Skogen has voted to raise taxes five times

Published Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Since Dan Skogen has taken office as our state senator he has voted in favor of the following tax increases: First, he voted to increase his per diem or daily allowance above and beyond his salary (tax free).

Second, he voted to increase his housing allowance, again above and beyond his salary. Third, he supported a one-half of one percent tax increase for the environment which is now attached to an arts bill.

Aren't proceeds from the state lottery supposed to help fund the environment?

Fourth, he voted for a statewide business tax of $222 million in fiscal year 2008-09 that grows to $476 million in fiscal year 2010-11. And it will continue to grow in the future.

Minnesota businesses already have three times the property tax burden of homeowners and are among the highest property taxes in the country.

Fifth, he voted to increase the gas tax and allow benefits for partners of state employees.

To put this into perspective, Legislative fiscal analysts have generated an interesting statistic. Between 1970 and 2000, general fund spending grew from $981 million to $11.8 billion annually — an annual growth rate of 8.65 percent. In 2000, that spending represented 7.66 percent of Minnesota's per capita income of $32,101.

If the growth in spending continues at the current rate, general fund expenditures will amount to $93.9 billion in 2025. If the ratio of general fund spending to personal income remains constant at 7.66 percent, per capita income will have to grow at $232,216 by 2025.

Sen., Skogen, how do you justify this and can we afford you in our 10th district? You will make it extremely difficult for so many to not only continue to live in this district but the state itself.

Henry Merickel - Battle Lake