2002-06, Republicans control the Minnesota House and are within three votes of control of the Senate. They solve the $4.5 billion dollar deficit they inherited, have lowest unemployment in the nation, increase spending on roads and bridges each year and end 2006 with a $2.5 billion surplus.
Then in 2007-08, Democrats win total control of the Legislature, increase their daily per diem to $96, double their committees and committee budgets, increase their mileage reimbursement, implement the largest tax increase in 40 years. There's high unemployment, $1.1 billion bonding bill (which includes hockey rinks, events centers and community centers), $1 billion deficit and more tax increases. They blame Carol Molnau for the bridge collapse.
Senate Democrats have controlled the senate transportation committee for more than 30 years. DFL Congressman James Oberstar, head of the federal transportation committee, finds billions of dollars for bike trails, 50 million for a new four-lane road in northern Minnesota and nothing for bridges.
In one year they are driving businesses such as Northwest Airlines and others to other states because of high taxes. Businesses are asking, "How quickly can I get to South Dakota?"
Watch how the liberals increase every tax you can think of in 2008; sales tax, deed tax, gas tax, excise tax, income tax, property tax, etc. etc. etc., all of which is no longer veto proof, is it?
Don't complain about the present circumstances if you voted DFL in 2006.
Dick Rostad
Breezy Point
