GOP offer amendment on supermajority for tax increases

Republicans in the Minnesota House are adding to the wish list of constitutional amendments they'd like to see on the ballot in 2012.

Rep. Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa introduced a bill Thursday that would let voters decide whether any tax increase by the Legislature should require 60 percent, instead of a simple majority, of votes to pass. The supermajority requirement would make tax increases difficult to enact. Drazkowski says it's the one sure way to reign in government spending.

"Minnesotans have resoundingly talked about bringing responsibility to the spending and stopping the taxing and spending we've been doing throughout our history. And we see about a 20 percent increase in the growth of government up until the current biennium as far back as we can see."

Twenty-eight other Republicans joined him in sponsoring the bill. If passed, it would go on the ballot in next year's general election without the governor's signature. It would also require another constitutional change to repeal the measure.