March 14, 2007
Mar 14 09:21 More Bad News For Murtha, Pelosi Mar 14 11:25 Utterly Predictable Mar 14 16:05 New York Times 'Investigates' CAIR Mar 14 16:41 DFL to Minnesota Voters: Give Till It Hurts Mar 14 18:23 Kennedy As Demagogic As Ever Mar 14 21:51 Rep. Gottwalt On GOP Budget Targets Mar 14 22:24 Introducing Medea Benjamin
Prior Years: 2006
More Bad News For Murtha, Pelosi
Normally, statistics showing a dramatic drop in U.S. fatalities in a war would be considered a positive thing. Thanks to Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and MoveOn.org, this war isn't typical. This time, Democrats are invested in defeat. In fact, they're basing their entire 2008 election strategy on the war being perceived as a disaster. That's why this article paints them even further into a corner. Here's the latest on what's happening in Iraq:
The rate of killings of US troops in Iraq has been on the decline, down by 60 percent, since the launch of the new security measures in Baghdad, according to statistics revealed by the Multi-National Force -Iraq Combined Press Information Centre.I'd like John Murtha to answer how 15 soldiers died in combat if they're caught in the middle of a civil war that's raging out of control. I'd also like to know why Democrats assume that this war is hopeless, that our only real option is "redeployment". I've seen positive reports from Baghdad every day for at least a week. I've written several times that the surge is working. These statistics bear that out.
Only 17 members of the US military in Iraq have been killed since February 14 till March 13, compared to 42 from January 13 to February 13 ; the rate was on the decline during the first month of the security crackdown, compared to a month before. Two of the 17 soldiers died at US Baghdad camps of non-combat causes.
The remarkable decrease in killings among the US troops came at a time when more of these troops were deployed in the Iraqi capital, especially in districts previously regarded as extremely hazardous for them such as Al-Sadr City, Al-Azamiyah, and Al-Doura. Meanwhile, US attacks on insurgent strongholds north of Baghdad curbed attacks against helicopters. Before the new security plan, many such craft were downed leaving 20 soldiers dead.I'd love hearing Ms. Pelosi, Obama or Hillary explain how fatality rate dropped 60 percent in a month. Better yet, I'd love hearing how they dropped 60 percent while being deployed in what had been the most dangerous part of Iraq. How did the fatalities drop when they're deployed in greater numbers in Sadr City, Ramadi and al-Doura.
The US army in Iraq had earlier said that sectarian fighting and violence in Baghdad had dropped sharply, by about 80 percent, since the launch of the plan.C'mon Mr. Murtha. Explain why violence has dropped 80 percent since President Bush's plan was implemented. C'mon Ms. Pelosi. Tell us how President Bush's plan isn't working. C'mon Hillary. Tell us how the situation in Baghdad is a disaster. The truth is that there's too many reports in places like the Washington Post, on Meet the Press and on the NBC Nightly News that things are dramatically improving in Iraq to take these Democrats' pessimism seriously.
It's also time for these Defeatocrats to admit that David Petraeus' counterinsurgency plan is working. There's a reason why he's considered the military's top expert on counterinsurgencies. My only question for the Bush administration is why they didn't have him put together a plan, complete with how many forces he'd need, long before this.
This report is just another bit of proof that the Democrats don't have a plan for winning in Iraq or defeating the jihadists. Is that who you want running the country? Haven't they done enough damage already?
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007 9:22 AM
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Utterly Predictable
That's my first reaction to reading this Strib article, the title of which says that "'08 property taxes? Up 5 to 10 percent..." Predicting that taxes will increase with Democrats controlling the legislature isn't risky business. It's utterly predictable.
The volume rose on the perennial Capitol debate over property taxes Tuesday with release of a report showing that homeowners' tax bills in the Twin Cities area are expected to rise by about 5 percent in 2008 and by closer to 10 percent in outstate Minnesota.This represents proof that the DFL has broken another of its biggest campaign promises. Last fall, they promised that reducing property taxes was at the top of their priority list, along with providing health care & investing in education. Instead, they just unveiled $3 billion in new tax increases. I'd like to ask Minnesotans if they think they're satisfied with getting lied to. I'd further ask if they're happy to find out that a supposedly " fiscally moderate caucus " is nothing of the sort.
