Minnesota: Budget and Taxes

• Budget (State)
• Budget Surplus (State)
• Taxes (General)
• Taxes (Income)
• Taxes (Gas)
• Taxes (Cigarettes)
• Taxes (Sales)
• Impact of Taxes on Vote Choice

Budget (State)

Pawlenty Balanced Budget Proposal

1 "Governor Tim Pawlenty proposes to balance the budget by increasing spending by about 10 percent over two years using surplus revenue and no tax increases. Do you support or oppose this proposal?"

Assessment of State's Balanced Budget Efforts

1 "Do you feel the steps taken last year by the governor and state legislators to balance the state's budget have made Minnesota better off, worse or about the same?"

Area Not to Cut Spending

1 "If lawmakers choose to reduce spending, which one of the following areas is most important not to cut?"

Solving State Budget Shortfall

1 "Minnesota officials are facing the challenge of a revenue shortfall that is likely to be more than $1 billion over the next two years. How should state leaders balance the state budget? Should they cut state spending or raise taxes?"

Credit for Breaking Budget Stalemate

1 "As you may know, the special session came close to not enacting a new two-year state budget before the July 1st expiration of approved program funding. by reaching a deal, however, lawmakers avoided a state government shutdown. who do you credit most for breaking the budget stalemate?"

Budget Surplus (State)

How to Use State Budget Surplus

1 "Gov. Ventura and state legislators are debating what to do with a current and projected $3 billion state surplus. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view?"

How to Use State Budget Surplus

1 "Minnesota lawmakers are trying to decide what to do with a large budget surplus. Which of the following three choices is your top priority?"

How to Use State Budget Surplus

1 "As you may know, Minnesota officials expect the state to have a surplus of more than $1.2 billion for the next two years beginning next July. Which of the following do you think the state should do with the surplus?"

How to Use State Tax Surplus

1 "Which of the following statements comes closest to your point of view? Minnesota's tax surplus should be returned entirely to the taxpayers. As long as the economy and state finances are doing well, a big portion of the tax surplus should be invested in improving schools, highways, crime-fighting efforts or other areas."

Taxes (General)

Tax Cut Preference

1 "If the state had a surplus, which one of the following taxes would you most support cutting?"

Tax Cut Preference

1 "If the state determines that at least some of the surplus should be used to cut taxes, which of the following taxes would you favor reducing first? State income tax, state sales tax, or local property tax?"

2 "Governor Ventura and legislative leaders are planning a permanent tax cut for Minnesotans. Which of the following is more important to you? Cut the sales-tax rate, cut the personal income-tax rate, cut property taxes, reduce fees, such as vehicle registration."

Level of Taxes

1 "In terms of the quality of life and the quality of government services you receive, would you say that the taxes you currently pay in Minnesota are ...?"

Impact of Taxes on Economy

1 "Generally speaking, do tax increases help the economy, hurt the economy, or have no impact on the economy?"

2 "Do tax cuts help the economy, hurt, the economy, or have no impact on the economy?"

Experiencing Tax Increases

1 "Would you say that you personally have or have not paid additional fees or local property taxes as a result of last year's state budget actions?"

View of Legislative Tax Cuts

1 "In the past three years, the Legislature has cut taxes several times. Which of the following statements best reflects you view: the tax cuts were the right thing to do; the tax cuts were right, but they cut taxes too much; the tax cuts were the wrong thing to do?"

Level of Legislative Tax Cuts

1 "Much of the debate focused on tax cutting. Based on what you know, do you think the Legislature cut taxes too much, didn't cut them enough or cut them by about the right amount?"

Taxes (Income)

Income Tax Increase to Lower Property Taxes

1 "A bill in the state legislature would increase income taxes on those with more than $226,000 in taxable income, and on couples with about twice that, in order to raise money for property tax relief. Do you support or do you oppose this bill?"

2 "The Minnesota House is considering a plan to raise income taxes on individuals who make more than $226,000 per year and couples who make more than $400,000 per year. The money would primarily be used to lower property taxes. Do you support or oppose this proposal?"

