Need More Money? Find More Ways to Fine People

According to a retooling of a transportation bill, in order to raise more money the state wants to make not wearing a seat belt a primary offense, therefore we can be pulled over and ticketed just for that. As it is right now, we can only be ticketed for that if we are already pulled over for something else.

I can see the situation room now..."Well, if we pass another tax, people are just going to get that much more mad, so, how can we take more money from our constituents?". "I know, let's make a new law or two so we can make them pay it in fines for offenses rather than taxes".

In addition, there are some proposed restraictions on new drivers, as well as texting and emailing restrictions while driving, which, well, I have no problem with that...it seems every time I get cut off on the road it's some dumbass talking on his/her mobile phone. Cars should have some sort of wireless signal filter around them so phones simply won't work inside of them...

House approves weird property tax changes

At face value this bill looks like it will increase tax relief for people. But from reading the article, it's not only tied to income, but the value of your home...while the details are of what values will get what sort of tax changes, Tim Pawlenty characterizes the bill as a dsiguise to increase taxes for the majority of people. He was quoted saying "It raises the income tax to buy down property taxes without any reform of the system, and that it results in a "a net tax increase on a majority of households in Minnesota, and that's problematic."

The article on the Star Tribune says the line is people that make under $100,000 a year get a break, yet on twincities.com it says $200,000. The goal seems to be to level out the property taxes for people in areas with differing levels of property taxes relative to their income. [huh?]

I so wish this damn country would simply charge everybody the same percentage for taxes every year and be done with it. It's getting really annoying to have to do so much work simply to pay taxes.

Classic Hypocrisy in Politics

Al Franken has had a cloud hanging over his laughable run for senate the last few weeks. Recently he came clean about not paying taxes in 17 states that he owed taxes in. of course, in classic political manner, he blamed it on somebody else, in this case, his accountant. The account, who is in New York, hasn't said anything as yet.

Franken, former commedian, currently liberal politician, makes money all over the country with speaking engagements and other such personal appearances. Many of these appearances he never paid taxes on the revenue from, as taxes are owed to each state he gets paid for being in.

Of course, he will gladly vote for numerous bills that will up YOUR taxes, but he doesn't have to pay his own, and when caught, points the finger elsewhere.

Typical.

Washington County Passes Transportation Tax

Washington County, in a heated public hearing, discussed, and then passed, the state approved .25% tax increase that was part of the state's $6.6 billion dollar transportation bill.

Washington now joins Dakota, Ramsey, Anoka and Hennepin Counties in approving the tax that has been turned down by Scott and Carver Counties.

Washington's approval was by a 3 to 2 vote and is expected to have big impact on the next election cycle.

Prior Lake/Savage School District Approves Cuts

The district has had to make cuts three years in a row because people are sick of paying increasingly more for an increasingly inferior product. This year they approved $1.1 million in cuts. Cuts are said to include 5th grade band, 9th grade "b" sports, clubs such as school newspapers, chess club, technology club and the like.

The way I see it, that is trimming the fat, no lost sleep over that. If the public school system would concentrate on teaching the "three royal R's" and stop worrying about extra clubs, sports arts and whatnot, we'd have a far superior product where it counts.

Are those extras nice? Well, yes, they are, but if kids wish to participate in those kinds of things lets look in to communtiy education, private music instruction, community sports and so on. The kids that want to do it can have it, they always could, just not as part of the public school system.

That isn't the job of the public school.