March 22, 2009: Legislative Report #34

Stealing From Our Pockets

In 1997, Minnesota placed a levy on property to fund programs under TBRA or LHIA. The funds raise $1.5 million a year to cleanup neighborhoods and fund low-income housing projects.

Using the power of the Metro Council, bill1955 proposes to steal up to 75% of the above mentioned account revenues for years 2009, 2010, 2011, to pay projected operating deficits for the transit, Para transit, light rail and commuter rail services. Additionally the Met Council misrepresents the total number of year's redirection of such funds are occurring on their website.  

Additionally HF#1955 steals up to 75% of the Right-of-Way Loan Acquisition Fund. The funds designed to quickly respond to real estate market activities and purchase property using best practices for future trunk Highway construction. Gutting the Right-of Way Acquisition Fund will cost Minnesota Millions in additional taxes and future land costs to fund Trunk Highway projects for decades.

Even more insidious is the revenue redirection in Bill #1955. Minnesota will, now subsidize Mass transit programs covered by last year's multi billion-dollar gas tax increases by stealing from Highway funding programs.  

Just consider all the bills introduced in 2009 so far. The games played, deception, redirecting of dedicated funding programs and revenues, all attempting to cover a budget debt of $6,400,000,000.00. The actions of this bill are nothing short of criminal. "We The People" must stop the insane activities at the legislature. Replacement of elected leadership has to occur in 2010, we have little to no governance.