Shot In The Dark: Surprise of the Day

May 05, 2006

Surprise of the Day

Here's everything you need to know about the Strib when covering politics; it's only cheap politics is a Republican does it.

This time, it's Rep. Phil "Dr. No" Krinkie, candidate for the 6th District GOP US House nomination:

Here's all Minnesotans need to know about the $1 billion tax cut proposed Wednesday by state House tax chair Phil Krinkie, R-Lino Lakes:

• Krinkie made his proposal three days before he stands for endorsement at the Sixth District GOP congressional convention.

On behalf of all overtaxed Minnesotans, I don't care if he proposed it to pay off a poker debt. Tax cuts are, all other things being equal, good.

• Serious tax proposals at the 2006 Legislature were made weeks ago.

Better late than never.

• The only tax relief Krinkie proposes for this year would come in the form of rebate checks mailed the month before the November election

I'll need it in November, too.

-- and then only if a Supreme Court challenge to the "health impact fee" on cigarettes goes the state's way.

Sounds like better odds than the State Lottery, frankly.

• The remainder of his proposal promises tax cuts starting in 2008. It amounts to asking the 2006 Legislature to start setting the 2008-09 state budget.

This Legislature is having enough trouble doing this year's business. It shouldn't even try to tackle next year's too.

Absolutely wrong.

Getting a line drawn in the sand early - setting the vision - should be what a conservative Republican does, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in session or out.

Posted by Mitch at May 5, 2006 08:02 AM | TrackBack

Comments

All well and good for Mr. Krinkie, but he has no way to pay for the tax cuts. He is also basing them on the "potential" $1.1 billion budget surplus (info from yesterday's paper-the link in the post did not work). Unfortunately, our legislators in their finite wisdom do not take into account inflation, so his proposal is unrealistic as it gets...but it does help his campaign.

Fulcrum

Posted by: Fulcrum at May 5, 2006 10:11 AM

Government doesn't "pay" for tax cuts. Duh. If they run a surplus that means they have collected to much of our money. Should they just keep it and find new things to spend it on?
And what is the current rate of inflation?

Posted by: Kermit at May 5, 2006 10:22 AM

Kermit--that surplus hasn't been collected yet. From yesterday's Pioneer Press:

"The House Republican bill counts on a $1.1 billion surplus predicted in February for the state's next two-year budget period to pay for the tax cuts. But the surplus is predicated on an assumption that state officials will be able to avoid any inflationary increases in spending while reaping the benefit of inflation in revenues.

Taking inflation into account — as state officials routinely did until a 2002 law change — would wipe out most of the surplus."

His proposal is intellectually dishonest, as is the way our legislature doesn't account for inflation in spending, but does for revenue.

And to answer your question, I think inflation last year was roughly 3.4% (based on the Consumer Price Index).

Fulcrum

Posted by: Fulcrum at May 5, 2006 10:35 AM

We do agree on one thing. They should not pay out or promise such until they have the cash in hand. I realize this is political gamesmanship. I also remember a couple of nice little rebate checks under Ventura. I also remember that smarmy SOB Coleman mocking citizens gathered at the Statehouse chanting "Give It Back".
The amount isn't all that important, it's the principle (financial pun there). Let these clowns spend it or give it back to those that earned it? You know my choice.

Posted by: Kermit at May 5, 2006 12:02 PM

Off topic, but has anyone read this:

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/416496.html

What a nightmare...there's where some of your tax money is going....celebrate diversity.

Posted by: Colleen at May 6, 2006 08:42 PM