Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Why is Wog Against Jobs?

Hi All!

A powerful alliance of Union and Business interests are putting on a full court press to get us to "Vote Yes." If the issue in question, the "Minnesota Transportation Amendment" passes, it is hoped that construction firms and their workers will gain from more funding for roads, bridges and transit.

My first reaction was, "Count me in!" However, on closer inspection, there is a devil in the details.

Here it is, read it and weep if you can decipher it:

An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the amendment is adopted, two sections will be added to article XIV to read:

"Sec. 12. Beginning with the fiscal year starting July 1, 2007, 63.75 percent of the revenue from a tax imposed by the state on the sale of a new or used motro vehicle must be apportioned for transportation purposes described in section 13, then the revenue apportioned for transportation purposes must be increased by ten percent for each subsequent fiscal year through June 30, 2011, and then the revenue must be apportioned 100 percent for transportation purposes after June 30, 2011.

Sec. 13. The revenue apportioned in section 12 must be allocated for the following transportation purposes: not more than 60 percent must be deposited in the highway user tax distribution fund, and not less than 40 percent must be deposited in a fund dedicated solely to public transit assistance as defined by law."

So, what's the problem? Forget about the tortured, hastily scribbled and 11th hour passed proposal (even has a typo if you look closely enough -- "motro"?). Just "Vote Yes!"

There is just one tiny problem. It might take a third grade math education, but "not more than 60%" can be 0%. "Not less than 40%" could be 100%.

If this pile of crap passes I hope the Supreme Court will make short work of it, if they can. Maybe they can't. I guess I don't know as much about Law as I should.

Hopefully, most voters will be so befuddled by the ballot question that they will leave it blank, which of course is the same as a No Vote. I dunno. The unions and the chambers of commerce are pouring a lot of dough into conning typical uninformed sheep voters into thinking that they are voting for better roads and bridges.

Oh, and just one other minor thing. It has been suggested that this is a no brainer tax neutral law. Um, how will the hole blown in the General Fund be filled? By cost cutting? Hah!

Of course, I am a really nasty wascally wepublican and my good friend tells me that if I am against the amendment I am against jobs. Well, that ain't exactly so. I'm for employing folks doing needed and productive work infrastructure work, not laying choo choo train tracks.

Cheers!

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