No-new-taxes pledge cracked today

[katinmn]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/politics/11630781.htm
This a defeat for Timmy since a handful of Republicans defected to pass a transportation funding bill.

Posted on Thu, May. 12, 2005

House approves gas tax hike
BY PATRICK SWEENEY AND CHARLES LASZEWSKI
Pioneer Press

In a direct challenge to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s no-new-taxes pledge, a handful of Republicans joined most of the Democrats in the Minnesota House today to pass a transportation funding bill that includes a phased-in 10 cents a gallon gas tax.

The bill also would raise the license fees for people who buy new or used cars and trucks. It was not immediately clear this afternoon whether the Senate would vote to accept the gas tax and license tab price increases.

House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, predicted the Senate would ratify the House transportation bill — but perhaps not until so late in the legislative session that a promised veto by Pawlenty would leave the Transportation Department unfunded.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, refused to predict the Senate’s action. Senate Minority Leader Dick Day, R-Owatonna, said he expected only a few Republican senators would go along with the House bill’s heavy emphasis on spending for public transit.


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[Deja Q]

1. A gas tax would keep MN gas prices on par with Wisconsin's. I would

rather see another solution. Namely rolling back those needless tax cuts that Timmy No_Tool signed in for 5 years in a row. That's what led to our $5 billion deficit in 2001 anyway.

I'll drive less too. Repukes can't manage money worth a damn and they're choosing to piss on their constituents (who are anybody who votes or anybody who does not vote) so I will not help their habit.

[Eric J in MN]

2. If Pawlenty vetoes the bill, he can say he kept his pledge (nt)

nt