2000 taxpayers league of minnesota scorecard

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CITIZENS REPORT A Citizens Guide to How the Minnesota State Government Spends Your Tax Dollars and How Lawmakers Voted on Tax and Spending Issues Including the: 2000 TAXPAYERS SCORECARD 2000 CITIZENS BUDGET Published by: THE TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA Published by: THE TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OUNDATION www.taxpayersleague.org

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CITIZENS REPORT������������� ��������������������������������������

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Including the:

2000 TAXPAYERS SCORECARD

2000 CITIZENS BUDGET

Published by:THE TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA

Published by:���������������� ���� �������

www.taxpayersleague.org

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About the TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA

“The Taxpayers League’s mission is to represent Minnesotans who believe in limited government, low taxation,local control, free enterprise, and the Constitutional principles set down by our nation’s founders. The TaxpayersLeague is fighting to reduce and reform taxation and eliminate government waste. It serves as a strong voice for alltaxpaying citizens in Minnesota.”

The Taxpayers League of Minnesota is a nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayers advocacy organization. It lobbies for lowertaxes and limited government for all taxpaying Minnesotans.

=Not Voting*

U.S. Senate Votes

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U.S. House of Representatives Votes

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Michael Wigley, Chairman, Taxpayers League of Minnesota

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United States Congress Scorecard - 106th Congress 1999-2000

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MINNESOTA STATE SENATE1. RETURN THE BUDGET SURPLUS TO TAXPAYERS. The taxpayer friendly vote was

to pass an across-the-board income tax cut which would have prevented futuresurpluses. (Failed 23-37)

2. ACROSS-THE-BOARD INCOME TAX CUTS. The taxpayer friendly vote was to passan across-the-board income tax cut which reduced income taxes in all 3 brackets.(Failed 28-38)

3. CAPITAL GAINS TAX CUT. The taxpayer friendly vote was to exempt 20% of acapital gain from taxation. (Failed 28-37).

4. STOP TAXING LOCAL GOVERNMENT. The taxpayer friendly vote was to exemptlocal government from paying sales taxes to the state. (Failed 30-35)

5. LIMIT PROPERTY TAX INCREASES. The taxpayer friendly vote was to limit theamount local governments can raise property taxes to no more than a 5%increase. (Failed 24-38)

6. FLATTEN PROPERTY TAX RATES. The taxpayer friendly vote was to flattenproperty tax rates to ensure a fairer property tax system, increased affordablehousing, and a more competitive business climate. (Failed 25-40)

7. REPEAL TAX ON MEDICAL SERVICES. The taxpayer friendly vote was to eliminateMinnesota’s “sick tax” which taxes medical services. (Failed 30-35)

8. REJECT SPENDING THE SURPLUS. The taxpayer friendly vote was to reject theSenate tax bill which spent much of the surplus, and failed to cut all the income taxrates. (Passed 46-21)

9. REJECT THE “COMPROMISE” TAX CUT PACKAGE. The taxpayer friendly votewas to reject the final watered-down tax cut deal which failed to return 100% of thebudget surplus. (Passed 64-1)

10.REJECT PORK-BARREL SPENDING. The taxpayer friendly vote was to reject thisattempt to override the Governor’s veto of the Lanesboro Arts Center funding whichwill cost taxpayers about $1100 per resident. (Passed 58-4)

11. REJECT THE BUDGET BUSTING BONDING BILL. The taxpayer friendly vote wasto oppose the final bonding bill, which borrowed almost double the amountrecommended by the Governor. (Passed 63-2)

12.KILL LIGHT RAIL. The taxpayer friendly vote was to transfer money approved forbuilding light rail in Minneapolis to other transit projects. (Failed 31-33).

13.REJECT THE “GARBAGE BILL.” The taxpayer friendly vote was to reject theomnibus spending bill which violated the Minnesota Constitution by rolling mostspending bills into one. (Passed 64-1)

14.END THE PROFILE OF LEARNING. The taxpayer friendly vote was to end theProfile of Learning which has wasted hundreds of millions of tax dollars onbureaucracy without improving education. (Failed 26-35).

15.REJECT INCREASES IN HUNTING AND FISHING FEES. The taxpayer friendlyvote was to reject increasing hunting and fishing license fees by as much as 30%.(Passed 55-8).

MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES1. RETURN THE BUDGET SURPLUS TO TAXPAYERS. The taxpayer friendly vote was

to return the budget surplus to taxpayers through income tax cuts and rebates.(Passed 85-47)

2. LIMIT PROPERTY TAX INCREASES. The taxpayer friendly vote was to limit theamount local governments can raise property taxes to no more than a 5%increase. (Failed 61-71)

3. DON’T INCREASE TAXES TO FUND WELFARE. The taxpayer friendly vote was toreject a proposal to increase taxes if federal welfare funds are reduced. (Failed 62-69)

4. REJECT THE “COMPROMISE” TAX CUT PACKAGE. The taxpayer friendly votewas to reject the final watered-down tax cut deal which failed to return 100% of thebudget surplus. (Passed 124-6)

5. REJECT THE PORK BARREL SPENDING DEAL. The taxpayer friendly vote wasto reject the “deal” made to trade votes to override the Governor’s vetoes of theLanesboro Arts Center and Guthrie Theatre funding. (Passed 92-36)

6. REJECT THE BUDGET BUSTING BONDING BILL. The taxpayer friendly vote wasto oppose the final bonding bill, which borrowed almost double the amountrecommended by the Governor. (Passed 102-29).

