Has anyone else seen the new commercial for Timmy?

[trotsky]

Oh, it's not "officially" a commercial for him, but the Association of Realtors has put together this total piece of crap extolling the virtues of the "no new taxes" economic plan.

The screen starts with the words "TAX AND SPEND" but as the voiceover drones on about how holding the lid on taxes "helps the economy grow" (yeah, prove that one), the "TAX" gets crossed off and replaced with the word "GROW".

Here's my WTF moment: So it's paid for by a Realtors group. Of ALL the frickin' people, THEY should know where Timmy's tax pledge is being made up!!! LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES!! Geez how absolutely stupid are these people, endorsing an economic policy that will make it harder and harder for people to buy homes and therefore affect their business?!?!?

I don't get it. I just don't get it. That Repuke Kool-Aid is some powerful shit.

[Oreo]

1. Don't forget all the fees

Timmy just calls tax increases fees and is able to hold to his word of no new taxes. It'll be nice when he's gone... I hope it's soon.

Here's a new one from today's Strib:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5326083.html
Traffic fee stirring debate among tenants, property managers
Dan Mitchell
April 4, 2005

Commercial and multifamily property managers and some of their tenants are bristling over the possibility that Minnesota cities soon might be allowed to impose a fee on landowners based on the amount of traffic their property generates.

A bill in the Legislature would allow cities to charge a "transportation utility fee" based on the number of vehicle trips generated by each property. Fees would be collected via utility bills, and the revenue would be used for road maintenance and improvements. The theory is that because apartment complexes and commercial properties create the most traffic, they should pay for improved roads.

Property taxes have been the main source of money for local roads, but "it's increasingly difficult" to rely on them, said Jim Miller, director of the League of Minnesota Cities. "Property taxes are the most onerous taxes there are."

Opponents of the bill say local governments are just trying to raise taxes without angering voters. "This is not a fee, it's a tax," said Jack Horner, a lobbyist for the Minnesota Multi-family Housing Association. The bill gives city officials a way to raise revenue "without taking any political heat," he said.

--MORE--

[4morewars]

2. Timmm-may !!!

[mzmolly]

6. Heh.

Just saw that.

[mzmolly]

3. Yes, I've seen it. I'd like to know what they're trying to grow other

than poverty, inflation, gas prices, the deficit ...

I wouldn't doubt if the group is actually a front for another Repug group.

[hermetic]

4. No, see, what this means is

money GROWS on trees. Tim's got one in his backyard, evidently. At least, that's the message I got from the ad. I'm just waiting for spring, so I can plant one of my own.

[MnFishhead]

5. MN Association of Realtors endorsed Michele Bachmann

So that should tell you all you ened to know about those assholes.

[loveable liberal]

7. Minnesota taxes regressive according to the Suits index.

Minnesota has a regressive tax system. Of the 4 indices sales tax, business taxes and property taxes are regressive meaning lower income people pay more in tax as a percentage of income. The only progressive tax index was income tax. The last official score I could find was for 2003. Since income taxes have remained stable but the other four indexes have increased that means Minnesotas tax system is Regressive. Money poor people pay more! Republicans can take their Gini coefficient and stick it up their Lorenz curve!

P.S. I couldnt find current scores but must admit I didnt look very hard. If someone could find the current score that would be fantastic. Its a number between -1 and 1 with a fair tax system being at 0. thanks.

[cynthia]

9. haven't seen the ad,

I try to stay away from the TV set. But all these "fees" make me sick. It is no way to run a government. All regressive taxes (aka "fees") impact the economy negatively which ends up impacting the state government revenues negatively. It is a vicious circle.


As a teacher, I work in the inner city with families on free and reduced lunch. They don't have a lot of money to spend, and these fees mean they have less, so they shop at Walmart, and the econony suffers. It is a vicious circle. Everyone needs to pay their share. Polluters should pay for cleaning up their act (aka Clean Water Legacy) rather than making us pay via our sewer fees. But that is another whole discussion in itself.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Fees and Gambling

that is what is being pushed.

[loveable liberal]

8. I saw it too. They simply lie. nt