I'd ask Minnesotans this: Have your increased taxes contributed to improvements in how government delivers vital services or has it led to more fiscally irresponsible behavior by the state legislature> ? If you believe that these tax increases have just been sucked down a black hole never to be seen again, ask yourself this question: Why should I vote for another DFLer anytime soon? Furthermore, why should you vote for the DFL, knowing that they'll never look into identifying wasteful government spending?
"It's all pain, and I don't know how you measure that," said Rep. Paul Marquart, chairman of the Property Tax Relief and Local Sales Tax Division of the Taxes Committee. Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, echoed a party refrain heard ever since Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty took office and pushed through big cuts in local government aid: "The debate is over as to whether we've had tax increases."Rep. Marquart's guffawing aside, the question isn't about whether taxes have risen. The real question is whether school boards have proposed bloated budgets that required insane new tax levies. The real question is whether DFL spending increases have forced government spending higher than it should be. This should be a lesson to everyone. In a DFLer's mind, there's never any thinking about wasteful spending. It's always about increasing revenues.
Isn't it time that we said that the DFL can't think of our finances as the source for their political paybacks? Isn't it time that we told them that it's time that they trimmed their wish lists? Isn't it time that we told them that they need to learn how to live within their means for a change?
I'm betting that taxpayers are sick of their property taxes getting increased. I'm betting that they'll be outraged to find out that this fiscally irresponsible DFL legislature is proposing $3 billion in new taxes at a time when we've got a $2.16 billion surplus. I'm betting taxpayers aren't buying into the DFL talking point that we're starving the taxpayers of much-needed government programs.
It's time to tell the DFL that it's time they changed their nasty habits.
The DFL majorities in the House and Senate have put property tax relief at the top of their agendas but have yet to provide details.The reason the DFL majorities haven't provided details to their property tax relief proposals is because it's a mirage. They don't have a serious plan to deal with increasing property taxes except to raise other taxes, a 'steal from Peter to pay Paul' plan, if you will. Rep. Seifert nails the DFL's unseriousness here:
[Marquart] said a DFL proposal to crack down on loopholes and tax avoidance could raise as much as $250 million, much of which could be used for property tax relief.Only a DFLer would think that Marquart's idea is a serious plan. Thinking people would vehemently disagree.
Seifert said the enforcement is likely to produce less than $200 million and would do little to offset the total projected increase in property tax collections of about $600 million.
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007 11:25 AM
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New York Times 'Investigates' CAIR
From time to time, the NY Times has written some really good investigative articles. Neil Macfarquhar's article investigating CAIR isn't one of them. Still, I'm thankful that they're covering anything about CAIR.
The group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), defines its mission as spreading the understanding of Islam and protecting civil liberties. Its members appear frequently on television and are often quoted in newspapers, and its director has met with President Bush. Some 500,000 people, including many journalists, receive the group's daily e-mail newsletter.Frankly, that debate is moving out from "behind the scenes" and into the political mainstream, thanks in no small part to experts like Joe Kaufman, Daniel Pipes and Steve Emerson and websites like Discover the Network, Robert Spencer's Jihad Watch and CAIRWatch. I predict that this debate will become totally mainstream by the time we vote for our next president.
Yet a debate rages behind the scenes in Washington about the group, commonly known as CAIR, and its financing and motives. A small band of critics have made a determined but unsuccessful effort to link it to Hamas and Hezbollah, which have been designated terrorist organizations by the State Department, and have gone so far as calling CAIR an American front for the two.
