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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Study: Minnesota “Average” – in Taxes

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008   

St. Paul, MN - There's a perception that Minnesota is a high-tax state, but a new study finds we're just average. Dane Smith, president of Minnesota-based Growth and Justice, says the state's ranking began falling a decade ago. And the decline continues.

"It's been steady ever since we dramatically cut income taxes in the state. And, we've slid from fifth in taxes as a percent of income to 19th this year."

He says that has had consequences, such as a reduction in public sector investments designed to keep the state running smoothly. Smith says, in years past, higher revenues also brought the state growth and prosperity and a good quality of life. But, the "Great Lake State" has lost its standing in those areas, too.

Smith says our lower-tax status doesn't come cheap.

"You get what you pay for. We've always had blue-chip public services, education, transportation, and health care. All those things are fraying at the edges, diminishing in quality, and we need to return to investment in a high-quality public sector, because it's good for the economy."

Smith says the burden of government has shifted towards middle and low-income people, while those at the top have a lower effective tax rate.

Smith says Minnesota now ranks 21st in education spending, and it shows.

"The public schools are strapped for money. Class size is increasing. Parents are being asked to actually fund their children's public school education to pay for activities. Tuition is going through the roof. There are some kids who are not going to college now because it's gotten too expensive. This should be a 'no-brainer' proposition. We should make higher education, which is the secret to prosperity, eminently affordable."

As for Minnesota's neighbors, Iowa ranks 33rd nationally in taxes, Wisconsin 12th, North Dakota 18th and South Dakota is last.

The report is based on U.S. Census Bureau data. More information is available online at
www.mncn.org.


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