Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice
Rich Big Winner in House Income Tax Bill
“House Speaker Kurt Zellers says Minnesota is broke, but he found the money to provide another nice tax break for the rich,” said Wayne Cox, Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice.
“Zellers claimed the tax relief would benefit low income. It doesn’t. Two-thirds of low-income Minnesotans would receive no income tax cut while they would receive property tax increases and over $100 million in net tax increases through reductions of the renters credit. read more »
MCTJ: Pawlenty's Amendment Threat to Universities, Business
"The constitutional amendment Governor Pawlenty proposed again today to cap spending to past revenue levels is something civic-minded Minnesotans should fear" said Wayne Cox, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice.
"This type of device was very destructive economically in states where it has been tried. A similar policy put Colorado's universities near the point of bankruptcy. Civic leaders and business leaders there subsequently fought to get rid of it. read more »
Reforming Tax Deductions Could Raise Hundreds of Millions for Minnesota from Those with Highest Incomes
A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy shows how Minnesota could raise needed new revenue--chiefly from those with top incomes--by reforming state income tax deductions.
"The ITEP report identifies sensible strategies for providing a portion of the revenue needed to protect vital services while making the overall tax code fairer," said Wayne Cox, executive director of Mnnesota Citizens for Tax Justice. read more »
Pawlenty Budget Anti-Jobs
“Governor Palwenty’s budget is a job killer,” Wayne Cox, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice, said Monday. “Its first order of business is to eliminate good jobs.” read more »
Minnesota Taxes Hit Poor and Middle Class Harder than the Highest Income
Low- and middle-income families in Minnesota pay higher shares of their income in state and local taxes than do Minnesota families with the highest incomes, according to a new study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. read more »
Polls actually said time for Pawlenty to bow out of reelection
Governor Tim Pawlenty picked a good time to announce he would not seek reelection. Next month, the stuff hits the fan. That’s when he starts unalloting. Legislative leaders asked him this week to “tell us the specifics of your job losses, classroom size increases, service reductions, property tax increases and facility closings.” read more »
Pawlenty plays the tyranny card
Governor Tim Pawlenty rolled out his non-campaign for President in Washington, D. C. last week. He started out on a high note. He told CBS newsman Bob Schieffer the Republican Party needs leadership that is optimistic and positive “as opposed to negative and cynical and demeaning.” read more »
Cop is Perp
Pawlenty: Pup Tent Republican
By Wayne Cox
The legislative session is over. In case you missed the final episode, it turns out
the guy we saw all winter behind the Governor’s podium acting like the cop trying to
arrest the job-killers was actually the perp himself.
Estimates are that between 20,000 and 30,000 mainly private-sector jobs will be
lost as a result of Governor Pawlenty’s succeeding in forcing through his all-cuts/no-newtaxes approach.
The job losses will be a surprise to many. Blame that on Stockholm Syndrome. read more »
