D'OH! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lady Logician   
Thursday, 01 May 2008 13:39

You just can't make this up.....The tax bill AS INTRODUCED (we are now on the 2nd Engrossment) had a provision that, according to the authors, would include "revenue neutral" property tax relief for most Minnesotans.  There was only one problem with that.  The property tax relief as written at first would actually INCREASE revenues to the state of Minnesota.  Hardly "revenue neutral".  The authors (Reps. Lenczewski and Marquardt) didn't even notice this until AFTER staff ran the numbers because Rep. Lanning asked questions.  The Revenue Commissioner brought this up in his testimony before the House Tax Committee, as well (at approximately the 3:30 mark).

Reps. Lenczewski and Marquardt had to put forward an author's amendment in order to correct the problem.  One has to wonder if the amendment would have been brought forward had Rep. Lanning not brought forward his questions and concerns.

If it were not for groups like the Taxpayers League and talk radio, the people of Minnesota may have never known about this.  The local media (which sang the praises of this bill) never reported on the problem.  One wonders if they had even read the bill or if they had, were they deliberately hiding such a huge screw up.  Either way, they are not doing the citizens of Minnesota any favors.

Cross posted at Ladies Logic where I am still digging through the bill for other fun tidbits.....