Income Tax Increase for Education Spending

1 "Another bill would increase income taxes on those with more than $141,000 in taxable income, and on couples with about twice that, in order to raise money for education. Do you support or do you oppose this bill?"

2 "The Minnesota Senate is considering a proposal to raise income taxes on individuals who make more than $141,000 per year and couples who make more than $250,000 per year. The money would be used primarily to increase spending for education. Do you support or oppose this proposal?"

Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

1 "Which statement comes closest to your point of view or do you fall somewhere in between? The government in Washington should cut taxes for everyone, including people making over $200,000 a year, even it means reducing services OR the government should cut taxes for everyone, except for people making over $200,00 in order to provide services."

Tax Cut Preference

1 "If income taxes are cut, which of these two ways of doing it would you favor? An across the board lower of the rate for all taxpayers or targeting the tax cut by giving tax credits for education, child care, or other expenses?"

Taxes (Gas)

State Gasoline Tax Increase

1 "(Now, I'd like to ask you a few quick questions about issues facing the state) ... First, should the state of Minnesota raise the gasoline tax?"

Federal Gas Tax Increase for Transportation Projects

1 "Do you think the federal gas tax should or should not be increased to pay for improving the condition of our roads and bridges?"

State Gas Tax Increase for Transportation Projects

1 "Do you think the state gas tax should or should not be increased to pay for improving the condition of our roads and bridges?"

State Gas Tax Increase for Roads and Bridges Only

1 "If the gas tax is increased should the money be used solely for roads and bridges or should it also be used for mass transit?"

Ten Cent Per Gallon Gas Tax Increase for Transportation Projects

1 "The Minnesota House and Senate have passed different versions of a bill that could increase gas taxes by ten cents per gallon, increase fees for vehicle license tab fees, and allow counties to increase sales taxes to raise money for transportation projects. Do you support or do you oppose this bill?"

2 "Would you support or oppose a proposal before the Minnesota State Legislature to raise the gasoline tax by 10 cents per gallon to pay for improvements to roads and bridges?"

Five Cent Per Gallon Gas Tax Increase for Transportation Projects

1 "If the bill instead increases the gasoline tax by five cents per gallon instead of ten cents, would you support or oppose the bill?"

2 "Would you support or oppose a 5-cent-per-gallon increase in the gasoline tax to pay for improvements to roads and bridges?"

Opposition to Any Gas Tax Increase

1 "Are you opposed to any increase in the state gas tax?"

State Gasoline Tax Increase for Road Construction and Mass Transit

1 "Would you support or oppose an increase in the state gasoline tax to fund additional road construction and improvements to mass transit?"

State Gasoline Tax Increase for Road Construction

1 "Would you support or oppose an increase in the state gasoline tax to fund additional road construction, but no mass transit improvements?"

Taxes (Cigarettes)

Cigarette Tax Increase

1 "Would you support or oppose a 60-cent-per-pack increase in the state cigarette tax in order to help balance the state budget?"

2 "In 2005, the state increased fees on cigarettes by 75 cents a pack. Do you support or oppose further increasing them to raise money for state programs and services?"

Taxes (Sales)

Sales Tax Increase for Environment and Arts

1 "Would you support or would you oppose raising the state sales tax by three-eights of a cent to pay for environmental and arts programs?"

Sales Tax Increase for Environment and Natural Resources

1 "If the increase were used only for environmental and natural resources programs, would you support or oppose a three-eights of a cent sales increase?"

Sales Tax Increase

1 "Would you support or would you oppose a one-half percent increase in the Twin Cities Metro sales tax to pay for road improvements and mass transit?"

Extension of Sales Tax For Some Services

1 "Gov. Ventura has proposed having the state pay more for education. His plan would lower property taxes but extend the sales tax to services like haircuts and attorneys fees. Do you favor or oppose this plan?"

Sales Tax Rebate Equivalent to Salary Increase

1 "Gov. Ventura has told state workers that the recent sales-tax rebate that they received should be considered a pay raise. Do you consider the recent sales-tax rebate that you received as a salary increase from your employer?"

Impact of Taxes on Vote Choice

Vote for Candidate Who Would Raise Taxes

1 "Would you ever consider voting for a candidate who said he would raise taxes?"