The taxes debate

Posted at 10:59 AM on June 28, 2006 by Bob Collins (3 Comments)

My day just started and I am already behind. Anyway, a good "debate" is on tap on Midday today (11-12). Bill Cooper, the former Republican Party chair in Minnesota, and Joel Kramer, the former Star Tribune boss who headed a group that bought that ad in the Strib last week calling for more taxes on the wealthy, are mixing it up.

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Comments (3)

Is there an audio of that somewhere, cause I bet that was a hoot...

Posted by rew | June 28, 2006 9:43 PM

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It's at the link I provided.

Posted by Bob Collins | June 28, 2006 10:43 PM

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This debate was big in the Strib this week. Lori Sturdavent had a column titled "going where candidates fear to tread". I sent the following to her to thank her for her article and share my thoughts.

My name is Justin Adams, and I am a candidate for the state house of representatives. Im the independent facing Joe Mullery (D) in north Minneapolis. I am not afraid to talk about fair taxation or investing in Minnesotas future. My platform centers on comprehensive tax reform with a simple goal for the next census. Progressive state and local taxation by 2010 and fully funded investments for our future including; low cost health insurance, a high quality education from age 3-23, expanded transportation options, and public safety measures that work. If elected, I will propose income tax increases to pay for it.

I applaud Growth and Justice for their efforts, but I personally think that they have not gone far enough. I believe that we need two income tax increases, both larger than that proposed. The first would be used entirely to reform our tax system. I aim to abolish the sales tax outright and to create a blanket property tax exemption for primary residences up to $250,000. Though it would require a $5B income tax increase, in fact, it would be a massive effective tax cut for the vast majority of Minnesota families, who are hit hard by sales taxes and who pay ever increasing property taxes. In addition, it would deliver the growth the Bush tax cut promised, by giving disposable income to people who will spend it. I would prefer to structure the increase in a graduated fashion, but even a flat increase across all brackets would result in net tax cuts for well more than half of Minnesota residents and promote growth. I suspect it will take the whole year to pass this reform.

During the 2008 bonding session I will propose significant investments for Minnesotas future, also financed with an income tax increase. Growth and Justice proposed a $2B increase on the top brackets to fund these programs. Ideally, each of these programs would be broader than G & J. I support universal single-payer coverage for Minnesota, including supplemental funding from cigarette and alcohol taxes. I support universal 3-k education, k-12 funding for smaller classes and more choices for parents, and free post secondary education for Minnesota HS graduates with B averages. Traffic congestion is a serious problem for our environment and our economy and I support supplementing mass transit and roads maintenance funds with gasoline taxes. Finally, we need to protect our investments with more police on our streets. I would guess that the cost would be twice what G & J proposed, but I know that savings in healthcare premiums, daycare and education costs, and transportation costs will go a long way to offset the short term harm to taxpayers. The value of the long-term payoff, that our children will inherit a better state than we did, is incalculable.

Posted by Justin C. Adams | June 29, 2006 11:30 AM

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