Caucus-goers give early nod to Seifert, Rybak

Kay P.
Eagle Bend, MN     02/09/2010 9:02 AM

State PAYROLL expense for one month $812.5 MILLION a yearly total of $9.75 BILLION. -- 9750 -- Approximate total state tax revenue for 2006 $22 BILLION. It takes approximately 44% of taxes collected in the state to just PAY their GOVERNMENT paycheck. They haven't even got to the part where they disburse the money for various programs and services or the expenses related to providing an office building, etc. Over half of the monthly government payroll is used to pay teachers and staff at our schools. MN has been a welfare state of the Federal Government for years. It simply cannot be self-supporting. What about all those "federal" dollars flowing back into the states? http://www.alec.org/am/pdf/apf/apf_federal_mandates.pdf Interesting start to a search on those federal grants, allotments, allocations, and subsidies...not to mention levy actions. Politicians have allowed the public to believe that it can demand for anything and get it funded. Our State government has allowed federal government to usurp some state only rights and apply federal pressure to compliance of FEDERAL mandates. A public that WANTS more than it's willing to pay for, is borrowing on the backs of the future.

Report a Violation

Al G.
Garfield, MN     02/09/2010 8:43 AM

Randy O I'm a firm believer in a balanced government, i.e. one party in control of the congress the other in control of the governor's house. I believe that those who impose the least governance governs best. Government has become to involved in areas outside of the constitution which infringes upon the freedom of everyone.

Report a Violation

Randy O.
Hoffman, MN     02/09/2010 8:01 AM

I never stated I was a Rybak fan, but I do feel he'd beat Seifert. I want to know what the Republicans in the room think, who do they have who would win the governor seat? Who's got the "mo" on your side while also having an ounce of leadership?

Report a Violation

Al G.
Garfield, MN     02/08/2010 9:34 PM

Like-minded...we're on the wrong site if we think we can talk sense into Rybak fans. They evidently agree with his progressive philosophy to spread the wealth around. Probably because they think they'll be the benificaries of the his policies.

Report a Violation

Kerry H.
Prior Lake, MN     02/08/2010 4:42 PM

I agree that Rybak would be an excellent governor. Smart person, listens to both sides, knows how to work with people. It would be a refreshing change.

Report a Violation

Randy O.
Hoffman, MN     02/08/2010 4:33 PM

Like-minded, I find little "wrong" with your comments, but remember that businesses worry about much more than a state's tax burden when figuring out where to set up shop.

Report a Violation

Terrance T.
Alexandria, MN     02/08/2010 12:52 PM

Rybak would do a good job!

Report a Violation

Like-minded extreme right wing lemming. I.
Bushland, TX     02/08/2010 10:26 AM

Yeah - We're running a deficit....therefore we need another tax and spend Democrat in office right now. There's just not enough of them in Minnesota as it is. According to the Tax Foundation, In 2009 Minnesota ranked among the top 10 for having one of the worst business tax climates. Randy O - Small businesses hire 50% of the working population. In the last decade they created 70% of the new jobs. In this tax unfriendly to business environment, tell me Randy O, how are we going to create more jobs, and compete with neighboring states? Green jobs by Obama? Also, Minnesota ranked 3rd in social spending. Since we are running a deficit, increasing government (as Democrats always love to do) and therefore spending will only make matters worse. -- http://74.6.146.127/search/cache?ei=UTF-8&p=minnesota+state+ranking+in+tax+spending&fr=b2ie7&u=www.taxfoundation.org/files/bp58.pdf&w=minnesota+mn+state+ranking+rankings+ranks+tax+spending&d=QbZ-wKm4UQD7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=cVZggpJgam6R0cXxmOI.iw--

Report a Violation

Randy O.
Hoffman, MN     02/08/2010 8:46 AM

Rybak would beat Seifert.

Report a Violation

Al G.
Garfield, MN     02/06/2010 10:08 AM

Rybak, come on you've got to be kidding! This state has suffered through enough progressive democrat manuvering. We're already the land of 10,000 taxes and business regulations!

Report a Violation