While Smith didn't offer specifics, Dayton has said he will propose an income tax increase on the top 2 percent of earners. She noted that the highest earners pay about 9.7 percent of their incomes to state and local taxes, while middle-class earners pay about 12.3 percent.The Smith in question is Tina Smith, Gov. Dayton's chief of staff. And she's got the usual false narrative set up as well:
"And to those who think cuts are the only answer, we challenge you -- with sincerity -- to tell us what exactly you believe government can stop doing."It's not beyond the pale to ask if government can do things more efficiently, of course, but this is a version of the old "fire the firemen" routine you always get from folks like Smith. It's designed to cut off debate and there's no "sincerity" involved whatsoever.
Watch your wallets, folks.
7 comments:
There is a very nice bridge to Wisconsin, not too far east of you. Consider it.
What can government stop doing? She says it like it's some kind of impossible challenge. "What limb would you like us to remove from your mother's body?" Well, for those of us who don't love government with the urgency of true love, it really isn't that hard. The limitations come in when a person starts fearing the demagoguery that inevitably follows on ANY cut.
So I would propose (without any particular knowledge of the MN budget and without being a citizen) that the choo choo trains could be sold and whatever is running be shut down in one year's time. State aid to schools can be cut entirely. Let local districts can do what they like. I'm just guessing, but the legions of state workers probably have pretty nice pension plans. How much, if any, are they contributing to them? Etc..., etc....
The bulk of state employee pensions are in MSRS and that's about a 50/50 split between employer and employee. I think some specialized areas have separate deals.
So that's considerably better than other states! Well good. It can be hard to come up with a realistic budget when that's out of whack.
I'm with Ben. Cut light rail completely and all transit by a third, stop allowing kids who need remedial classes to go to the U (they have only a 17% chance of graduating), cut MPR entirely....end all redevelopment funds..cut U adminstrative funds, no stadium for the Queens, etc.. I'm pretty sure I'm well over a billion bucks already.
I like Bike Bubba. Run against Al Franken please. What a douche that guy is.
Run against Al Franken please. What a douche that guy is.
I'd pay cash money to see a Bike Bubba/Al Franken debate.
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