Here is a short list of the best ideas for creating jobs that I have heard so far:
1. Promote or publicize Minnesota business and their products.
2. Establish a forgivable loan program for small manufacturers to purchase capital equipment , if the purchase will expand Minnesota Employment.
3. Increase the size of the state bonding bill and focus as much money as possible on planned retrofitting, rehabilitation, and the remodeling projects at can be undertake very quickly.
4. Streamline project and environmental permitting processes, including allowing extensions of existing permits or alternatively reform the environmental permitting process.
5. Avoid energy mandates that would increase the price of electricity.
6. Make the capital equipment sales tax refund an up-front exemption.
7. Repeal the corporate income tax.
8. Reduce or eliminate the state general tax on business property.
9. Provide personal income tax relief for business income.
10. Take away tax credits and reductions for companies that "off-shore" their employees or that lay off large numbers of workers.
11. Increase the research and development credit.
12. Reduce regulatory and permitting burden.
13. Require or incent local governments to enter into service sharing arrangements.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Desperate to Say Something...
As a new feature to my blog, I plan on posting the wacky and ridiculous comments uttered by elected officials and other public figures. In an attempt at fairness if the statement is actually (politically) arguable, from either side, it will not be posted. If however, the statement is so far removed in scope from any practical sense of reality it will be posted. Fair? I thought so.
First up, Senator Harry Reid's comments about the current opposition to the Health Care debate as somehow akin to opposition of the civil rights movement. Really, Senator Reid? Really?
First up, Senator Harry Reid's comments about the current opposition to the Health Care debate as somehow akin to opposition of the civil rights movement. Really, Senator Reid? Really?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
My Predictions for MN's Budget
Predictions: My guess is the deficit will be $1.6 billion, corporate, personal, and consumption as the worst revenue areas. I support Pawlenty. I think the unallotments will prove legal. Once they do I expect an hard attempt to change this executive power at the legislature which I am fine with the legislature discussing. At that point, I call on everyone who believes he exceeded his authority to step up and admit they were wrong.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Build It Without Taxpayers Dollars
I'm all for it if it can be done by private investors, the NFL, businesses, or individual shares ala Green Bay or some combination thereof. But 'just say no' needs to be the answer to more tax payer burden for a stadium. Sorry, but when our own interests and desires get in the way of our principles, we have to be honest with ourselves.
The new session is coming up on February 4th, I hope the allure of a star-studded winning season will not cloud the judgment of the few common sense players remaining in the legislature.
Options:
1) Z. Wilf opens his checkbook and builds a new stadium
2) Some form of public ownership
Not an option:
1) Any un-related tax dollars dedicated to subsidizing large private businesses (i.e. don't charge me sales tax on a vacuum to pay for the Vikings Stadium, that just plan sucks!)
What about?
The economic boom to the community by keeping the Vikings here, construction jobs, the positives on community economic development? Yes, but at what cost? Will the those dollars ever be recaptured in increased economic activity? If you can prove to me it will than, I'll go for it.
Being true?
Yes, being true to ourselves. We can't go around talking about the evils of increasing taxes all the time, if when push comes to shove on a new Vikings Stadium, our go-to position is to raise taxes immediately 'just to keep the team here.' If that's your refrain than you might as well be one of those tax raising levy supporters that says, "it's for the kids," please...give me a break!
The new session is coming up on February 4th, I hope the allure of a star-studded winning season will not cloud the judgment of the few common sense players remaining in the legislature.
Options:
1) Z. Wilf opens his checkbook and builds a new stadium
2) Some form of public ownership
Not an option:
1) Any un-related tax dollars dedicated to subsidizing large private businesses (i.e. don't charge me sales tax on a vacuum to pay for the Vikings Stadium, that just plan sucks!)
What about?
The economic boom to the community by keeping the Vikings here, construction jobs, the positives on community economic development? Yes, but at what cost? Will the those dollars ever be recaptured in increased economic activity? If you can prove to me it will than, I'll go for it.
Being true?
Yes, being true to ourselves. We can't go around talking about the evils of increasing taxes all the time, if when push comes to shove on a new Vikings Stadium, our go-to position is to raise taxes immediately 'just to keep the team here.' If that's your refrain than you might as well be one of those tax raising levy supporters that says, "it's for the kids," please...give me a break!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Coon Rapids: Down payment Assistance Program Passes
Coon Rapids: Down payment Assistance Program Passes
The Coon Rapids City Council voted unanimously to approve a Coon Rapids Mortgage Assistance Foundation recommendation for a new down payment assistance loan program.
