Public Finance

Surly responds to proposed beer tax increases

On Tuesday the folks over at Surly Brewing Co. took the time to issue their response to the proposed tax increase on Minnesota-made alcohol. In a lengthy blog post that details their multiple issues with the proposed excise tax increase, Surly makes it clear that this legislation can only hurt Minne ... More >>

President Obama offers Michele Bachmann a raise she doesn't want

When he signed an executive order calling for an end to a longstanding pay freeze for members of Congress and other federal employees last Thursday, President Obama essentially offered Michele Bachmann a $900-a-year raise. But Bachmann and a majority of her colleagues in the GOP-controlled House wan ... More >>

Amy Klobuchar "surprised" after Kurt Bills throws Bush tax cuts under the bus [VIDEO]

BREAKING NEWS: Republicans don't like tax increases, whether they're a result of new legislation or simply allowing tax cuts to expire. SEE ALSO:-- Kurt Bills, GOP Senate candidate, says he'd support tax increase, fight Grover Norquist-- Obama up 7 in Minnesota, Klobuchar up 19, says new poll-- Mich ... More >>

MNGOP, DFL Reps. argue heatedly about who's sticking it to middle class [VIDEO]

​State Rep. Tom Rukavina, D-Virginia, may be a small guy, but he was prepared to "take it outside" yesterday in response to a GOP Representative's claim that the DFL "stuck it to the middle class."After Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, made that comment, a heated argument with Rukavina ensued that ... More >>

History suggests increasing Minnesota cigarette tax won't be as lucrative for state as some think

​In a commentary published in the Star Tribune today, economist Patrick Fleenor of Fiscal Economics Inc. makes a persuasive case that the state stands to gain less than lawmakers think from a GOP-proposed cigarette tax hike.Minnesota's cigarette tax is currently near the national average, but the ... More >>

American Lung Association: Minnesota should do more to prevent smoking

The ALA Minnesota would like to see more anti-smokinng advertising and higher cigarette taxes.​The American Lung Association thinks Minnesota should do more to counteract tobacco use.In its annual report, the ALA gives the state an "F" grade in the area of spending on tobacco prevention and contro ... More >>

R.T. Rybak proposes quicker street repairs, 90 job cuts

Mayor R.T. Rybak's proposal would avoid property tax hikes for most Minneapolis residents.​Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak proposed his 2012 budget in downtown Minneapolis this morning.The good news: those pesky potholes might be filled in sooner than expected. The bad news: The city of Minneapoli ... More >>

Minnesotans blame Legislature, Dayton equally for shut down

​Throwing cold water on claims of popular support by both the Republicans running the Legislature, and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, Minnesotans in a new poll are blaming both sides equally for the budget battle that may force a state government shutdown. They also largely disapprove of the job the L ... More >>

Minnesota Supreme Court rejects GOP shutdown lawsuit

​The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled four Republican senators jumped the gun in saying that Gov. Mark Dayton is overstepping his constitutional bounds by involving the courts in government shutdown contingency plans. That's because no state money has been ordered to be spent, so there's no ... More >>

Republicans demand special session to deal with budget

​With just 10 days to go until a possible state government shutdown, top GOP leaders are asking Gov. Mark Dayton to call a special session to deal with the state's $5 billion budget deficit. House Speaker Kurt Zellers says it's time. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch says that state legislator ... More >>

Department of Human Services mails 572,000 shutdown warnings to clients

​In another reminder of how the looming Minnesota government shutdown is going to impact real people and not just political careers, the Department of Human Services mailed out something like 572,000 letters to its clients today, warning them that there may be an interruption in their benefits ... More >>

AFSCME zeros in on 26 legislators to prevent shutdown

Can AFSCME change the minds of 26 legislators?​If you live in a Republican district led by a "non-ideolog," prepare to be really annoyed by your television. A "non-ideolog" is the word American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees use for a lawmaker who could potentially be swayed ... More >>

Minneapolis bills homeowners for street repairs: Reminder

Pot holes are turning into money holes.​We were stunned to read a report from WCCO this morning about Minneapolis hitting up homeowners and businesses for upwards of $1,000 to repair pot holes in front of their property. Weren't we just rejoicing over the Minneapolis City Council dumping an e ... More >>

Insights Design Series: Kevin Quealy

Tim Pawlenty CPAC debt ceiling talk at odds with John Boehner

​Tim Pawlenty at CPAC today doubled down with the Michele Bachmann wing of the Republican party by insisting that, "We should not -- we should not -- raise the debt ceiling." Like Bachmann, he wants to hang the nation's deficit around Barack Obama's neck. And the line got a round of applause ... More >>

Michele Bachmann lives in the real world: Video of the day

​The president hates America. We live in a socialist state. Shutting down the government isn't shutting down the government. That's reality for Rep. Michele Bachmann. Everything else is just fantasy, she told Harry Smith on "Face the Nation" yesterday.

