Mayor Coleman Sacrificing his political career for the DFL Party.
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posted by Bob at Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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Coleman to call for 14% hike in property tax
Mayor's budget proposal rests on state aid; changes sought for rec centers
BY LAURA YUEN
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 08/13/2007 11:38:02 PM CDT
If Minnesota state lawmakers fail to give St. Paul the remaining $10.2 million in aid the city had been counting on, Mayor Chris Coleman will push to raise property taxes by more than 14 percent and unload several recreation centers to outside agencies.
That's the message Coleman is expected to announce today as he unveils two budget scenarios that try to close a $17 million budget gap for 2008. One presumes a special legislative session would grant the state aid; the other presumes no money from the state.
Without the state assistance, the mayor would propose raising the levy by 14 percent to 15 percent to generate the $10.2 million, said City Council Member Dan Bostrom, who said such an increase would be the largest he has seen in his 12 years on the council.
Assuming the state comes through with the aid, Coleman would propose raising the levy by about 7 percent, or $4.9 million, said Bostrom, who confirmed the highlights of the budget message the mayor is expected to deliver.
Under both scenarios, the city would hire more police officers and restructure or close at least eight of the city's 41 recreation centers.
The only difference is in the numbers:
With state aid, the city would add 25 police officers and restructure eight rec centers.
The no-aid proposal calls for just 13 new officers and reducing the number of city-operated rec centers by 10.
Council Member Jay Benanav said the "onus is absolutely" on Gov. Tim Pawlenty to determine whether to burden St. Paul homeowners with a large tax increase.
"I would throw it back in the governor's lap," Benanav said. "The governor has asked cities to be frugal and tighten their belts, and St. Paul has done that admirably. Here we are doing what the governor has asked, and we seem to be punished for that."
Five years ago, the state, suffering a $2 billion budget crisis of its own, reduced the amount of assistance it gave to local governments. St. Paul is seeing $18 million less in annual state aid than what state and local officials had projected as recently as 2003.
Pawlenty vetoed a tax bill this year that included a $9 million increase in local government aid that St. Paul was relying on. The city took another hit when the official amount certified by the state was an additional $1.2 million less than expected.
St. Paul has raised property taxes in each of the past two years - by 3 percent, or $1.9 million, in 2006; and by 8.5 percent, or $5.5 million, this year.
Legislative leaders and the governor have agreed that, should a special session be called, it would not start until after Labor Day.
Pawlenty, a Republican, has said any special session should focus on transportation, particularly bridge safety, in light of the Interstate 35W bridge catastrophe. But he also has said he would be willing to add a few other subjects "that are limited if they were of a consensus nature."
Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, has said he agrees with Coleman that state aid to local governments should be on a special-session agenda.
Leaders of the city's district council who attended a budget briefing Monday evening with the mayor's office say the administration is recommending these steps regarding the recreation centers:
Close the Orchard center.
Turn over management of the Frost Lake, Highwood Hills and Homecroft centers to the St. Paul Public Schools.
Explore community partnerships to manage the Dunning and Eastview centers.
Work with the community to schedule the Desnoyer center for summer activities.
Turn St. Clair recreation space over to the West Seventh Community Center.
Without the state aid, the city would have to find similar arrangements for two more centers.
The City Council has until Sept. 15 to designate a maximum property tax levy. By mid-December, the council will approve the actual levy amount.
Asked if the mayor's proposals were realistic, Bostrom said "it could come to that" if the state aid doesn't come through.
But the council "would continue to look for ways to trim the fat," he said. "There are a lot of citizens struggling to pay their bills and their taxes. You have to be very careful with this, and you can't take a cavalier attitude about raising taxes."
Steve Boland, executive director of the Summit-University Planning Council, said he was pleased with the tough budget decisions Coleman's office presented to district council leaders Monday evening.
"We have to face the fact that there are underutilized and underprogrammed rec centers in the city," Boland said. "We need to realize that as long as we're paying to keep those doors open at the city's expense, we can't use the other centers to the best of their ability."
But another district council leader worried about the prospect of the city unloading two of the four recreation centers in her area.
Betsy Leach of the District 1 Community Council said a high-rise near the Highwood Hills center has a number of Somali refugees who are poor, have no cars and don't speak English. Their children need neighborhood rec centers nearby, Leach said.
