DFL scorpions

For those not familiar with the fable "The Scorpion and the Frog," here is a synopsis:

A scorpion wants to cross a river but cannot swim, so it asks a frog to carry it across. The frog hesitates, afraid that the scorpion might sting it, but the scorpion promises not to, pointing out that it would drown if it killed the frog in the middle of the river. The frog considers this argument sensible and agrees to transport the scorpion. Midway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog anyway, dooming them both. The dying frog asks the scorpion why it stung despite knowing the consequence, to which the scorpion replies: "I am sorry, but I couldn't resist the urge. It's in my nature."

Going into the Minnesota Legislative session this past January, the state had a near $18 billion budget surplus. Even though the MN Democrat party controlled both legislative chambers and the Governor's office, surely not even they could hike taxes when in that position......right?

With just a few days left of the 2023 Legislative session, Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers are considering raising Minnesota’s gasoline tax and creating a new fee on deliveries to help fund transportation.

Many of the bills forming the upcoming state budget have passed or have been signed into law, but House and Senate lawmakers continue to negotiate on the transportation bill. As they try to find sources of ongoing revenue for transportation, the delivery and gas taxes have emerged as potential new moneymakers for the state.

A proposed new gas tax would tie the state per-gallon tax on gasoline to the rate of inflation, raising it beyond the current charge of 28.5 cents a gallon in the future. The proposal has not been finalized and exact figures are not yet available.

#mnleg https://t.co/rGdOD82GEc pic.twitter.com/zRLqgsYIcN

— Andrew Wagner (@andrewwagner) May 18, 2023

 

Ah, but do you remember those "Walz checks" as well as some DFLers (along with all Republicans) campaigning on a full repeal of income tax on Social Security? Yeah.......

Democrats struck a deal Wednesday on a $3 billion plan to send one-time tax rebate checks of $260 to 2.5 million Minnesotans, create a new tax credit they hope will slash childhood poverty rates and exempt many seniors from taxes on their Social Security income.

Local governments also will see a boost in aid to keep property taxes down and help cover public safety costs.

Not everyone will see a tax cut under the bill, and some corporations and wealthier Minnesotans will pay more.

"We had an extraordinary opportunity here to provide for children and families across the state," DFL Senate Tax Chair Ann Rest said.

The surplus was about $9 billion when @GovTimWalz tweeted this, promising $2000 checks to Minnesotans.

The surplus grew to $17.5 billion a month later, and Minnesotans are ending this session with a measly $260. #mnleg pic.twitter.com/GGZSZnN1f6

— Andrew Wagner (@andrewwagner) May 18, 2023

Also, you gotta love how Sen. Rest gave up the game there. When government takes too much of your money, they see it as an "opportunity" to dole it to others who haven't earned it. 

This is your modern day Democrat party, folks. Despite having the ability to right a wrong, they exacerbate the issues which created the "wrong" in the first place. It's in their nature .

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