I’ve written several articles about Move MN’s proposal to raise taxes on the middle class in the name of “transportation.” See here and here. I’ve written about Move MN’s agenda, which they write about here:
Accessible Transit Statewide
Transit is important to every community in Minnesota. Move MN supports closing a sales tax loophole by dedicating all of the sales tax from leased vehicles to suburban highways and Greater Minnesota transit.The Twin Cities metro’s sales tax would be increased by ¾ cent and extended to the seven county metro area. It would fund improved transit connections in the metro area, increasing transit service hours and coverage. Ten percent would be set aside for bike/walk connection planning and implementation.
Additional Efficiencies & Greater Transparency
Move MN supports greater efficiency and transparency with transportation projects, in addition to finding new funding sources that meet long-term obligations for all modes. Move MN believes efficiency includes finding cost savings; minimizing construction impact on traffic, businesses and customers; using 21st century materials and practices; and prioritizing projects with the greatest community benefit.
Tuesday afternoon, Dan Ochsner interviewed Bethany Winkels, a field director with Move MN. During the interview, Ms. Winkels focused on fixing roads and bridges. Move MN’s website, however, talks about developing a comprehensive transportation strategy.
Talking up fixing roads and bridges in interviews but writing legislation that raises taxes to support transit expansion is deceptive, if not dishonest.
During the interview, Ms. Winkels spoke of Move MN’s 200 coalition partners. I’ve recreated that list of partners in these photos:
While many of the coalition members are directly associated with fixing roads and bridges, many aren’t. I’ve created a list of those organizations in this photo:
There’s no disputing that the vast majority of these coalition members are environmental activist organizations. Their agenda doesn’t put a high priority on fixing Minnesota’s roads and bridges. That’s as accurate of a picture as I can create of who Move MN is and what their agenda is.
I work in the Road and Bridge Industry as a supplier and I do not feel a need for a tax increase to pay for infrastructure improvements. What needs to happen is higher rider fees for mass transit riders, the elimination of the North Star heavy rail, the repeal of the transportation amendment that funnels drivers fees and taxes to mass transit, and stop funneling gas tax money at the federal level to mass transit and pathway projects.
Of course we could also eliminate 75% of the social engineering/welfare programs and could stop throwing billions at our failing education system too and use that money to rebuild the infrastructure but that will never happen in a Dayton administration.