Bathroom Break Please!

In an effort to keep people informed of just what is going on in St. Paul this year. We bring to you the Democrats "Freedom to Poop Act."

Erin Murphy (DFL) St. Paul, introduced the "Restroom Access Act" (HF1015).

• Subd. 3. Retail establishment (a place of business open to the general public for the sale of goods or services(according to the author's definition)); customer access to restroom facilities. A retail establishment that has a toilet facility for its employees shall allow a customer to use that facility during normal business hours if the toilet facility is reasonably safe...

If you have to poop, just make sure to tell the clerk that you have a over active bladder, or colon and you will be given the opportunity to use their private restroom. So far there are no provisions that you must clean up if you have explosive diarrhea. There is however a fine of $50 for the first offense if the facility doesn't allow you access to their restroom.

This bill is so vague, because it includes places that offer services, that if you see a sign in someones yard that says "daycare openings," and you need to poop, pull in the driveway, knock on the door and demand that you be allowed to use their restroom. Yes, there is a provision that they must have 3 employees working, but that could mean "helpers" at a daycare.

You are also able to demand restroom access at a yard sale. If they don't allow you to go, then the profits of the entire garage sale could be lost. You need to sell a lot of infant clothes at 25 cents to make up for the fine.

I know that we want the DFL to start paying attention to peoples "rights", but I think they may have gone a little far.

Phyllis Kahn should decide how our money gets spent

Unfortunately we have to wait a couple of weeks for the House of Representatives to release audio of committee hearings. However, sometimes the best things come to those who wait.

In the Ways and Means Committee on Friday, March 9, 2007; Representative Phyllis Kahn, (DFL) Minneapolis; said what I think sums up the DFL Party. The discussion was on the price of government, which includes fees and other such state related items.

When speaking to the testifier about the fact that the price of government has gone down. Rep. Kahn said the following;

• "I think that (doing the research on the price of government) further shows how meaningless this is, but if it did mean anything, I'm personally offended that my price of government has gone down."

I have attached a link to the Audio if you would like to hear it yourself. The quote takes place around the 6 minute 35 second mark of the tape.

Thank you Representative Kahn for describing what the DFL thinks. You are painting a better picture of the fact that you think the government should take in all of our money and divide it out as you see fit. So much for personal responsibility.

ASS AWARD Winner- The DFL Party!

Should it be any surprise that voters thought the Democrats who ran as "new fiscal moderates" would do anything but raise our taxes. Time and time again the democrats find new ways to inflate the government and empty our pocket books. If you thought things were bad before, just wait, we are going to see tax increases like never before.

• 
  Voters Getting Soaked with Tax Proposals by Democrats written by Representative Marty Seifert, House Republican Leader
  When voters went to the polls last year, there certainly was a sense of change in their minds. Many people were upset about congressional scandals, over-spending, frustration with foreign policy and other various issues. There seemed to be a sense, however, that Democrats were campaigning to hold the line as "new fiscal moderates" for the people of Minnesota, whatever vague and attractive meaning that might have held for the voters.
  So November's elections came and went. The voters swept in a large Democrat majority in the legislature, although only by about 4500 votes statewide. However, now the new Democrat-controlled legislature is obsessed with tax increases on you.
  All of the following bills are brought to your courtesy of the new Democrat Majority in the legislature: the $1.2 billion income tax increase; three different bills to jack up your sales taxes; a bill to triple the taxes on hearses; a bill to jump up gas taxes by 50%; another big increase in deed taxes; another bill piles up huge increases on
  alcohol: a 790% increase in beer taxes and 450% increase in wine taxes; there's a proposal to tax gifts and another bill to jack up the taxes on cell phones, land-line phones and other telecommunications devices by 46%; and a bill to impose a 25-cent tax on every incandescent light bulb in the state. There's also bills to increase "fees" on pharmacies, deer hunters, video and electronic equipment sales and more.
  Keep in mind, Minnesota has a surplus that exceeds $2 billion. The average family will get nailed by these Democrats tax increases, on top of squandering the entire surplus. Are they really silly enough to believe that the government should grow much, much faster than the income of ordinary families? Do only the "rich" buy gas, own phones, drink a beer or die? All of these things will be taxed much more.
  Let me be clear: growing government by any other name is just the same.
  I'm not interested in renaming taxes as fees or fees as taxes. This has been done by people of both parties in the past and the voters are smart enough to see through it. The government ought to live within its means like a family or business. Period.
  The $4 billion of tax increases from Democrats could be divided up in many different ways - if you divide it straight up, it would be well over $1,000 per taxpayer in this fiscal period. It goes up more for couples and families as there are only 5 million people that live in this state. Many are on fixed incomes.
  As the new House Republican Leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives, let me assure you that my Republican colleagues and I will fight for the ordinary family and against these gigantic tax increases. The Governor stands with us and we are firm in our belief that the government growth should not outstrip the growth of the family income. We have a surplus and the state government coffers grow daily, due to better jobs, higher incomes, stable employment and fiscal discipline from Governor Pawlenty. There is room to fund education and health care with this money.
  This is not about Democrat versus Republican: it's about common sense fiscal management over big tax increases to pay for special interests demanding more and more of your money. Let me assure you that our focus is on key issues that concern working families: controlling taxes, equitable, fair and accountable education funding and health care reform that makes health care more affordable.
  The Republican members will fight against the Democrat proposals to allow non-citizens to vote, to let 16-year-olds vote, to smother businesses with regulations and to micro-manage people's lives. We will offer legislation that fosters more freedom, less government, more equitably funded and accountable education and lower property taxes.
  If you thought that the Democrats were for the "little guy" or fiscal moderation in the elections last year, I'd suggest you look at all of the proposed tax hikes and silly bills by their membership and then hold them accountable.
  Representative Marty Seifert of Marshall is the Republican Leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Since the Republicans are in the minority it looks as if a lot of these tax increases will pass. Our only hope is that there are a few Democrats that say enough is enough. There's a better chance of the Vikings winning the Superbowl this year than that happening.