"We want to work with the mayor, but we would really like to see the pain equitably distributed across the city," she said. "And I don't see that happening."
Laura Yuen can be reached at lyuen@pioneerpress.com.
For Immediate Release
Response to Mayor Coleman's Budget Address, August 14, 2007
Contact: John F. Krenik
1270 Cleveland Avenue South
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55116
(651) 699-6555
Email: JFK4MN@aol.com
"Today, former mayor Jim Scheibel must be saying to himself, "Hey St. Paul, how am I looking now? I wasn't so bad after all."
"Mayor Christopher Coleman will be announcing an increase in the property tax levy from 7% to 15% depending on two different budget plans he is proposing in his budget address today. This comes on the heels of an 8.6 percent property tax levy increase last year in addition to a Ramsey County increase of 5%. St. Paul has become one of the highest taxed cities in the state. This proposed property tax increase is simply the wrong way to go and it will hurt the fiscal health of our city now and into the future."
"I fully understand that running a city costs a lot of money, but it is how this money is spent is a major concern to me. The people of this city work very hard for their money. Each household has a budget they have to keep (heat, water, property taxes and food) and their wages have not kept up to the rate taxes have gone up. Families have to meet these increased property tax obligations and they have to work more hours just to keep up, thus taking them away from their families."
"Instead of raising property taxes or asking the state for money, the city needs to be proactive and not regressive in their fiscal policy. Once the city starts down the road of high taxes they will see their revenue dry up faster than a rabbit (you and I) being chased by a hungry dog (taxman)."
"Because the average citizen does not sign blindly onto raising taxes year after year does not mean they believe there is no need for government or the taxes to pay for it. Once mayor Coleman can figure this out then maybe something can get done around here."
"This proposed property tax increase by mayor Coleman hits our elderly community extremely hard. Many of these individuals are on a fixed income and this 15% tax increase will be devastating to their budgets. The elderly do not see an increase of 15% in their retirement. Our most treasured citizens who have worked so hard their entire life are now being taxed to death by unsound fiscal policies of the Chris Coleman administration. This is simply wrong."
"Our business community needs to have a mayor who will support them, not work against them. If mayor Coleman's progressive tax policy continues, we will not have any businesses left in St. Paul. Taxing people and businesses to death is not the key to solving the financial difficulties St. Paul is facing. The only thing such punitive taxing will do is force people to move out of St. Paul and businesses will close. Then who is the city going to go after for their tax money? Will our current city leaders then ask the state for a bailout? Reducing taxes to promote economic development is the way to go, not raising taxes. Raising taxes is the easy way around this budget situation by our mayor, but it does not address the long-term economic viability of our city."
"By developing long-term strategies like creating a business friendly environment, enabling businesses in St. Paul to be competitive in the marketplace will grow our economy in St. Paul. This is only one step in addressing the financial difficulties our city is facing and mayor Coleman has shown no leadership in this area. His anti-business protax policies is hurting St. Paul."
"I believe the budget for St. Paul should be treated like we treat our own budget at home. Spend within your own limits. If I do run for mayor, I will insist that all department heads understand this concept fully. Raising taxes beyond the rate of growth of the economy is simply irresponsible. Raising taxes should always be the last option after exploring all other avenues. I believe in letting families keep their hard-earned money so they can provide for their families."
Shameful:
"Recently, Sen. Mee Moua proposed an increase in the beverage tax with the Mayor's blessing to address the budget shortfall the city is facing. This legislation would have given the St. Paul City Council authority to levy a 3-percent sales tax on food and alcoholic beverages sold in the city's bars and restaurants, starting Jan. 1. The shocking thing about this proposed drink tax legislation was it was passed in a Minnesota House-Senate conference committee around 3 A. M. at the end of the session WITHOUT public testimony. I find this tactic by Sen. Mee Moua and mayor Coleman very offensive and this would have been another hit on the beverage businesses right after the no smoking ban."
