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Speaker suggests booze tax is an option

Posted at 11:33 AM on May 12, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said today that two Republicans have mentioned that they could support an increase to the alcohol tax to help fix the state's budget problem. That means House Democrats would be just one vote shy of the ninety needed votes to override a potential veto.

"I don't know if alcohol, an alcohol tax, can get an override vote in the Minnesota House or the Minnesota Senate, Kelliher said. "But at least two members have indicated different versions of an alcohol tax that they might be interested in."

Kelliher, a candidate for governor, wouldn't identify the two Republicans who approached her.

She also left open the possibility that lawmakers could try to override Pawlenty's veto of a tax bill that cuts government spending and raises income taxes on Minnesota's top earners.

Democrats in the Minnesota Senate already have a veto-proof majority and DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller said on Monday that Senate Democrats have always delievered the votes when necessary.

Governor Pawlenty has repeatedly said he won't support a tax increase of any kind.

Legislative leaders say they expect to meet with Gov. Pawlenty several times today but no meetings are scheduled as of yet.

Comments (2)

Where is the spine of democrats in this country. We are going to exchange the idea of taxing the richest folks in MN in exchange for taxing poor folks who drink beer.

Posted by Aaron | May 12, 2010 11:45 AM

This shows me that it is time for MAK to bag the tax increase idea, figure out the percentage needed to be cut to keep the budget in balance, and ask each agency to cut that X percent. Let the commissioners decide the WHERE part of the suts.

Get it done.

Posted by John O. | May 12, 2010 9:05 PM

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