In December, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California issued a routine Certificate of Appreciation to the CAIR representative in Sacramento, but she quickly revoked it when critics assailed her on the Web with headlines like "Senators for Terror."There are things there I don't want to be associated with," Boxer said later of the revocation, explaining that her California office had not vetted the group sufficiently.As I wrote here, Sen. Boxer did the right thing in rescinding that award to Basim Elkarra. Thanks to Joe Kaufman, here's what we know about Mr. Elkarra:
As Executive Director, Basim Elkarra has defended someone that trained for jihad in a Pakistani terrorist camp; he has defended an imam that urged a Pakistani crowd to wage attacks on America; and he has defended an imam that was attempting to build an Islamic school for the purpose of teaching children how to commit violent acts against Americans. As well, Elkarra has described Israel as a "racist" and "apartheid" state, and he has moderated an event that featured a Hamas operative who spent five years in an Israeli prison and who is currently on trial in the U.S.There's other things that this NY Times article doesn't say about CAIR. I posted here that CAIR was outraged that the Treasury Department shut down the Holy Land Foundation, a funding mechanism for Hamas disguised as a charity. Here's what Daniel Pipes said about CAIR:
In reality, CAIR is something quite different. For starters, it's on the wrong side in the war on terrorism. One indication came in October 1998, when [CAIR] demanded the removal of a Los Angeles billboard describing Osama bin Laden as "the sworn enemy," finding this depiction "offensive to Muslims."Does that sound like the group that's described in Mr. Macfarquhar's article? I won't imply that Macfarquhar intentionally omitted that information. I think it isn't in the article because he simply didn't know this information. He should've but I believe he didn't. I suspect that 'reporters' like Mr. Macfarquhar haven't learned enough about Google and other search engines. Let's look at CAIR's legislative and public agendas:
The same year, CAIR denied bin Laden's responsibility for the twin East African embassy bombings. As Hooper saw it, those explosions resulted from some vague "misunderstandings of both sides." (A New York court, however, blamed bin Laden's side alone for the embassy blasts.)
In 2001, CAIR denied [bin Laden's] culpability for the Sept. 11 massacre , saying only that "if [note the "if"] Osama bin Laden was behind it, we condemn him by name." (Only in December was CAIR finally embarrassed into acknowledging his role.)
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/28/06) - CAIR today called on American Muslims and other people of conscience to join the thousands of people expected to take part in the August 12th National Emergency March on Washington to protest Israeli attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Lebanon and Gaza.Then there's this:
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Congressman John Dingell (D-MI), Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), and other Congressional Democrats were joined yesterday by national leaders of the Muslim American community in a roundtable discussion on issues of mutual concern to Democrats and Muslim Americans. The discussion centered on working together to defend civil rights and to restore civil liberties.Here's part of what was discussed at that meeting:
Working with Conyers, the Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Democrats have introduced legislation to end racial profiling, limit the reach of the Patriot Act , and make immigration safe and accessible.Here's something else that they talked about:
"Since September 11th, many Muslim Americans have been subjected to searches at airports and other locations based upon their religion and national origin, without any credible information linking individuals to criminal conduct," Pelosi continued. "Racial and religious profiling is fundamentally un-American and we must make it illegal."Here's something else that Mr. Macfarquhar said in his article:
Founded in 1994, CAIR had eight chapters at the time of the Sept. 11 attacks, said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the group, but has grown to about 30 chapters because American Muslims have felt unjustly scrutinized ever since.Here's what Discover the Networks said about CAIR's founding:
CAIR was co-founded in 1994 by Ibrahim Hooper, Nihad Awad, and Omar Ahmad, all of whom had close ties to the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), which was established by senior Hamas operative Mousa Abu Marzook and functioned as Hamas' public relations and recruitment arm in the United States. Awad and Ahmad had previously served, respectively, as IAP's Public Relations Director and President. Ibrahim Hooper was also an employee of IAP. Thus it can be said that CAIR was an outgrowth of IAP.In other words, CAIR couldn't have opened its doors if it hadn't gotten a donation from the HLF, then described as a charity but which was closed because donations were going directly to Hamas. CAIR couldn't have opened its doors if Mousa Abu Marzook hadn't started this terrorist-supporting 'charity'.
CAIR opened its first office in Washington, DC, with the help of a $5,000 donation from the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), a self-described charity founded by Mousa Abu Marzook.
Is it any wonder why they've fought against anything negative said about terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah? Is it any wonder why they're so hesitant to chastise these terrorist organizations? If not for that initial funding, they wouldn't exist. Which begs this question:
Why would an organization that supports terrorists donate money to a fledgling 'civil rights' organization? To give fair-minded Muslims a civil rights organization? Or to establish a wolf in sheep's clothing? I'm convinced of the latter. I'm convinced that CAIR's main purpose is to run interference for terrorist groups like al Qa'ida, Hamas and Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and IAP. Considering all the times that they've defended these groups, it's impossible to take their core principles seriously, especially when it says this:
5. CAIR is a natural ally of groups, religious or secular, that advocate justice and human rights in America and around the world.It's impossible for thinking people to believe that CAIR "is a natural ally of" groups "that advocate justice and human rights" after they've run interference for bin Laden, Hamas and Hezbollah. Those aren't exactly the Who's Who of civil rights organizations. CAIR also isn't credible when they say that they "encourage human rights and promote representative government" one day, then defend bin Laden the next.