7. REJECT LIGHT RAIL FUNDING. The taxpayer friendly vote was to reject thisamendment which preserved light rail funding and provided money for buildingan entire rail and transit system. (Failed 49-79)

8. REJECT STATE MANDATED “SMART GROWTH.” The taxpayer friendly vote wasto oppose this amendment which would have imposed state mandated “smartgrowth” principles on local governments, reducing funds for roads in favor of transit,and allow state bureaucrats to direct where people live. (Failed 59-70)

9. SUNSET OUTDATED BUREAUCRATIC RULES. The taxpayer friendly vote was torequire that all bureaucratic rules expire unless formally reapproved by thelegislature. (Passed 97-36)

10.REJECT THE ‘GARBAGE BILL’. The taxpayer friendly vote was to reject theomnibus spending bill which violated the Minnesota Constitution by rolling mostspending bills into one. (Passed 110-21)

11. ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REJECT THE PROFILE OF LEARNING. Thetaxpayer friendly vote was to allow school districts to choose whether to implementthe Profile of Learning. (Passed 68-66)

12.REJECT INCREASES IN HUNTING AND FISHING FEES. The taxpayer friendlyvote was to reject increasing hunting and fishing license fees by as much as 30%.(Passed 88-43).

VOTE DESCRIPTIONS STATE SENATE

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Party/Name District 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 97

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2000

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TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA Scorecard

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA Scorecard

Party/Name District 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 97

-00

2000

RATING

Party/Name District 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 97

-00

2000

�#�90

� Minnesotans pay the 4th highestincome taxes in the nation.

� Minnesotans work 126 days a year,or about 3 hours a day, just to paytheir taxes.

� The average family spends moreto pay their taxes than for food,clothing, and housing combined.

� Minnesota state and localgovernment take and spend nearly20% of all Minnesotans’ earnings.

� In the last decade, Minnesota’sstate government spending hasdoubled.

� If all of the surplus had beenreturned to taxpayers, instead ofspent, the total tax relief would haveaveraged about $3000 pertaxpayer.

� This year the legislature overrode aGovernor’s veto to fund an artscenter in Lanesboro--which will costMinnesota taxpayers over $1100 perresident of the town!

� This year the legislature approved anew project to build a power plant tobe fueled by turkey manure--whichwill cost taxpayers millions of dollarsin higher fuel bills and subsidies.

� The Minnesota Department ofEmployee Relations spendsthousands of dollars a year on “lossof dreams” seminars, massages,and yoga for state employees.

� Salaries for some stateadministrators have skyrocketed byas much as 70% in recent years.

� The Department of NaturalResources spent over $10,000 amonth to house four employees at aluxury resort in Ely, despite the factthat they could have rented a housefor only $600 a month!

� It would be cheaper for taxpayers toprovide a new Cadillac, Mercedes,or Porsche to every new transit riderthan to build and operate theGovernor’s new light rail line.

Telephone Bill:50% Taxes

Bottle of Spirits:72% Taxes

Tank of Gas:54% Taxes Loaf of Bread:

31% Taxes

Night in HotelRoom:

43% Taxes

Pizza:38% Taxes

Airline Ticket:40% TaxesCan of Soda:

35% Taxes

Source: Americans For Tax Reform

About the �������������� ���������

Darrell McKigney, President, Taxpayers League Foundation

“With taxes being the largest budget item for most families today, people have a right to know more about how their taxdollars are being spent. We must ensure that families pay the lowest taxes possible, and we must keep government wasteto a minimum.”

The Taxpayers League Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog organization dedicated to educating citizens abouttax and spending issues. It provides publications, research, and public speakers which advocate principles of lower taxesand limited government.

TAX FACTS

The Hidden Tax Bite in Things You Buy...

Your Tax Dollars at Work?

