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I am amazed that people are not recognizing Dave
Thune's Stadium Wage Tax Proposal for what it is, an
attempt to show the hypocrisy of all the downtown
business and City "leaders", who support a stadium.
Mayor Kelly's proposal would shift the stadium burden
to bars and restaurants, St. Paul bar and restaurant
patrons and state taxpayers, many of whom might never
visit the stadium.
As Chuck Repke pointed out so eloquently what would
these executives and city officials have to pay on a
3% wage tax? Doug Leatherdale, President of St. Paul
Companies, would have to pay $300,000 on his $10
million dollar salary. Mayor Kelly would have to pay
$3,150 on his mayor's salary, Deputy Mayor Dennis
Flaherty would have to pay $2,250 on his $75,000
salary, Planning and Economic Director Martha Fuller,
Mayoral Aide Howard Orenstein, Budget Director Matt
Smith all advocates for Carl Pohlad and the
Billionaire Bailout would have to shell out over
$2,000 a year for the Stadium.
How quickly do you think they will back this proposal?
Dave's idea is a stroke of genius. Let's see how
quickly these stadium advocates back a tax they will
actually have to pay out of their own pockets, instead
of picking ours. I am not sure where the tax would
kick in, but I think we should only tax those with
salaries over $75,000. My bet is it won't get to
half-way to first base.
I am sending this e-mail to Mayor Kelly and several of
these aides who are stadium backers. I trust that they
will gladly tell us how they feel about Councilman
Thune's proposal. I eagerly await their responses.
To follow the stadium debate from a source not
beholden to anyone go to www.nostadiumtax.com.
Dan Dobson
Summit Hill
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 16:03:56 EST
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [StPaul] About Councilman Thune
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I guess Thune has decided that his bread is
buttered with the pro-stadium crowd so he's going back
on his campaign promise to not support public funding
for a stadium. Let's remember this on election
day and move on. I hope he gets enough from selling
out to make it worth it.
Personally, I'd rather see the proceeds of a
progressive tax go to fund some schools, or not see
some rip off of the rich, "because they can afford it"
not to happen at all.
<< Councilmember Thune puts the Mayor on notice that
the 3% tax on bars and restaurants won't fly, but then
strikes out by proposing a progressive downtown
payroll tax as an alternative source of cash to
fund the stadium. >>
Brett Sprangel
East Side
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 15:12:17 -0600
From: "Mike Fratto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [StPaul] About Councilman Thune
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
I certainly hope Council person Thune made his
suggestion tongue in cheek. Although, I guess it
depends on what level on income this payroll tax
begins.
A downtown payroll tax, progressive or not, will do
nothing but drive companies away from downtown, not to
mention workers who have the option to work someplace
else.
To raise this issue to the discussion level, why
should a worker support a stadium on his or her wage?
It would make more sense to add the 3% sales tax on
food and beverage. At least the people will
have a choice
Mike Fratto
Payne Phalen
but I work DT
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