Posted on 04/27/2010 6:07:51 PM PDT by Son House
Mark Dayton is urging the Minnesota legislature to pass an immediate tax hike, using the money to reduce class sizes and stop 4-day school weeks.
Minnesota DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton is proposing a new, higher income tax on the state's highest income earners and said the money should be used to ease the budget crunch at local schools.
The "Millionaire Tax" would be imposed on incomes above $1 million.
Dayton, a former U.S. Senator, called the direction of Minnesota schools a "descent to the bottom, not a Race to the Top."
He is urging the legislature to pass an immediate tax hike, using the money to reduce class sizes and stop 4-day school weeks.
"Which [4-day school weeks] is only allowed in a few other places, including rural Louisiana," said Dayton. "So, great. Now our education is following in the footsteps of rural Louisiana. I mean, this is Minnesota."
The Dayton plan raises taxes on millionaires by up to 3-percentage points, from the current 7.85 percent to a near nation-leading 10.85 percent.
Dayton said it would raise $500 million from the 8400 Minnesotans who earn that much.
The higher tax would apply to Dayton himself, who is among the heirs to the Dayton's department store fortune.
He said he discussed the idea with wealthy members of his family, whom he said don't agree with him.
"I said, 'What is fair? Do you think it's fair that you, if you're making over a million a year in income are paying only two-thirds of what some making $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 a year is paying in Minnesota?'"
Republicans openly scoffed at Dayton's idea. They called state millionaires the creators of jobs in Minnesota's job. Republicans also urged Dayton, himself, to pay more -- if he wants to.
"Is Senator Dayton providing more voluntarily to the Department of Revenue to pay his so-called fair share?" asked Michael Brodkorb, the Associate Chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party. "I doubt that he is."
Dayton's office said Dayton does not pay more in taxes than the state requires, but if he is elected governor he'll pay more because of the millionaire tax he intends to pass.
According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, 8400 Minnesotans earn an average of $1.2 million annually. Another 1442 earn more than $2.6 million and 30 taxpayers earn more than $26 million.
All the Minnesota millionaires have been looking to move someplace warmer anyway.
higher income tax on the state's highest income earners and said the money should be used to ease the budget crunch at local schools.
I propose taking 95% of all Millionaire and Billionaire’s wealth that supported Democrats starting with George Soros.
I'd bet that a lot of them are small business owners, operating as sole proprieterships.
Oh, and in case anyone here knows any of those high earners, esp the 30 making more than $26M: Let ‘em know Texas would welcome them with open arms (unless they are libs), and we have no state income tax!
Exactly. As far as I'm concerned, parents and ONLY parents ought to be paying for the education of their children anyway. I have no kids in school. Why the heck am I paying taxes to support them?
You pay so they are not out on the street mugging you and burglarizing your house. Plus, good schools mean higher sales value.
The dumb people of MN will fall for it. Millionaires from there will be Longhorn fans soon.
Just to elaborate on “opportunity cost”, if one votes Democrat, expect higher unemployment, higher taxes, 401k value loss, and a bad economy, than lower your expectations.
I've got a permanent solution for muggers and burglars, if they try to victimize me or my family.
As for good schools meaning higher property values (I assume you mean property values), consider this - in Ohio, the city of Cleveland spends more money per pupil than just about any other system in the state. But the property values in Cleveland are among the lowest in the state. Not to mention the graduation rate in that city's schools, and the level of education achieved by those that do graduate. Obviously, the amount of money spent on schools doesn't correlate well with property values or the value of education.
I would venture to say that people that tend to value thier childrens' education also tend to live in nicer neighborhoods. Meaning, it isn't the school system that's causing higher sales values - it's people themselves that do so by creating a safe, well-kept neighborhood full of well-behaved smart kids.
Dayton’s your typical rich liberal who didn’t earn his wealth. His father and uncles built the department store empire that pays him a handsome trust income, yet he’s never worked a day in the business. Mostly because of his mental disorder he wouldn’t be able to hold a regular job.
Hey, I’m not a Longhorn’s fan! Go Buckeyes! And Texas Tech!!! /LOL
how about 100% until they balance the budget by CUTTING SPENDING!
I’m sure Joe Mauer will be thrilled.
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