Wanna bet?

Gambling has received a lot of press this legislative session in Minnesota. Recently, much has surrounded the GOP platform and whether that platform can accomodate two different positions--1)opposition to gambling; 2)breaking the tribal monopoly on casino gaming.

This issue has been debated because two GOP leaders--the state party chairman and our national committeewoman--stand to profit personally from this issue. Our state party chair has formed a political consultancy which has partnered with an anti-gambling group (itself funded by the tribal casinos). Our committeewoman has herself become a paid lobbyist in favor of increased gaming.

Much of the public debate misses the point. I don't much care whether gaming is increased or not--i understand both sides of the issue and each raises legitimate points. To me the bigger issue (which hasn't really received much attention) is the fact that party leaders who have an ability to influence state legislators because of the power which they have in the GOP are now being paid to lobby those same legislators. I think that's wrong...plain and simple.

Our elected party leaders make great sacrafices to serve the party. If they require compensation to make up for those sacrafies, fine. Ask for a salary and I'll support giving you one.  And, if you want to use your connections to become a lobbyist after you leave the party office, also fine. But, I do not think it is appropriate for party leaders to become lobbyists while they hold a position in the party.  Put it this way--when our state party chair calls a legislator on an issue, which hat is he wearing?  Can he really wear just one and ignore the other?  If he calls as a lobbyist the legislator has to realize that this is the person who has the ability to send money and volunteers to him during his next campaign. 

Our party is a big tent party in which activists and elected officials alike will have different positions on a number of issues.   Our party leaders need to be able to communicate with those elected officials without wondering whether the leader's self interest is involved.

Baseball dad

I need to update the photos on my blog--they're all from Fall 2010. A lot has changed since then.

We're in the middle of baseball season for two of my four boys. Son number Two is playing 6th grade EP baseball.  After four games he's batting 12 for 14.  That's a pretty good start if you ask me.  He also shares some pitching duty. His arm isn't terribly strong but he's pretty accurate. 

Son number Three is playing 3rd grade baseball. He's not as hot at the plate but is the "go to" pitcher for his team. Recently, another pitcher on his team was struggling and had loaded the bases with no outs. The coaches conferred about what to do and ultimately pulled number Three in from the outfield--he struck out the first two batters he faced and got a ground out to end the inning. In the next inning he played first base and got two of the three outs for that inning by tagging a runner and catching a pop up.  Third graders tend to drop a lot of balls, but his glove is golden.

shared sacrafice

This is a big week in Minnesota politics--the legislative session is supposed to draw to a close and a budget has yet to be passed.

I haven't been following the issue that closely but certainly understand that Dayton wants to tax "the rich" while the GOP promises no tax increase.

I honestly don't know what the right answer is.  But, I have strong feelings that if tax rates are to rise then they should rise for everyone.  It's far too easy for politicians and taxpayers alike to see increased taxes as part of a solution when most of them won't be paying them. And that's just not right. Everyone needs to have skin in the game. Otherwise if you want taxes to rise, but not your own, then i say "buzz off."

I have the same feeling about sin taxes. It seems every time there's a financial mess in St. Paul that smokers and drinkers get pinched a little bit more.  If you want to tie some of those sin taxes to smoking avoidance measures, or something else related to the "problems" of smoking and drinking, then fine. But, I don't think it's right to increase sin taxes and use those funds for general revenue purposes.

To that point, if we're going to further restrict smokers through taxation and prohibiting them from leaving their homes, why don't we just make smoking illegal. That makes more sense to me that the silliness of making it illegal to smoke in your own car if your car is on Hennepin county property.

more taxes, anyone?

Someone forwarded the below to me. I kinda liked it:

Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table, At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes are the rule.
Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat..
Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries tax his tears.
Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways to tax his ass.
Tax all he has, then let him know, that you won't be done until he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers; Then tax him some more, Tax him till he's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in which he's laid...
Put these words upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom...'
When he's gone, do not relax, Its time to apply the inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

The arrogance of the print media

Today's Star Tribune offers its second editorial on the state budget.  I understand that the issue of the budget is an important one, and certainly worthy of some comment by the Strib. I remain struck, however, at how far this paper actually goes.

A month ago the paper offered its own budget solution. The merits of its budget aside, I almost fell off of my chair laughing--why does the editorial board of the Strib think anyone gives a tinker's damn about how it thinks the budget crisis should be resolved?  I still haven't answered that question to my satisfaction.

So I had to chuckle when I saw the paper offer further comments today. Sure, offer your insightful opinions on the process, or the progress (or lack thereof) made by the Governor or legislature in piecing a budget together.  But, please, don't reveal your incredible arrogance by proferring your own budget for the state of Minnesota. Your efforts are better spent trying to figure out how to run a newspaper which actually makes money and doesn't suffer from dwindling circulation. 

You mean you're not the mayor anymore?

I have long told anyone who would listen that most people don't really pay attention to local politics.  Life is simply too busy.  My list of examples of this theorem has grown since I left elected office at the end of 2010.

In March (yes, March) I was at the state hockey tournament cheering for Eden Prairie at the title game where no less than three people greeted me at the game as "mayor."  Sure, maybe they didn't know my name and wanted to say something as they walked past me to the concession stand, but one of those three actually stopped to complain about a development in town--"not my problem."

Two weeks ago I met a law school colleague for lunch and he, too, still thought that i was the mayor. Okay, he doesn't live in Eden Prairie so he gets a pass.

But this past weekend I was playing poker with a group of guys which included two 15 year residents of our city. One of these guys had no idea that I ever had been the mayor; the second thought that I still was.

Local builders breath a sigh of relief...variances are back.

Some six months ago the MN Supreme Court changed land use decisions for cities by narrowly construing the ability of a city to offer a "variance" for a technically non-conforming building.  This was a huge blow especially to the remodel/renovation industry as virtually all of those projects require a variance for the job to proceed.

So, no surprise that this was a hot item before the legislature during this session. And, the result--the opinion of the Supreme Court was changed by legislative action.  Good news, I think, especially in an economy where I think more people are likely to renovate to build new...and shouldn't we be promoting that, anyway?