The “Fee’
Posted by Andy on August 28th, 2005
I’ve seen the entire right side of the political spectrum become livid and split over the ‘fee’.
Let’s be clear about this. It is a fee and not a tax because if it were a tax, the casinos would not have to pay it. It was a goal for this last session was to get the tribal gaming casinos to make contributions to the state. Just like the 3o-some other states get. Had the fee been a tax, the casinos would have been able to sell tabacco at prices much cheaper than the public stores, creating another advantage or monopoly for them.
This was similar to the state sponsored casino proposal, another attempt at getting the tribes to cough up a little dough.
That being said
If this weekend is any evidence of the real feelings of those on the ‘right’, I am very troubled. People are threatening to never vote for a Republican again. Throw the bums out. I don’t see how that solves anything. If people ’stay home’ next November over this ‘fee’, they’ll be very sorry. What their little tantrum may result in is a solidly DFL controlled state. They’ll own the Senate, the House, the State Wide Offices, and the Governor.
If you worry-warts think things are bad under Pawlenty, just wait until Hatch resides on Summit Ave. There will be no debate over calling what he will do. He is going to tax the living begeezers out of us.
A much better idea is for you all to take a deep breath. calm down, and get more involved.
Minnesota’s Caucus Day is going to be March 7, 2006 at 7PM. (That should be enough notice for you to be there if you really do care as much as you claim!) On that day you have the opportunity to get involved. Show up. Volunteer to be a leader of some sort. Heck, if you really really feel you know better than those that are in office, run for office yourself. But, whatever you do, get involved. The level of b&%@hing and moaning from the fiscal conservatives is quite melodramatic when on caucus night, few of them bother to show up.
So, stay home if you like. Spend the next few months before November next year, attacking Pawlenty and the Republicans. But in the end, remember that things will be worse under the DFL. Higher taxes. Higher spending. More useless trains. Bye Bye Second Amendment. Bye Bye parental notification. To name a few.
The fractured portion of the right is going to decide the next election, and if they ’stay home’, the Republicans are screwed.
Memo to the GOP and Pawlenty, get out on damage control immediately. I cannot do this alone!
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August 28th, 2005 at 11:14 pm
I don’t think spin is enough. Pawlenty has to at least concede that he hasn’t been as Republican as he promised to be when campaigning in 2002. A good start would be the end of this Eddie Haskell “oh, it’s actually a fee, Mrs. Cleaver” act.
But how about this: If Pawlenty calls a Special Session for stadium(s), your side admits that there is simply no telling what he will do next. If he doesn’t, our side closes ranks behind your side.
August 28th, 2005 at 11:55 pm
Besides the fee, what has Pawlenty done to upset you? I’ve heard a lot of rumors that people may be considering a Primary battle. That would ensure a DFL victory, and all your worst nightmares would become a reality. If the fee was behind us, would your side consider backing off? Or is he as bad as you say, and not worth supporting anymore? What bothers me so much more than the fee is why we needed it. The Repubicans in the House were hell bent on increasing spending and the extra money had to come from somewhere. Would the DFL’s 4th tax rate been better. The House GOPers forced a need for more money by not holding the line themselves. In my mind, it comes down to the fact that we do have a spending problem, and this time Pawlenty had no support to hold the line. In fact his fellow Republicans set up camp on the other side of the line on day one. They all made promises to the different groups out there like ed and health care.
Pawlenty could have stood fast, but the other elected Republicans would have destroyed him for not letting them get the pet projects through. There were enough of them just as mad with the 02-03 Pawlenty as the DFLers that they openly blamed him whenever confronted by the Education and other spending nuts. The real focus for people if they are as upset as I think, is to make sure that the House is solidly in control by conservatives, and the Senate is in Republican hands. If you help do that, they can stop Pawlenty from the horrible work he alegedly did.
I think he’d be a fool to call a special session for stadiums. If he does, then I’d step to the side and let you have at him, and maybe even join in.
August 29th, 2005 at 7:12 am
Now Big Tobacco has reared its ugly…..head…and is suing the state re: the fee. Why would they do this, unless they think (as we do) that raising the cost of tobacco products will prompt many Minnesotans to quit, and for many young people to not start using tobacco? The news from the smoking cessation programs (see Sunday Strib story, page 1) suggests that is EXACTLY what is happening since the bans and price increase (call it what you will) began. So Phillip Morris wants to fight in the open, eh? (instead of hiding behind Sue Jeffers skirt) — as our President say’s, “Bring ‘em on.”
August 29th, 2005 at 8:20 am
[...] Good Old Bob from the Am Lung Ass points out on my post about the Fee, that big tabacco is going to save Pawlenty’s Governorship. Now Big Tobacco has reared its ugly…..head…and is suing the state re: the fee. Why would they do this, unless they think (as we do) that raising the cost of tobacco products will prompt many Minnesotans to quit, and for many young people to not start using tobacco? The news from the smoking cessation programs (see Sunday Strib story, page 1) suggests that is EXACTLY what is happening since the bans and price increase (call it what you will) began. So Phillip Morris wants to fight in the open, eh? (instead of hiding behind Sue Jeffers skirt) — as our President say’s, “Bring ‘em on.” [...]
August 29th, 2005 at 11:07 am
[...] Our KvM colleague Andy Aplikowski defends the “fee”. [...]