Theater Night Update 1-14-09

Hello Everyone,

 

 

I received this from the Taxpayers League of Minnesota (Taxpayers League of Minnesota) and  of coarse I had to share my opinion with Speaker Kelliher. All you have to do is click on the "here" text below and submit your opinion. My opinion is copied below in red.

 

 

From the Taxpayers League

"Share your NO NEW TAXES Ideas with Speaker Anderson Kelliher

Now that you’re riled up because of our tax-and-spend liberals leading the state House and Senate, let Speaker Anderson Kelliher know how you feel about the $4.8 billion state budget deficit problem.  She’s set up a website here for Minnesotans to voice their opinions."

 

 

              

Sheila's opinion submitted to Speaker Kelliher.

First of all, thank-you for the opportunity to voice my opinion. This year, I will not be getting a wage increase since 3M has mandated no wage increases this year....I can live with that if it saves other peoples jobs. What I find extremely frustrating is the "pet" projects that continually come out of the legislature and are paid for with our tax payer money. To name just one of my "frustrations", last year, over 2 million was allocated in my area (White Bear Lake) to connect 2 bike trails and then an additional allocation to build a new play center in the Tamarack Nature Center. How can this spending be justified when we are facing a deficit??? You don't spend money you don't have on unnecessary projects. These projects should be done when we are not facing a deficit. If I ran my household like that I would be in big trouble! There are people out there that need help with surviving day to day and connecting 2 bike trails and building a new play center certainly are not going to help them. Please be responsible and tighten the belt where needed just like I have to do.

 

How about some incentives to keep good paying businesses here...they are all leaving town or have already left. How about cracking down on employers that hire illegal immigrants...those are jobs that could go to our citizens. Have you tried to find a job lately? It is darn hard and we need all the jobs we can get. Not to mention, the expense that illegal's cost the taxpayer in terms of healthcare and subsidies.

 

Our charitable gambling is way down since the smoking ban went into effect and this money is used to help people...why not amend the ban to provide some shelter for smokers or some "hardship" waivers to the small bar businesses and clubs that are suffering. This would provide more sales tax revenue for the budget. New York has hardship waivers, Atlantic City Casino also repealed their smoking ban recently to name a few. Since the smoking ban went into effect our business went from 2 bartenders, 2 waitresses and a cook and kitchen helper down to 2 bartenders/waitresses and a cook....so we basically cut our staff in half....this doesn't help the budget any now does it.

 

Lastly, remember that I am not receiving any pay increase this year like a lot of other people and therefore any increases in taxes will strap my budget even further. Please, some fiscal responsibility is needed here...we cannot continue to keep spending money that we do not have and we cannot keep driving businesses out of this state!