Minneapolis property taxes opposed by strange computerized cartoon

This guy's well versed in tax policy.​The big tax debate and vote ended last night at City Hall with Minneapolis homeowners facing a 4.7 percent increase this coming year. It could have been worse. The original proposed increase was about 6.5 percent.

Michele Bachmann's a movie star [VIDEO]

Michele Bachmann has "Fire from the Heartland."​Citizens United, the folks who tried to take down Hillary Clinton in the last election with campaign propaganda sold as a documentary, are back. And this time they're spreading their love on Michele Bachmann. She's in "Fire from the Heartland," ... More >>

PolitiFact calls Tim Pawlenty's "undertaxed" talk false

PolitiFact challenges T-Paw​Yesterday we drew attention to a column by Ruth Marcus in the Washington Post, quoting Tim Pawlenty at a meeting with Beltway journalists: "I don't think the argument can be credibly made that the United States of America is undertaxed compared to our competitors." ... More >>

Tim Pawlenty vetoes budget proposal: Full text

​Following through as promised and predicted, GOP Gov. Pawlenty vetoed the budget-balancing package approved by the DFL-controlled Legislature yesterday because it raises taxes. Both sides now have until Monday to come up with some sort of compromise to avoid a nearly $3 billion deficit. He ... More >>

Michele Bachmann's 'House Call' protest cost you $14K

​You might think that Michele Bachmann's "House Call" rally last November, railing on the health care reform bill, would have been paid for by some independent group angry about the size and scope of the federal government's power, or the way the federal government keeps finding new ways to w ... More >>

Michele Bachmann repeats debunked economics

​To borrow a phrase from Ronald Reagan: There she goes again. Preaching to the converted at yesterday's downtown Minneapolis GOP money-grubbing love-in with Sarah Palin -- check out our slideshow -- Michele Bachmann told a bunch of whoppers. Her call for nuking cyberattackers was an especial ... More >>

Court, Congress deal blows to Bachmann's ACORN agenda

A vote in the House and a decision by a U.S. District Court judge in Brooklyn suggest she's lost a couple of rounds.

Pawlenty's a no-show for his own rally; Bachmann takes stage

The Republican faithful come to praise the governor' proposed constitutional amendment, but he's nowhere in sight.

Pawlenty proposes constitutional amendment to limit government spending

Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed a new constitutional amendment today that would limit the state's general fund budget to the revenue received in the previous budget period.

Pawlenty economics: Little hope for success

Why did we give this guy the keys?

Tax day mixtape

Gimme Noise offers some music tips to help you get through an afternoon of hair pulling and pant pooping.

Pawlenty raiding the stimulus plan buffet

Don't worry Minnesotans. Pawlenty can't resist grabbing for the stimulus plan's "meandering buffet".

Station 19 owner: City trying to tax us out

Should MN adopt a soda sin tax?

West Wing and a prayer

Congressman Walz raises concerns about funding for VA medical care

St. Paul accountant barred from preparing tax returns

3Q: New Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller

Senate Democrats choose Pogemiller

Alms From the Poor

The Shutdown Showdown

For once, Minnesota Dems take a hard line with Pawlenty

Uh Oh: Anti-taxers turn on TP

MPLS: Anti-ballpark resolution

One Hand Washes the Other

Are the state GOP and an antiabortion group conspiring against runoff voting?

Dead Set on Destruction

Even Republicans are alarmed by the governor's fiscal mismanagement

You Can't Get There from Here

Is the bus shutdown part of the Governor's grand plan?

Budget: DFL Hands the Store to Pawlenty

As public criticism of Pawlenty's budget grows, state dems abruptly cave in

Hard Times at City Hall

The State of the City? We're Broke.

Billion Dollar Guesswork

Gov. Arne Carlson is crowing over a $1.3 billion budget surplus. But his own state economist, Thomas Stinson, acknowledges that the money hasn't come in yet--and perhaps never will.

The First Cut

With lean budget times in the forecast, Hennepin County prepares to kill "optional" programs like sexual-violence prevention. But is it just a case of bad management?

(Un)Fare Wars

Should the House bill pass, prices will go up at smaller airlines while large airlines such as Northwest will shoulder a smaller tax burden.

End Notes

Sharon Sayles Clinton