Hopefully enough constituents will get in touch with there DFL lawmakers and make a push for reduced tax increases. Notice I said reduced increases. I have already conceded that there will not be tax decreases, so our only hope is that the number of increases will not stop me from buying that new pair of shoes for my son.

The democrats as a group deserve the Ass Award!

What is a citizen again?

Ass Award Winner!

What are they thinking? Our DFLers are at it again. HF1899 is a bill calling for a Constitutional Amendment to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. The sponsors of the bill, (who might I say) have lost touch with the people they represent are: Rep. Phyllis Kahn, Minneapolis, Rep. Jim Davnie, Minneapolis, Rep. Carlos Mariani, St. Paul, Rep. Frank Hornstein, Minneapolis.

To protect our rights we do have a wonderful thing that says any amendment to the Constitution would require voter approval. Over 50% of people would have to vote in favor of the ballot measure in order for the amendment to pass. The ballot measure would read"

• "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to allow local units of government to authorize permanent resident non-citizens to vote in local government elections?"

No, No, No

In a recent poll over 90% of people in Minnesota are opposed to this legislation. Democrats talk about a mandate, I don't think you can get much more of a mandate than 90%+.

This conservative emailed these four individuals stating my disappointment in the bill. I stated that my Grandmother moved to the United States and became a citizen so she could have the right to vote and take part in this great country. I'm still waiting for a response to the email.

Lets get back to worrying about legislation that effects the citizens of the U.S. and not worry about meaningless, shameful attempts to get a few extra votes for these four people. Since after all we all know that this will lead to a movement to allow non-citizens to vote in State elections. Who are the non-citizens going to vote for, people who give them free money. And who loves to hand out our money....The DFLers.

Property Tax and the democrats lack of plan

Ass Award Winner!

Yet again the democrats are up to...well nothing. Every time there is a problem, they seem to forget to attach a solution. Just another day at the capital.

>>> Jodi Boyne 3/13/2007 2:26:15 PM >>>
The House Democrats held a news conference this afternoon to announce that property taxes have gone up. Representative Paul Marquardt offered no solutions to provide any immediate relief or long term reform for property taxes. The 40-minute news conference as summed up by one
reporter: "you brought us here to complain but offered no solution."
According to a nonpartisan House Research report, property taxes on homesteads will go up by an average of 6.5% (their value went up by 5.3%). The property taxes on all classes of property taxes are expected to increase by 8.9%, which is less than the 9.4% in market value. This will result in a $600 million increase in property taxes.
Members of the Capitol Press Corps noted that this seemed like a smaller increase than years past, which could mean property taxes are headed in the right direction.
The only solution the House Democrats mentioned was their plan to raise $250 million in revenue through tax compliance and the closing of FOC loopholes. They also advocated for LGA increases, which Representative Paul Marquardt said is direct relief (dollar for dollar) to taxpayers.
House Research has figures that show that for every dollar of LGA the state provides, homeowners receive about 38% to 42%, Marquardt said.
House Republican Leader Marty Seifert addressed the Capitol Press Corps immediately following the Democrat news conference. His comments
included:
- Property taxes have gone up and no one is more concerned about providing relief than House Republicans.
- You can't solve a $600 million problem with $250 million.
- House Republicans proposed an immediate 15% reduction in property taxes with control mechanisms on local government.
- Enough is enough. We need specific solutions with control mechanisms.
We should pass Representative Sviggum's proposal to provide the immediate relief and then spend the rest of the session figuring our long-term reform.
- We don't need to raise taxes. We have a $2.2 billion surplus. We should stop throwing a wet blanket on our economy and focus on providing tax relief and living within our means.

We need to pass property tax reform. Lets start with Sviggum's bill. Please democrats, we are putting up ideas for you, start working with us to get some long term reform together.