Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ John -
I will try and answer your questions in order. Ordinarily when a local sales tax is going to be increased, there must be a public referendum under Minnesota Statute 297A.99. See: www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/297A/99.html Subdivision 3(a) specifically says: "Imposition of a local sales tax is subject to approval by voters of the political subdivision at a general election." However the way the legislature ordinarily gets around this is by throwing in one line, that appears totally innocent, in a stadium bill, that would read; "MSA 297A.99 shall not apply to this bill/legislation", and the need for a public referendum vanishes like fog on a sunny morning. Back in 2002, State Senator Sandi Pappas insisted to me that a referendum was not needed, because Norm built the Excel Center/Hockey Arena without a referendum. However after I called her on it, and cc:'ed in Governor Ventura's office, the whole mood chnaged in less than a week. Even Kelly now says he supports a referendum. Why does the team oppose a referendum? That's easy. If you had to get only 154 votes (100 in the MN Senate, 50 in the MN House and 4 at the St. Paul City Council or 4 at the Hennpin County Board) or 100,000 votes which would you prefer do8ing? DAH! Now in a good month, even I can personally lobby almost everyone at the legislature and City Hall. Give me $500,000 and 6 lobbyists and in a week I'll be able to tell you their favorite food and what side of the bed they sleep on. On the other hand, the two times the issue has been put to a vote of citizens, Minneapolis in 1997(?) (to place a $10 million cap on City expenditures for sports facilities) and in St. Paul in 1999 on Norm's proposal for a 1/2% sales tax for a stadium the voters have overwhelming rejected the idea. Two recent polls by the Star-Tribune and Pioneer Press both showed that the voters are still opposed to building stadiums with tax dollars. http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/7852215.htm Dan Dobson Summit Hill - Saint Paul www.NoStadiumTax.com ====================================================== Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 11:35:44 -0800 (PST) From: John Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [StPaul] "SAY IT AIN'T SO JOE!" - PRESS RELEASE To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "With both the governor and the mayor now on board in support of a referendum on the matter, it is terribly disappointing to have the Minnesota Twins continue to support taxation without representation." said Elizabeth Dickinson a SIASJ organizer Good spin. Wouldn't any funding proposal need to be approved by the legislature and/or the council of the city if it is a city tax? Our elected representatives, Senators and councilmembers are our representation in this taxation matter. This isn't colonial america. "This is standard operating procedure for the Twins in these matters" notes Patrick Hill another SIASJ organizer. "They have regularly opposed a vote by the public in the past with one excuse or another. The truth is that they know the public has repeatedly show in previous votes and opinion polls that they oppose public funding for these purposes." I have seen polls in favor of both sides and one vote against the sales tax increase. Has anyone asked the twins why they opposed a referendum? it is easy to jump that they oppose because it is easier to control the votes a few legislators especially since more than some on this board believe they are all corrupt and can be bought for a song. Maybe they don't trust the public to vote on the issue of funding instead of voting wheather they like baseball or not. john harris webber-camden > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Get better spam protection with Yahoo! Mail. > http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 15:03:07 -0600 > From: Elizabeth Dickinson > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [StPaul] Green Party caucuses > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Message-ID: > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > For those who wish to caucus with the Green Party > this Tuesday, March 2nd > from 7-9 pm and need more information on where to > go, here's a link: > > http://mngreens.org/events.php?action=fullnews&id=58 > > Greens in District 65B will be convening at the St. > Paul Open School at 90 > Western Ave. S. in St. Paul. > > === message truncated === __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Get better spam protection with Yahoo! Mail. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
