Minority leader reiterates no new taxes mantra

published 4/17/2009

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) sent a stern warning to House and Senate Democrats about the need to strip proposed tax increases from their bills or expect Gov. Tim Pawlenty to use his veto authority.

“We’re not going down the tax increase road,” Seifert said during a media briefing. (Watch)

He used HF2125, sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls), as an example. It would tax alcoholic beverages up to 40 percent to help fund alcohol abuse and domestic violence programs.

Without bipartisan cooperation, Seifert said the majority party would be leading legislators into an “inevitable special session.”

"They announced they are incapable of compromise,” he said, adding that it would be better to compromise now than face voters during a potential “embarrassing shutdown” of state government in July.

Seifert predicts lively debates over finance bills on the House floor next week, with the exception of the so-called “Brandon’s Law” legislation, which he expects will pass Monday. Designed to create quicker responses from law enforcement when an adult goes missing, HF1242 is named for Brandon Swanson who has not been heard from since he disappeared on May 14, 2008.

However, Seifert expects a “major fight” on the floor next week regarding proposed cuts to veterans’ benefits and in conference committee about the penalties for domestic abuse. “The Senate public safety bill is a disaster,” he said.

In other arenas, he said talk of ending state subsidies for ethanol production is not a difficult decision for him, even though the largest plant is located in his district. “They served a purpose. If I had my way, I’d faze them out,” he said, adding that there is not unanimity in either caucus on this issue. Any attempt to immediately cut subsidies could have negative implications due to contractual obligations to the ethanol producers.

On the topic of K-12 education, he also said there most likely won’t be agreement over the pre-Labor Day school start issue.

- Mike Cook