Freedom Dogs

The budget fix was nothing more than a band-aid and taxes were raised – significantly. Lest we forget, the override of the governor’s transportation bill veto cost us a $6.6 billion tax increase on sales, fuel and vehicle registrations. And if approved by voters this November, Minnesotans will be paying more in state sales taxes to fund arts programs and wildlife habitat.

The final budget deal also included a $125 million tax increase on corporations with foreign operations. This was sold to the public as “closing a corporate loophole,” as if corporations were doing something underhanded. In reality, this provision was enacted by the state legislature years ago to avoid driving corporations with foreign operations out of Minnesota.

Nicole Russell at the American Spectator reports on Jason Lewis' take on the session:

To be sure, the 2008 legislative session was anything but a model of small-government conservatism. It included bills that require enormous amounts of money, including $70 million to fund the Central Corridor light rail project between Minneapolis and St. Paul and $20 million to develop land for a new state park on Lake Vermillion. The legislature also passed plenty of additional regulations -- on business, health care, diesel fuel, and so much more.

One person who is not happy about this is local talk radio host and regular substitute host for Rush Limbaugh's radio program, Jason Lewis. He told me this session was "disastrous" and one that he didn't think "conservatives got anything out of."

Lewis ticked off the evidences where more money was allocated for education, nursing homes, parks and the light rail system. "The Democrats got $6 billion of their plan, and instead of bringing something of his own to the table, Pawlenty is just fine-tuning liberal legislation," Lewis complained.

Nicole, like Governor Pawlenty, also sees a silver lining here that is hard to argue with:

So even if Minnesota taxpayers "lost" in some areas, they avoided $5 billion worth of proposed tax increases by the Democrats, thanks to Governor Pawlenty and the Republicans in the House.

With legislature and the Governor cheering and some conservatives pouting in the corner, it begs the question of Pawlenty and other politicians in his position: What else could he have done with a Democrat-controlled legislature (and veto-proof majority)?

What about Dr. No, Phil Krinkie, over at the Taxpayers League? In a nutshell, not happy. From the 2008 Legislative Scorecard:

While we can take some solace in the fact that Governor Pawlenty and conservative lawmakers barred the liberals from passing even greater tax increases and even more restrictions on our individual freedom, this in reality is little consolation.

Conservatives in Minnesota should no longer be content with simply blocking the liberals’ tax-and-spend agenda and calling that “good enough.” We must work to regain the majority because working to control the agenda in the majority is far superior to tilting at windmills in the minority. Trying to stop the stampeding liberals from a minority position is akin to believing you can stop a stampede of buffalo with a bow and arrow.

Craig Westover at MFMI nails it with his opening graph. When everyone is happy, reach for your wallet:

That both political parties can spin the 2008 legislative session to their advantage tells you all you need to know about politics in Minnesota: It is all about outcomes and has little to do with principle. A telling vote at the end of the session, the 127-7 House vote to pass a health care reform bill, provides both a microcosm of politics as usual and a hint of things to come.

The econ King has a special beef with another over-reaching bit of legislation concerning texting tucked in the transportation bill I'm sure we'll hear about tomorrow:

I heard from someone in the last hour that Gov. Pawlenty said on his radio program this morning that he was signing this bill. That would be another disappointing loss of personal freedom signed by our "goalie". I'll update this post with a link to the story when it comes over the wire if so.

Amen, King. Forget texting as the ultimate distraction, try driving with 3 backseat car-apes. And how 'bout our taxpayer's watchdog, David Strom? Tune in for a big discussion tomorrow morning on 1280, this Saturday on the David Strom Show:

Special 2 Hour End of Legislative Session edition!

Guests: Rep. Mark Buesgens, Rep. Matt Dean, Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Tom Emmer, Sen. Geoff Michel and Phil Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.

Studio Line (651) 289-4488

And finally, Here's one more pitch for the 1280/Taxpayers League End of Session Party where you can meet many of the above cited folks including the good guys of the legislature. See ya there.