"Mayor Coleman and other local leaders are trying to capitalize on the recent tragedy of the 35W Minneapolis bridge collapse by trying to hijack the proposed special legislative session intended to address statewide transportation safety issues for additional funding for St. Paul (LGA). I find this morally wrong and a total misuse of the intended special session. Bridge and highway safety should be the top priority for the special session. By using this special session for anything else is a total abuse of government. The issue of raising taxes or LGA for St. Paul should have been addressed in the regular session and not this special session. The actions by our mayor trying to use the events of the bridge collapse for self-gain for his city is deplorable."
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. The mayor has made some baby steps to addressing the public safety needs of our city, but he has a long way to go. Example, 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 2.2 police officers per every 1000 residents. By not staffing our police department at the level of 2.2 officers per 1000 residents is causing both long term and short term problems for our city. Short term, mayor Coleman proposes to spend money on overtime instead of hiring the needed police officers for the job. This is only a stopgap solution to the problem of staffing at the police department. Long term the city needs hire these additional police officers and not waste taxpayer money by paying for overtime. Lastly, the city also needs to properly equip its officers."
"Recently, there was a police related shooting in St. Paul. The Metro Gang Task Force was looking for a gang member, Mitchell Moua. In process of arresting Moua, he fired on the gang unit and St. Paul police. Driving like a madman throughout the city to get away, Moua fired on the police. How Moua managed to not kill anybody is simply a miracle. The efforts by the St. Paul Police and Metro Gang Task Force were nothing less than courageous. The police officers prevented this thug from hurting many innocent civilians and in the process put themselves at great risk."
"What you did not know is that the police officers involved did not have the equipment they needed to do their job. By chance, one officer at the scene, who just happens to be a member of the Critical Incident Response Team (C.I.R.T) had his own AR15. This is a civilian model of the military M16, but only semi-automatic. The AR15, being a more accurate weapon than his handgun or shotgun, the officer was able to return fire safely in a very urban population area to protect the safety of the citizens. The shotgun and handgun that these officers normally would have had would not have been as accurate or have the firepower needed when they faced this bad guy. The public does not know how lucky they were to have this highly trained officer in the right place at the right time. Not to mention that he had this own AR15 at his own expense protecting the citizens of St. Paul because the department can not afford these basic tools needed for our police officers."
"It is simply inexcusable that our mayor has let this situation get this far out of hand. This police officer should not have had to purchase his own AR15 ($1,200.00+) out of his pocket, but they should have had these basic tools to meet the threats that these officers face daily from thugs in gangs."
"One city council member recently stated to me that these AR15s are available, but they are only available in the sergeants cars. I explained that the police department wanted to purchase more of these weapons and train more officers, but was hampered by funding. My response to her was simple, "What if you were to send a fire truck to fight a fire or respond to an accident and they did not have the right tools to do their job and had to wait until the supervisor comes with the needed tools." I find this an irresponsible approach on the part of the city council."
"If I were the Mayor of St. Paul, I would truly "Invest in St. Paul" by ensuring our police officers are equipped with the tools they need to do their job. I would also ensure that we have 2.2 police officers per every 1,000 residents like other major cities. Investing in St. Paul means protecting our citizens and employees from thugs. Doing anything less is a crime."
"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."
Investing in St. Paul:
"I am endorsing the idea of relocating the North End back into the neighborhood."
"The North End police substation was moved awhile back because the building had become deteriorated and was too small for the demanding needs of the officers that were stationed there. In 2003 the North End police substation unit moved into the main police department building near downtown. What a loss to the community this was."
"The connection of police to the community is very important. There have been many studies done on community policing. There is no question in my mind that bringing the police back into the community they patrol is a win-win situation for both the police and the community. This is a true "Investment in our Community" and the city as well."
"This police district station should have been the top priority in Mayor Coleman's budget address today, but it was not. Mayor Coleman's endorsement of paying overtime instead of hiring permanent full time police officers is a total waste of taxpayer's money. If I were mayor, I would have placed this new North End District Police Station at the top of my priority list for the city of St. Paul. In the Mayor's recent State of the City address, mayor Coleman's green agenda was mentioned very prominently, but he left out the North End. The North End deserves better than Mayor Coleman's lackluster support."
"Last fall, there was a rally for adding more cops to the ranks of the St. Paul Police Department that was held on September 9, 2006 at the Klub Haus at 1079 Rice Street. About 200 residents showed up at the rally. When I spoke, I asked the crowd where was Mayor Coleman or Council Member Helgen and there was no response. So where were they? Both the Mayor and Mr. Helgen felt that another event was more important than safe streets on the North End. It is no secrete that the fire union and not the police union endorsed Mayor Coleman in the last election."