6. CAIR supports foreign policies that help create free and equitable trade, encourage human rights and promote representative government based on socio-economic justice.
The more information people get on CAIR, the more they'll start believing that CAIR isn't a "moderate Muslim organization" trying to promote understanding of their religion. In fact, once people get a detailed report on what CAIR stands for, the sooner they'll agree with me that CAIR is a terrorist front group.
That day can't come soon enough.
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:06 PM
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DFL to Minnesota Voters: Give Till It Hurts
After reading the list of tax increases that the DFL has proposed thus far, that's the slogan I'd attach to that list. For those of you who thought their proposals were just part of your worst nightmare, not your potential reality, here's a comprehensive list of the DFL's tax increases:
INCOME TAXES ON WORKING MINNESOTANSSadly, the DFL's wish list knows no bounds. That's why electing a GOP majority in the House is imperative.
Rep. Mindy Greiling (D-Roseville) would raise income taxes by $252 million. ( H.F. 1738 )
Rep. Ann Lenczewski (D-Bloomington) wants to raise income taxes on 170,000 taxpayers. She added this tax increase with an amendment to H.F. 1258 . It would collect millions more in income taxes.
Rep. Mike Jaros (D-Duluth) wants to raise all three brackets by about 10% above current levels. The impact of these increases is somewhat muddled because he adjusts the income brackets upward for all three levels of taxes. ( H.F. 1932 . Let us hope the number is coincidental.)
SALES TAXES ON CONSUMERS
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 ).
TAX THE DEAD, THE DRIVERS, THE HOMEOWNERS, AND THE PAINT ON THEIR HOMES
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 )
Rep. Ken Tschumper (D-La Crescent) wants to raise fuel taxes by 50 percent on gasoline, E85, M85, liquefied petroleum and natural gas, propane and compressed natural gas. ( H.F. 1469 )
Rep. Bernie Lieder (D-Crookston) wants to raise your gas taxes by 50 percent, and allow counties to charge you a wheelage tax, and triple the tax on cars, and allow counties to raise the sales tax, and put a transportation-impact tax on every building permit, and raise the cost to register vehicles. ( H.F. 946 )
Rep. Frank Hornstein (D-Minneapolis) wants to let any three-county panel impose sales and use taxes on motor vehicles. ( H.F. 1920 )
Homeowners would face a 50 percent increase when filing any papers related to the purchase, transfer, mortgaging, sale, or other transfer of property. Money from those taxes on homeowners would be given to non-homeowners seeking to rent property or buy their own homes. Rep. Scott Kranz (D-Blaine) wrote H.F. 939 .
Rep. Melissa Hortman (D-Brooklyn Park) wants to collect more taxes on local deeds and mortgage documents in Anoka County. ( H.F. 362 )
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 Atkins (D-Inver Grove Heights) wants to collect more taxes on local deeds and mortgage documents in Dakota County. ( H.F. 1466 )
Sen. Linda Higgins (D-Minneapolis) wants to impose a new tax on paint. ( S.F. 836 )
TAXING ALCOHOL AND COSMETIC SURGERY
Rep. Phyllis Kahn (D-Minneapolis) wants to tax cosmetic surgery. This would be a bad precedent the sales tax, which generally has applied only to goods (except for food, clothing, and a few other exceptions). ( H.F. 1027 )
(over) March 13, 2007
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. Karen Clark (D-Minneapolis) is seeking similar increases in taxes on alcohol, but for other purposes. ( H.F. 1446 )
TAXES ON FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
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 )
TAXES THAT WILL DESTROY JOBS AND CHASE AWAY EMPLOYERS
You have seen the television ads for Pacific Mutual Insurance, with whales swimming through the air, and splashing their tails in the rolling waves. California decided to cut back on deductions that local companies took for business expenses they incurred in other states. So the whales moved to the cornfields when Pacific Mutual decided to move its headquarters to Nebraska. A similar fate could await major Minnesota employers if the same types of tax burdens are piled on them by Rep. Joe Mullery (D-Minneapolis). He wants to punish "foreign operating corporations," which are major local employers whose success has allowed them to do business in other states and countries. ( H.F. 943 )
"REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE," WITH TAXES
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 )
"GIVING" BEGINS AT HOME
Rep. Frank Moe (D-Bemidji) wants to raise local sales and use taxes in Bemidji. ( H.F. 1103 )
Rep. Bernie Lieder (D-Crookston) wants to raise local sales and use taxes in Crookston. ( H.F.1820 )
Rep. Will Morgan (D-Burnsville) wants to create special tax increment financing districts in Burnsville. These districts often shift property tax burdens onto current landowners for years. ( H.F. 1054 )
Rep. Carolyn Laine (D-Columbia Heights) wants to create a special tax increment financing district in Columbia Heights. ( H.F. 1879 )
Rep. Terry Morrow (D-St. Peter) wants a new local sales tax authorized for North Mankato. ( H.F. 108 )
Rep. Bill Hilty (D-Finlayson) wants a new local sales tax authorized for Cloquet. ( H.F. 885 )
Rep. Dave Dill (D-Crane Lake) would extend local sales taxes in Cook County. ( H.F. 1894 )
Rep. Mike Jaros (D-Duluth) to raise taxes on food and beverages in Duluth to help to pay for a new hockey arena in that city. ( H.F. 134)
FEE INCREASES AHEAD
Rep. Larry Haws (D-St. Cloud) wants to raise fees for county and regional jails. ( H.F. 161 )
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. Rick Hansen (D-South Saint Paul) wants to raise fees on deer hunters. ( H.F. 1234 )
Originally posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007, revised 30-Oct 11:46 AM
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Kennedy As Demagogic As Ever
It's been apparent for some time that Ted Kennedy hasn't paid attention to what's happening in Iraq. Today offered another 'opportunity' for him to display his willful ignorance of conditions on the ground. Based on this AFP article, he didn't disappoint:
Congress on Wednesday began its latest showdown over Iraq, this time over setting a deadline of a little more than a year for full withdrawal of US troops from the war-ravaged country. Republicans and Democrats in the US Senate found themselves on opposite sides of a heated debate over whether or not to set the date of March 31, 2008 for the complete withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq.This is painful to watch. Teddy refuses to acknowledge reports like this:
Under the legislation drafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, US troop redeployments would have to commence within 120 days of the bill's passage. Reid said Wednesday that after nearly five years of failed Bush policies in Iraq, the time had come for a new direction. "This war has taken a tremendous toll on our country, our troops, and their families, and our standing in the world," he said on the Senate floor.
Another top Democrat, US Senator Ted Kennedy, called the Iraq debate, which has consumed many hours of floor time in the weeks since Democrats took control of Congress last January, "the over arching issue of our time." "This is a defining moment. The American people are watching. The world is watching," Kennedy said. "The issue is clear: Will we stand with our soldiers by changing their mission and beginning to bring them home? Or will we stand with the President and keep our soldiers in Iraq's civil war?" Kennedy continued: "History will judge us. We can either continue down the Presidents perilous path, or embrace a new direction."
The rate of killings of US troops in Iraq has been on the decline, down by 60 percent, since the launch of the new security measures in Baghdad, according to statistics revealed by the Multi-National Force -Iraq Combined Press Information Centre.Teddy's also ignoring this good news:
Only 17 members of the US military in Iraq have been killed since February 14 till March 13, compared to 42 from January 13 to February 13; the rate was on the decline during the first month of the security crackdown, compared to a month before. Two of the 17 soldiers died at US Baghdad camps of non-combat causes.
The US army in Iraq had earlier said that sectarian fighting and violence in Baghdad had dropped sharply, by about 80 percent, since the launch of the plan.Mort Kondracke had the perfect summation of the Dems' denials during tonight's roundtable:
"The Democrats seem impervious to the news from Iraq."Mort cited the AP article and the Pentagon briefing. I think he was referring to Gen. Caldwell's briefing. Either way, Mort's right that Democrats are ignoring the evidence. Fred also chimed in, saying that Nancy Pelosi keeps saying that they're still using the same failed plan even though it's obvious that the strategy has changed dramatically.
