Posted on 12/01/2012 6:45:49 AM PST by TurboZamboni
Gov. Mark Dayton's own transportation advisory panel called Friday for a higher state gas tax and other fees and taxes to raise at least $50 billion more for roads and transit over the coming two decades.
The Transportation Finance Advisory Committee's recommendations aim to improve the state's roads and expand transit, including new light rail lines, as a boost to the state's economy. Dayton created the group in January, saying a deteriorating transportation system was hurting economic growth.
Dayton spokesman Katharine Tinucci said the governor has yet to review the recommendations.
The report comes as the Democratic governor is preparing to unveil a tax overhaul after pushing for years to raise income taxes on top earners. It's unclear how the array of transportation taxes will fit into his plan. Democrats will take over both houses of the Minnesota Legislature in January, creating an opening...
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Glad I don’t live in MN any longer.
We already have laws passed that require a certain amount of infrastructure spending. Whatever happened to them?
Perhaps now’s the time to push for repeal of the constitutional amendment requiring “Legacy funding” for arts and outdoors. Worst piece of public policy Minnesota has ever passed. Let’s make it go away.
I don’t see the Dayton or the democrats leading the legislature repealing the Legacy Amendment. This new funding source has enabled them to increase the size of the government and get a lot of their favored projects funded.
Liberals want more money for transit, but fail to consider fare hikes.
Go figure.
Oh yeah, we need to make sure that electric vehicles and hybrids pay to use the roads, too.
Neither do I. But since conservatives will be spending each and every day of the next two years reminding our fellow Minnesotans about the idiocy they voted for, let’s shout long and loud about the legacy amendment they voted for too.
Especially when people start complaining at the pump. And they will.
Does anyone in government recognize that they cannot simply keep raising taxes. That is not a viable long term strategy and thus not a good precedent to set in the short term. Eventually, they are going to hit 100% tax rates - then we’ll have slavery, communism, fascism, “social democracy” whatever you want to call it. It will be 0% freedom. No new taxes, no more money for government/control, no more impingement upon our freedom. It has to stop somewhere, why not right here, right now.
Raise taxes, that's a certain boost to the economy.
Tax the rich, that'll do it too.
Minnesotans elected a Democrat governor and legislature. Hang on to your wallets!
Tihs Minnesotan didn’t vote for that crazy-eyed gopher look alike. Geesh, on 9/11 the a-hole hid under his desk.
Zanax is his best friend and evidently his constituency besides the few conservatives left in this sorry state.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.