"The commitment by the city in the North End needs to be quick and strong and the current leadership in the mayor's office and Ward 5 is not helping the North End community. I do not see the assistance that is needed until there is a change in leadership in both Ward 5 and the mayor's office."
The East Side community needs reinvestment as well. By not reinvesting in the East Side is a total lack of leadership on the part of our mayor."
Recreation Centers:
"The mayor proposes to close several recreation centers. This is a page out of the old political handbook. This is an absurd suggestion. The focus the city needs to be taking is enhancing these programs along with a partnership with private business and with the St. Paul School District. These recreation centers need to stay open to provide mentors for our youth. Closing down these recreation centers like mayor Coleman proposes is a very shortsighted approach to his budget shortfall. This is where the Mayor could use the help from the local legislative delegation. The mayor is plain wrong on closing these recreation centers."
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 15% and Ramsey County raising property taxes by an additional 5% (based on the increased property values) is excessive. I do not get a 20% raise in my wages for 2008 to cover this increase. I have to ask the question, "What financial condition our city would be in if Mayor Kelly had not committed to expanding our tax base through Housing 5000?" We really would be in a mess financially if Mayor Kelly had not been proactive and just pay as you go (reactive)."
The Governor and legislature are coming to the realization about the dipshits running St. Paul. They don't want to work with them any more.
Back before the city started jerking everybody around, they had a lot of support, which kept things running smoothly for less money.
On top of raising the taxes, the city is going to sell 25 million dollars in bonds so they can address the vacant building issue in the neighborhoods. This is an issue the city helped create and now they want to throw money at it at a time when we cannot even afford what we have now. No matter how much money they throw at neighborhoods, they are never going to have a completely perfect city.
Its DFL or Democratic Party. You're just being mean spirited by calling it Democrat Party.
I doubt most of your readers here get the veiled reference anyway.
Eric M.
Does anybody know about the tax freeze for the elderly, that they had at one time?????
Raise city tax 14%, it will be a crime on the elderly and the poor and middle income.
BOSS HOG "Chris Coleman" and his 7 henchmen are out to clear the city, so only the rich can live here.
Why not just shoot us?
Then its faster.
Remember how Norm Coleman used the police to shut me up Chris?
It did not work, my mouth is bigger and louder then ever.
I changed the title for you and your friends Eric. :-)
14%, eh? Saint Paulites love those kinds of increases
It should also be entertaining. I haven't seen pitchforks and torches since the old Frankenstein movies.
One term will be enough.
Hi All,
I am a simple man. I will say this in terms everyone can understand.
When we are short on money at home we go with out luxuries like eating out, movies and so on. You may leave the air conditioner off in favor of the fan. You make sure there is no unnecessary lights on. Or you make sure the heat isn't turned up to high.
If you are a single parent homeschooling your kid like I use to be without ANY public assistance what so ever, you may buy second hand cloths for yourself and new cloths for your kid. You will drive junk over a new car. You may have only one sandwich in your bag lunch for work so your kid could eat better meals.
I don't think we should proceed with spending as usual in Saint Paul and expect the tax payers to dibbie up for the green streets the 10 million dollar police precincts and so on.
At the same time I think it isn't responsible governing to cut critical public services like police, fire, libraries and rec centers.
I think it is time to cut some of the pork and get back to the basics of running a city with in it's means. The pork can come at a time when the city is financially secure.
Our elected officials in office now are hell bent on building legacies for themselves and the true history books will tell a very sad story of oppression.
Has anyone on this list ever looked at the City's budget? Krenik likes to talk about making cuts and spending more on cops. Well, here is one simple fact about the City's budget we currently spend more on the police department then we collect in property taxes total. That is a fact. The property tax is only 27% of all revenue that the City collects each year and the police is over 35% of the cost so...
"State Aid" is nothing more than getting your income tax money that is sent to the state sent back to the City of Saint Paul to take care of the City you live in.
Saint Paul is a net loser in the income tax game. More money goes to the state to provide services away from us than comes back to us. What LGA is, is your tax dollars coming back to make your City work.