I hope that this debate keeps going awhile longer. I hope that the American people see what the Democrats stand for and believe in. Then I hope that they read the reports of success that are becoming more frequent day by day. Then I hope they remember that when they enter the voting booth in November, 2008.
If that happens, you'll see a sea change type of election. If people pay attention, then vote for the candidates that care about winning, the Democrats would be in for a very bad night.
It couldn't happen to a more worthy political party.
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007 6:24 PM
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Rep. Gottwalt On GOP Budget Targets
Rep. Steve Gottwalt, a first term congressman from St. Cloud, issued a statement today stating that he supports the GOP's budget targets. Here's the text of Rep. Gottwalt's statement:
"With a $2 billion budget surplus, there is no good justification for tax increases," said Representative Steve Gottwalt. "We must move Minnesota forward and not backward into another deficit. Calls for tax increases when we have a state surplus are ridiculous. The added revenue we have available should be enough!"I've been impressed with Rep. Gottwalt's understanding of the issues. It's my opinion that his understanding of the issues far exceeds the expectations one would have for a freshman legislator. It's obvious that Rep. Gottwalt's thought this budget through & that he's got a good grasp of what priorities should be & how they should be achieved. I especially appreciated him saying "balancing meeting Minnesota's needs without raising taxes is a top priority this session..." That single sentence shows that Rep. Gottwalt isn't trying to " do many good things " through the budget process.
The $32.7 billion House Republican budget proposal focuses spending on Minnesota's highest priorities, property tax relief, education, health care, and holding the line on taxes. With their proposed targets, Republicans provide more than $1.5 billion in tax relief, the largest K-12 school budget in history and more support for nursing homes and veterans. The remainder of the budget would grow at about 4 percent, which is in line with most family budgets and inflation.
"Using the entire surplus without raising taxes, Minnesota's budget would grow nearly 10 percent. That's much more than family incomes, salaries, wages or inflation are rising. We need to live within our means, and hold the line on taxes," Gottwalt said. "The House Republican budget proposal addresses Minnesota's top priorities without raising taxes."
Gottwalt said balancing meeting Minnesota's needs without raising taxes is a top priority this session and he is hopeful Democrats will heed the calls of taxpayers who say they can't afford to pay more for state government, especially when Minnesota has a budget surplus.
"We can move Minnesota forward, grow our economy, enhance our quality of life and improve our schools and health care without raising taxes," Gottwalt said. "The budget surplus is enough. We need to set our priorities and work within existing financial resources. Minnesotans already pay enough taxes. We need to be leaders in this state, and that leadership begins with fiscal responsibility."
He's more interested in voting for a solid, sustainable budget that will keep funding Minnesota's highest priorities without promising large amounts of new spending in the future. The wisdom of that approach will be seen when the next recession hits. When Gov. Pawlenty was inaugurated in 2002, he faced a $4.6 billion deficit because Jesse Ventura & the legislature had sent spending skyrocketing during the late 1990's. Then came a recession, then 9/11. Suddenly, we were faced with the state's biggest deficit in history.
If we prioritize without overextending ourselves, we won't be faced with a massive deficit requiring either dramatic spending cuts or draconian tax increases. Let's hope that brave Democrats bolt with their leadership to vote for a sensible, sustainable budget so that we can start the process of reducing the burden on taxpayers. Isn't it time that keeping more money in our pockets became the highest priority?
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007 9:51 PM
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Introducing Medea Benjamin
This Saturday, Medea Benjamin will participate in the anti-war protest in Washington, DC. It's only fair that you understand who she is and what she stands for. Using Discover the Network's profile, here's what I've uncovered about her:
She lived in Cuba with her first husband, who was the coach of that country's national basketball team. (Reflecting later on her years living in Cuba's Communist social and economic structure, she said that she felt "like I died and went to heaven.")Benjamin believes that "America's declared war on terror is, itself, a form of terrorism."
In 2003 Ms. Benjamin was a signatory to the widely publicized Not in Our Name (NION) anti-war statement, which asserts that the U.S. war on terror poses "grave dangers to the people of the world."According to this Democracy Now article, she was also dragged from the 2004 Democratic National Convention during Theresa Heinz-Kerry's primetime speech.
Based on this information, it's safe to say that Ms. Benjamin is a pacifist and a socialist and a radical lefty.
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007 10:25 PM
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