There’s too much talk about tax increases

Published Monday, April 2, 2007

The budget battle is always an intense one here at the Capitol. The debate between what needs to be funded and with how much seems to never end.

This year, though, should be a little different because of the $2 billion budget surplus we have to work with. But, in the midst of all the discussion there have been numerous proposals to raise a variety of different taxes.

One proposal would increase income taxes. Under this bill everyone would pay more income tax. The tax rate would be changed for all three

of the current income tax brackets, and they would introduce a new, fourth, income tax bracket.

This new bracket would tax the top income earners, those who make above $400,000 for married filers and $226,000 for single filers after deduction, at a rate of nine percent.

There are many proposals that would increase the cost of owning and driving your car.

The House recently passed its transportation bill, which I did not support, but includes a proposal to raise the gas tax by 50 percent.

Other transportation related tax increase proposals would allow counties to charge you a wheelage tax of an extra $20 per car you own, allow counties to raise the sales tax for transportation, put a transportation-impact tax on every building permit and raise the cost to register vehicles.

There are also proposals to tax light bulbs by a quarter each, raise the alcohol tax, raise the sales tax, make a new paint tax of a nickel a gallon, triple the tax on hearses, raise the deed tax by 50 percent, tax cosmetic surgeries, a new gift tax of 10 percent, an extra sales tax to raise at least $500 million a year pay for new parks, trails, and habitat projects.

Currently the state has a $2 billion surplus. The Governor's proposed budget has a 9.3 percent increase in spending this biennium over the last biennium.

With this formula, the new spending would use the $2 billion surplus. The total amount for spending this biennium, with the Governor's plan is $34 billion and his plan does not include any of the afore mentioned tax increases.

Over the next few weeks we will debate the omnibus spending bills and decide where the state can best spend its money.

The legislature has the duty to be good stewards of the money it has available.

We will work across the aisle to ensure a budget is passed that both sides can agree to and the Governor will approve.

Please keep me posted with your questions or comments. I can be reached toll free now at 800-711-2620 or e-mail me at

rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn. I am always appreciative of your input.

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Torrey Westrom - District 13A representative