Who do you think pays for the roads in out state Minnesota? When you drive on some nice highway in Blackduck do you think there is enough income taxes and gas taxes from that area to pay for the road? Its your money that pays for it.
So, when all of those suburban GOP folks bitch about the cities wanting some of the money that comes from the cities going back to the cities don't buy the BS.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
I live in the suburbs Chuck and I want more of your city property tax money. We have a few projects to get done out here, so stop complaining and live with it. Next year we're going to take more form you. The money you have just gets spent on stupid stuff anyways.
Has anyone ever caculated what the total loss of property tax dollars is on the 1198 vacant buildings and growing in St.Paul is?
7:41 most of the vacant buildings are bank foreclosers and are paying property taxes. When a property stops paying taxes the County will take the property for failure to pay taxes. Those are then sold to get the tax money back.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
The leadership in the city just doesn't deserve the state money. However much they get will just be spent to pay off people on this housing code compliance mess (the whole approach of going to extreme perfectionism to find fault with others suggests major psychological problems).
How can legislators even look themselves in the mirror knowing they were squandering this money on the city.
Better they use the money to help the decent and caring people in the suburbs and outstate areas, and this will continue to increase until the city straightens out its act.
Eric -
I think most people get it. Rarely is the DFL democratic - that is "characterized by the principle of political or social equality for all."
This is most highlighted in the way DemocRats want people who make more money to pay more taxes. It should be the same amount across the board. Why should someone who makes more pay more for the same service? The poor statistically use more non-fee based services so should they pay more? I hardly think so.
I will even give you the argument that the poor should pay less based upon the their ability to pay. So shouldn't that balance out if everyone pays the same percent? If you make nothing you pay nothing.
I can even support usury taxes like licenses and cigarette taxes because you have a choice but income taxes are out and out unfair. You DemocRats still want to tax based upon how much people make which isn't very democratic to me.
I think Bob got it right to begin with...
Hey Chuck, why don't you tell the good people how when these properties do not get sold to the County, they then go to the Stae of Minnesota, and at that point, the City of St Paul gets the property for free from the State of Minnesota?
1:33 Usually, when the City picks them up from the county it is for the amount of back taxes, so there is a transfer of funds between the two governments. You are correct that it shows as going back to the "state" but it is the county that handles the transaction.
Chuck Repke
I'm going to attempt to dissect the argument made by Anonymous 1:25. I am sure that name calling in response to my post will go on and I'll just have to go back to throwing rhetorical bombs which are the accepted forms of speech on here. Here Goes:
----
He said:
"Rarely is the DFL democratic - that is "characterized by the principle of political or social equality for all." "
I sez:
Social equality? Are you sure your saying that Democratic policies are not pushing for that?
----------
He said:
"This is most highlighted in the way DemocRats want people who make more money to pay more taxes. It should be the same amount across the board. Why should someone who makes more pay more for the same service?"
I sez:
Do you know that someone making $40,000 will pay more taxes on the next dollar he makes than the person making $400,000? Is that fair?
And,
You pay income taxes to the state and federal government based on their rate per person and other things NOT on services you may or may not use. That's ridiculous. Should I pay less property taxes to the schools since I only have two children in the system and you have five? Of course not.
-----------
He said:
"I will even give you the argument that the poor should pay less based upon the their ability to pay. So shouldn't that balance out if everyone pays the same percent?"
I sez:
Taxes are not even now. The more you make over $200,000/yr the less you pay in tax rates compared to those who make less than $90,000/yr. If I make $68,000 and you make $340,000. Why should I pay more taxes per dollar than you? So if you believe the poor should pay based on their ability, why not those with more wealth? Afterall, that wealth was made and/or protected in America through our regulations and laws.
----
He said:
"I can even support usury taxes like licenses and cigarette taxes because you have a choice but income taxes are out and out unfair."
I sez:
Typical Republic party answer. Usury taxes are more burdensome among the poor and working class. Again, 50.00 to someone making 35,000 a year with a family is a bit more of interest to one who has 240,000 for a family. Both value the money the same but, one may have to sacrifice more for it.
