DearLegislator:
On behalf of the National TaxpayersUnion’s (NTU’s) nearly 7,000 members in Minnesota, I urge you to continuefighting against efforts to impose damaging tax hikes on your state’s familiesand businesses. With a staggering overspending problem of $5 billion, some areagitating for a multi-billion-dollar boost in taxes. But the solution to an overspendingproblem is not to overtax, it is to trim expenditures to more manageablelevels. Our members thank those of you who have stood fast againstcounterproductive tax increases and urge you to continue your courageous stancein defense of overburdened taxpayers.
As you know, Governor Daytonproposed a budget containing expenditure levels never before seen in statehistory. In order to underwrite this record-setting spending binge, he hasasked the Legislature to raise taxes by $1.8 billion over the next biennium.While this additional burden would be unwelcome in any economy, it isparticularly dangerous because of the threat it poses to the shaky recoverythat Minnesotans are struggling with.
Withoutreforms to unsustainable spending, General Fund obligations would have soaredfrom $31 billion in the biennium ending June 30th, to over $39billion for 2012-13, a 27 percent increase. But instead of being content with amore prudent 10 percent increase in spending to $34 billion, Governor Daytonand his allies have insisted upon a more drastic course in pursuit of a 20percent increase in spending.
Sucha move would heap even greater financial strains on the backs of Minnesota’salready-overtaxed citizens. According to the non-partisan Tax Foundation’s mostrecent rankings, Minnesota has the 7th-highest tax burden in thecountry. Adding to this load will negatively impact the state’s ability tocompete in today’s economy, especially given that virtually all of its neighborstates feature tax systems that are much less onerous.
While nobody is pleased with theshutdown of government, it should not serve as an excuse to hike taxes in orderto fund a bloated budget. Minnesota’s government should do what its people do:live within its means. We urge you to reject calls for greatertaxation and look forward to working with you in crafting a budget that protectstaxpayers.
Sincerely,Brent MeadState Government AffairsManager