How Minnesota State Government Spends Your MoneyExpenditures (Thousands) 1998-99 2000-01 % changeEDUCATIONState Money $9,605,662 $11,215,961 16.76%Federal Money $ 979,604 $ 1,078,828 10.13%

Total : $10,585,266 $12,294,789 16.15%

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESState Money $5,029,440 $5,793,299 15.19%Federal Money $5,067,590 $5,563,734 9.79%

Total: $10,097,030 $11,357,033 12.48%

TRANSPORTATIONState Money $2,521,693 $3,005,604 19.19%Federal Money $ 910,281 $1,252,597 37.61%

Total: $3,431,974 $4,258,201 24.07%

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIESState Money $2,629,295 $3,342,123 27.11%

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCESState Money $730,634 $835,608 14.37%Federal Money $ 54,160 $ 82,685 52.67%

Total: $784,794 $918,293 17.01%

JUDICIARY $995,255 $1,160,840 16.64%

STATE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIONState Money $828,860 $815,969 -1.56%Federal Money $ 4,080 $ 8,290 103.19%

Total: $832,940 $824,259 -1.04%

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTState Money $419,207 $462,422 10.31%Federal Money $168,682 $160,147 -5.06%

Total: $587,889 $622,569 5.90%

LABORState Money $ 54,727 $ 88,637 61.96%Federal Money $318,526 $347,171 8.99%

Total: $373,253 $435,808 16.76%

OTHERState Money $1,641,402 $1,340,644 -18.32%Federal Money $ 12,116 $ 9,645 -20.39%

Total: $1,653,518 $1,350,289 -18.34%

TOTAL expenditures $31,971,214 $36,564,204 14.37%

This publication is an estimated snapshot of state spending and taxes in Minnesota and includes data from different sources. The federal moneyfigures include funds appropriated by the Federal Government and given to the state of Minnesota to be spent by the state for specific programs. Itdoes not include federal money spent directly by the federal government in Minnesota. The source for this information is the 1998 and 1999 SenateFiscal Review. The state money numbers include spending from documented state funds. The sources for this data are The Senate Fiscal Reviewand the Minnesota Department of Finance.

Sources for state revenues (depicted in the pie chart on the right page) are the Department of Finance, including their 1999 Cost of Governmentfigures supplemented with the July 2000 Economic Update. The revenue pie chart on the right does not include federal money.

The two bar graphs on the right describe state spending when you look only at the state’s “General Fund.” The General Fund can be thought of as thestate’s main checking account. Revenues (taxes, some fees and investment income) are collected and end up in the general fund. It is out of theGeneral Fund that many of the state’s activities are paid for. The source for inflation numbers is the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Some departments have their own funds including user fees, licenses and some federal money. Examples of these include: the Game and Fish Fund(supplemented by license and user fees) for Environment and Natural Resources and federal highway funds which are spent by the Department ofTransportation. Federal money and these other sources total about $10 Billion and need to be factored into how much these agencies actually haveand do spend. These are included in the table above.

For more detailed information about Minnesota state government spending and the data used to create this publication visit www.taxpayersleague.org.

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25Billions

1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001

actual state spending

1985 level adjusted for inflation

Labor and Economic Development

3%

Local Government Subsidies 9%

Transportation/Public Safety

12%

Env, Nat. Res. and Agriculture

3%

Judiciary 3%

State Government Administration

2% Other 4%

Health and Human Services

31%

Education33%

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

$30

Spending 1998/1999 Spending 2000/2001

Corporate Income Tax5%

Motor Vehicle Licence Tax4%

Gasoline and Special Fuels Tax

4%

General Sales Tax 25%

Individual Income Tax 39%

Motor Vehicle Sales Tax3%

All Other Taxes10%

All other non-tax revenues10%

State spending has exploded in recent years:Surpluses have driven spending growth:

General fundspending

How the state collects its money from you... ...and how it is spent

Surplus Returned

Surplus Spent

1998-99 Surplus:$4.3 Billion

Surplus Returned

Surplus Spent

2000-01 Surplus:$6.5 Billion

Gen

eral

Fu

nd

Bie

nn

ial

Sp

end

ing

Bas

elin

e B

udge

t

Bas

elin

e B

udge

t

The State Budget at a Glance

TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA & ��������� ����� ���������

ONE CARLSON PARKWAY, SUITE 120, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447

PHONE (763) 249-5950 FAX (763) 249-5960 WWW.TAXPAYERSLEAGUE.ORG

Dear Taxpayer:

I always find it amazing that Minnesota state government taxes and spends so much of our money whileproviding average citizens with very little information as to how our money is spent and how our lawmakersactually vote on the issues.

The fact is, with the average Minnesotan working about an hour a day just to pay state and local taxes, wedeserve to know more about where our hard earned dollars are going. We also need to know how ourlawmakers are voting on tax and spending issues.

That’s why I’m pleased to present you with this copy of the 2000 Citizens Report. This important publicationincludes a combination of three invaluable sources of information. It includes the contents of the TaxpayersLeague Foundation’s 2000 Citizens Budget, and Tax Facts, which detail how the state taxes and spends ourmoney. It also includes the Taxpayers League of Minnesota’s 2000 Taxpayers Scorecard, which reportslawmakers actual votes and rates them based on their voting record.

I hope you find this information helpful as you learn more about your state government.

Yours for lower taxes,

Brian SullivanTaxpayers League Foundation &Taxpayers League of Minnesota

TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA & �������������� ���������

ONE CARLSON PARKWAY, SUITE 120, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447

������������

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U.S. PostagePAID

Permit No. 3881Mpls., MN