Income tax is the fairest way to fund government. While the myth of the poor using more government services is widely spread, we also know that the ones with wealth rely on their money to be safe through government insured banks, invested soundly with a regulated market that has produced billions, put in funds that are regulated by government officials and protected through all kinds of commerce laws so that China or Germany aren't holding your investments and decided to give you the big finger when times are tough over there.
Those who have earned and saved their wealth in this country owe as much to it as those who work everyday to keep it coming in for them.
Your retort is in order.
Eric M.
Erik you said, "Do you know that someone making $40,000 will pay more taxes on the next dollar he makes than the person making $400,000? Is that fair?"
This is AMERICA. This is the reward for hard work. We are not yet a socialist country, where everyone is equal and all property is considered the people's property. Russia tried this and failed.
Being able to make a good living is one of the last things that gives people an incentive to reach higher on the ladder. The DFL wants to take away money from people by forcing their progressive tax policies on us.
I am tired of paying for some poor stiff to watch Judge Judy while I am working hard for a living.
Eric
Did you give yourself a softball question to look good then come back and answer it under your own name?
No Anonymous. I don't play the anonymous game here. If I say it, I sign it.
Eric M.
Anonymous 2:36
We've had a progressive/regressive tax system since 1915. Its never been a set number across the board. The Republicans did three things to it:
1. Help that richest one percent, those making about $600,000/yr able to keep a whole lot more of their tax burden.
2. Gave a paltry amount to those of us making less than $140,000/yr (we got on average a couple of hundred back while the rich got out of tens of thousands and the very rich millions. On top of the many loopholes that exist for those who have the money to hire the best tax attorneys).
3. Estate Tax. No tax on 2million dollars or more left for whomever after you die. If its less than 2 million- you're SOL. Its the Paris Hilton tax cut.
Your hatred of the Democratic Party doesn't negate the fact that we were sold a bad bill of goods with a Republican Congress and President. The well-to do have done better and the rest of the middle working and poorer classes on the whole, did better in the 1990s (on the whole). By the way, the have spent more than any other congress in history- guess who's money was being spent? The national debt, deficit and pork barrel spending went up under Bush in record numbers.
Have you benefited?
Kick the Dems around and me if you want but over the last six years I have seen what the Republicans hold as being priorities and important. Those people sure as hell don't look like me.
Eric M.
For the record,
The Republicans have started calling it the Democrat Party as a poke in the eye.
Joseph McCarthy, that symbol of anti-American shame, use to call it that.
So if you want to align yourself up with an anti-American embarrassing fascist drunken silhouette of a man, Senator McCarthy- by all means go right ahead.
Eric M.
Dear Eric,
This is the first time I have noticed this spelling difference and I was unaware of the difference between Democrat Party and the Democratic Party. What is the difference?
I always thought Democrat was singular as in meaning one person of the Democratic Party. Bill Smith is a Democrat. You would not say Bill Smith is a Democratic.
Also nationally the Democratic Party goes by the Democratic Party and not DFL (Democratic Farmers Labor Party) as it does in Minnesota.
Years ago (1973) the Minnesota state Republican Party was known as the Independent Republican Party (IR) while the national Party was known as the Republican Party. This was changed in the late 1990s.
I've explained the slight between Democratic and Democrat Party.
Yes, an individual member is known as a Democrat or in Minnesota DFLer.
In the Minnesota its the DFL because in 1944 the Minnesota Democratic Party and the very popular and winning Farmer-Labor party merged together. The truth was that the Farmer-Labor Party was winning and splitting the natural Democratic base. Hubert Humphrey saw that with a civil rights platform the Democrats were going to loose more voters so, he started the process of merging the two parties. Afterwards he went from being Mayor in Mpls to U.S. Senator to Vice President and back to U.S. Senator. Minnesota is the only place in the country where the Democratic party goes by another name.
After Watergate, the Minnesota Republicans were quick to want to seperate and shed that national shame. With the GOP in a super minority in our legislature and with a DFL Governor like Wendy Anderson and DFLers Humphrey and Mondale as Senators, they had nothing to loose with a change. So, they called themselves Independent Republicans or IRs. Strangely enough after the Republican revolution of 1994, it was OK to once again associate oneself with the national GOP party overtly and the Independent was dropped from both the name and priorities.
Eric M.
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