New Majority Project

Perhaps you would classify the Democrats who control the Minnesota House of Representatives as anti-anti-tax. At least that's the message they seem to be sending with their hearing schedule for Tax Day, April 15th. In what could only be considered questionable PR, the House Tax Committee will consider two bills, HF 1896 and HF 2125, that would raise beer and alcohol taxes in Minnesota. See the sordid particulars here and here.

Minnesotans are already among the nation's most taxed citizens. These new taxes on our favorite adult beverages would only add insult - and more pressure on already-stressed family budgets - to the injury we are suffering at the hands of liberal politicians intent on making us the nation's highest tax state when they solve our state's budget deficit later this spring.

Minnesota has a prosperity problem. We are not creating enough high quality private sector jobs. The income and business tax increases being bandied about will guarantee that we don't for the foreseeable future. It's possible we could hold the dubious distinction of having the nation's highest personal income tax rate and the nation's highest corporate tax rate.

Maybe this is an actual strategy by certain money hungry politicians. Their lousy policy options are driving us to drink. When we do, they tax us again. Bang. New revenue stream. Stranger things have happened.

Stay tuned. This is an issue we plan to spend some time fighting. In the current economic crisis, Minnesotans don't need higher taxes, especially on the things they buy.