involved.
You begin to make a difference the moment your voices are heard.
Martin Owings - Just some thoughts.
thanks for the insight martin.
i think if i had money to donate i would donate it here where it will make a differance. we have to come together to make a differance.
and by the way. I am not a landlord or have a stake in bobs property rights issues. i just think this forum is something that can benefit our city.
this site covers more than property rights. there is humour, discussions on racism, policing, taxs and so much more.
like chuck said, it is fun. i learn stuff here i am not getting from the local media.
alex wendt
east side
To Alex Wendt
East Side
Thanks for your comment.
We all see the truth, but few every has the guts to speak about it. Our city and its elected official have become ruthless and underhanded. The people that do speak against the treachery in our government, they get tagged as liars or nuts.
Enough Is Enough !
Don't Steal >>
THE GOVERNMENT HATES COMPITESSION!
Competition - is the act of striving against individuals or groups, for the purpose of achieving survival, income, pride, status, or other gain.
What New ?
Nothing, when people speak up against the DFL --Union -- or the Democratic Party, they try their best to defame our creator.
We will not concede our right or privilege, or bow down to this physical control by city officials.
My battle with Ramsey Action program aka RAP using inferior insulation in 200,00 homes in Minnesota, has brought out some misappropriation of Federal Money by RAP and the city.
EX Mayor Jim Scheibel was in control of RAP in the 1970's and just last fall lost his job there.
If the Democratic Party controls St.Paul and Norm Coleman was a Democrat before he became a turncoat Re Publican.
Our fear is not DEATH, it is Government.
This is like Germany and Hitler, speaking out on Government misuse of money will get you locked in some type of institution.
Over the years of Mayor Norm Coleman, Councilman Dave Thune 1996, Chris Coleman Councilman and others saying I was mistaken or lying about the fumes form the insulation RAP was putting in the homes of the >> Poor >> Disabled >> Elderly >> and Minority's free of charge.
Is Thune going to be the Next St.Paul Mayor? We all seen the truth about RAP and all the money that was misused over the years, by there people.
Northern States Power aka NSP >> AKA Xcel Energy Company was involved with RAP by donating BAD Furnaces.
Has anybody notice RAP and its people in the NEWS about stealing from there warehouse?
Stealing is the way of life by people when it comes to Government Money.
Think about paying your taxes, then think how these people using our government money would Cheat.. The Bridges Development will give money to some of these city council candidates, to ensure the project go through.
That is called PAY THE WAY, is that the same as Bribery?
WSCO did not vote to approve The Bridges Development Project.
Now it will be up to the city council and the mayor.
Grease Palms, will be the payoff.
Vote Bill Dahn for Ward 2
Bill Dahn The Whistle Blower.
Hey bill
Your calling the kettle black again.
it's true and the city turned there backs on the poor - elderly -disabled - minorities - and the homeless.
They feel these people don't have feelings, and they don't count as true tax payers.
They wouldn't be the people that would make donation to their campaigns.
Reading this blog shows me that Repke might donate to people campaign, he sounds like one big kiss ass.
bill by you picking on the cities government, you are just making Thune and others spend money to shut you up.
The DFL is spending alot of money on signs to get Thune Re Elected, DFL Union whats the Bridges project to go though.
This is your hay day, and I'm laughing at Thune and his DFL Biker Boys.
Talking about the Biker Boy's, and the DFLers Bill Finney was a buddy
of the man that might have killed Barbara Winn.
Look at the cover ups by Finney about his son the cop.
bill you told me your not accepting donation, then no one can say you are bought.
You could never have enough money to win against the democrats.
Good Luck anyway.
Chuck, the DFL has NEVER missed an opportunity to raise taxes in one form or another in the last 40 years they have been in power at the state level.
Chuck lets take a look at only a small portion of the DFL’s proposed tax increases this last legislative session. Chuck, you’d think that a $2.16 billion budget surplus would be enough for the DFL. You’d think that a 9.3% spending increase for this budget cycle would be enough. It isn’t even close to being enough for the DFL’s leading spendaholics. What was our St. Paul delegation doing? Chuck here is only a few highlights from our local representatives with House File numbers, enjoy:
Rep. Michael Paymar (D-St. Paul) wants to pile enormous tax increases on beverages containing alcohol. He would raise taxes on metric sales beverages by the following percentages: distilled spirits (up 228%); wine (up 450%); hard cider (up 800%); regular beer (up 790%); and 3.2% beer (up 457%). (H.F. 1050) It would collect over $110 million in new taxes.
Rep. Diane Loeffler (D-Minneapolis) wants to eliminate in-state tuition advantages for Minnesota citizens at MnSCU colleges and universities. (House File 1032)
Rep. Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul) wants to fine firms and employees $100 if they do not let a customer use the firms’ non-public restroom if the customer has any “medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet facility.” This has been called the “irritable bowel syndrome bill,” but it could apply to more common conditions of urgency. (House File 1015)
Rep. Phyllis Kahn (D-Minneapolis) wants to apply the sales tax to services involving cosmetic surgery “which does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease.” This includes, but is not limited to: 1) cosmetic surgery; 2) hair transplants; 3) cosmetic injections; 4) cosmetic soft tissue fillers; 5) dermabrasion and chemical peel; 6) laser hair removal; 7) laser skin resurfacing; 8) laser treatment of leg veins; 9) sclerotherapy; and 10) cosmetic dentistry. (House File 1027)
Rep. Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul) wants to collect more taxes on local deeds and mortgage documents in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. (H.F. 1042)
Rep. Joe Mullery (D-Minneapolis) wants to put a 10% tax on people who give gifts. If the donor does not pay the tax, then the tax liability shifts to the person who received the gift. In such cases, the donor would still be liable for a $100 penalty for not paying the gift tax. Under the bill, you could be required to show the gift to the Commissioner of Revenue to determine its true worth. (H.F. 1212)
Rep. Debra Hilstrom (D-Brooklyn Center) wants to raise a tax on cell phones, land-line phones, and other telecommunications devices by 46%. (H.F. 1464)
Rep. Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis) wants to authorize “robo-cameras” to send tickets to owners of vehicles, who will be presumed to be the guilty drivers unless they can prove otherwise. (House File 1058)
Rep. Brita Sailer (D-Park Rapids) wants to raise fees on video and electronic equipment sales. (H.F. 854)
Rep. Joe Atkins (D-Inver Grove Heights) wants to impose an extra $250 fee on cigarette manufacturers. (H.F. 1737)
Rep. Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul) wants to raise pharmacy fees automatically on an annual basis. (H.F. 1722)
Rep. Melissa Hortman (D-Brooklyn Park) wants to impose an extra sales tax to pay for transit and other purposes. In the Metro area, there would be one tax increase. In the rest of the state, the new tax could be proposed by any two or more county boards. (H.F. 1463)
Rep. Rick Hansen (D-South St. Paul) would impose an extra sales tax to raise at least $500 million a year pay for new parks, trails, and habitat projects. (H.F. 1449)
Rep. Shelley Madore (D-Apple Valley) wants to impose an extra sales tax on the three million people in the metro area to pay for more buses and trolleys. (H.F. 1112)
Death and Taxes:
Rep. Tom Anzelc (D-International Falls) wants to authorize a new tax on dead people in his area to pay for the Lakeview Cemetery Association. (H.F. 213).
Rep. Bernie Lieder (D-Crookston) wants to triple a tax on hearses. (H.F. 946)
Cy Thao who caucuses with the Democrats & that he’s got the chutzpah to say “When you guys win, you get to keep your money. When we win, we take your money.” With that type of attitude, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Democrats think that they have first claim on your salary?
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