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State Representative Tom Hackbarth
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-2439
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS COLUMN
THEY ARE AT IT AGAIN
By Tom Hackbarth
State Representative
The state currently has a deficit of $373 million dollars. That means there is a spending problem. Because of the spending problem, which is simply too much money going to programs we don’t need, there is not enough money for transportation. So what is the solution? To steal your wallet! Well, that’s what the Democrats think is the best solution.
But if you’re like me, and many of you are, you’d agree tax increases are the last thing we need! The last time I looked there were 5 tax increases totaling about $8.2 million dollars. That doesn’t include the other taxes they want to hike.
House Republicans know how to build roads and bridges without raising taxes. Our plan would use a variety of methods to fund transportation, part of that being bonding for roads and bridges. We should use the bonding to replace the bridges that need it the most.
We should cut wasteful government spending in other departments, like welfare, and put it into transportation. Currently transportation gets .7 percent of the state budget, or about $250 million dollars. If we make transportation a priority we can put more money into it. By putting another $160 million from the general fund into transportation, this would be the same as raising the gas tax by 5 cents.
We should exempt MNDOT from paying the sales tax. This would give the department an extra $8 million each year. We could sell some property that is owned by the state. We could go back to a lowest responsible bidder method for construction projects. This will save the state a lot of money, instead of paying to make sure our bridges look pretty.
House Republicans put forth a common sense plan that doesn’t raise taxes. Democrats do not like any plan that does not raise at least 5 different taxes it seems. Once again, they are showing their true colors. They want more money and they’ll be knocking down your door to get it.
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