Hats off to Coon Rapids Mortgage Assistance Foundation Board of Directors: Lyle Haney, Donna Naeve, Brad Crandall, Scott Schulte, Lonni McCauley, Tim Howe, and our own James Stanton, Shamrock Development and current President of North Metro REALTORS® Association. This program will rehabilitate housing stock and provide incentives for homebuyers to purchase and occupy a home in Coon Rapids as their principal residence.
So what are the details? Coon Rapids Mortgage Assistance Foundation (CRMAF) has allocated a total pool of $300,000 to be available for down payment assistance loans. The funds will be administered directly by Cheryl Bennett, CRMAF staff. The funds are provided in the form of a second mortgage. No payments are required; no interest is assessed unless the loan is repaid within the first three years after closing. The repayment is prorated between years 4-10 and is forgiven after 10 years. Loans are reserved for down payment assistance only at 3.5% of acquisition costs up to $6,000. Funds must be used in conjunction with an FHA 203K mortgage to purchase a single family detached property (within the city of Coon Rapids) with at least $10,000 in repairs. Rehab or renovation work must be completed by a state licensed contractor and work completed within six months of closing. The borrower must occupy the property as their principal homesteaded residence. There are no income requirements. Buyers need not be first time homebuyers. The loan is available for all properties and not foreclosures only.
REALTORS® are encouraged to learn more about this program and utilize it. More information including public announcements, public forums, and a REALTORS® forum to roll out program details are forthcoming.
More information contact, Eric J Myers, Government Affairs Director, NMRA
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Conservatives Can't Win without Moderates
Well, after reviewing some of the 2009 wins. What do I think about the chance of Republicans picking up seats in 2010 Midterms? Or better yet, what is one piece of advice I would give to the RNC, if given the chance, that would help them increase their chance of success in more races in the future.
Republican's can't continue to be a narrow 'Conservatives-only party.' They need to hold tight to fiscal conservatism but grab the middle of the electorate with the moderates. Unfortunately, the diehards that show up for endorsing conventions, prompted by Glen Beck and Rush (whom I enjoy as well), can't see the wood for the trees. They continue to endorse only the most ideologically extreme candidate whom too often ends up being seen as too far from the mainstream. Bottomline, Conservative Republicans are their own worst enemy. Conservative Republicans are going to have to realize that in most districts they are going to have to embrace the moderate candidate in order to give them a chance at success. Otherwise, they will continue to be marginalized from the Left and a larger majority of the middle will favor the D's.
Those are the risks.
Might I suggest that someone like Senator Olympia Snowe actually has a point to make with Conservative Republicans. So next time you want to win a 'leans conservative,' 'toss-up,' or even a 'leans Democrat' district, try pulling a candidate from the moderate part of your party and see if you can sell them to the general public as the most reasonable, likable, centrist, and dare I say it mainstream candidate in the race.
Or you can keep 'sticking to your principles' that's all well and good but I submit you aren't really winning the hearts and minds of too many people too often. At least not often enough to keep reversing your losses.
Give up on the idea that a Newt Gingrich or Ronald Regan style body politic will ever rise again. Step up to re-design the future of the party, reinvent yourself, and behold the power of political innovation. It's not just for the Democrats anymore.
- BE MORE BIG TENT,
- EXPAND THE BASE,
- DON'T LET ONLY THE NARROWEST VERSIONS OF CONSERVATISM BE THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE ANSWER
Republican's can't continue to be a narrow 'Conservatives-only party.' They need to hold tight to fiscal conservatism but grab the middle of the electorate with the moderates. Unfortunately, the diehards that show up for endorsing conventions, prompted by Glen Beck and Rush (whom I enjoy as well), can't see the wood for the trees. They continue to endorse only the most ideologically extreme candidate whom too often ends up being seen as too far from the mainstream. Bottomline, Conservative Republicans are their own worst enemy. Conservative Republicans are going to have to realize that in most districts they are going to have to embrace the moderate candidate in order to give them a chance at success. Otherwise, they will continue to be marginalized from the Left and a larger majority of the middle will favor the D's.
Those are the risks.
Might I suggest that someone like Senator Olympia Snowe actually has a point to make with Conservative Republicans. So next time you want to win a 'leans conservative,' 'toss-up,' or even a 'leans Democrat' district, try pulling a candidate from the moderate part of your party and see if you can sell them to the general public as the most reasonable, likable, centrist, and dare I say it mainstream candidate in the race.
Or you can keep 'sticking to your principles' that's all well and good but I submit you aren't really winning the hearts and minds of too many people too often. At least not often enough to keep reversing your losses.
Give up on the idea that a Newt Gingrich or Ronald Regan style body politic will ever rise again. Step up to re-design the future of the party, reinvent yourself, and behold the power of political innovation. It's not just for the Democrats anymore.
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