Tax and Spending Limits
'98 Percent' Constitutional Amendment Creates Barriers to Common-Sense Budgeting, April 2012
A proposed constitutional amendment creates a series of restrictions on policymakers' ability to make budget decisions that meet the state's needs and respond to changing circumstances. The proposal limits appropriations and spending to arbitrary levels and triggers tax cuts without regard to the state's current situation.
Supermajority Amendment is Wrong for Minnesota, February 2012
This issue brief provides an overview of the proposed supermajority amendment's mechanics and reasons it is wrong for Minnesota. A supermajority requirement would lead to more government gridlock, encourage budget gimmicks, create pressure to increase other revenue sources, impede tax reform and threaten the state's credit rating.
Supermajority Requirement Would Limit Financial Flexibility, Risking Minnesota's Credit Rating, February 2012
Requiring a supermajority vote in both the House and Senate to raise taxes would raise concerns among credit rating agencies about the state’s financial flexibility and creditworthiness. A downgrade of Minnesota's credit rating could lead to higher costs to maintain our infrastructure.
Supermajority Amendment Would Create Pressure to Increase Property Taxes, February 2012
A proposed constitutional supermajority amendment would lead to unintended consequences, including cost-shifting to the local level, creating pressure to increase property taxes.
Constitutional Budget Limits Would Put Minnesota's Future at Risk, Updated January 2012
Amending the Minnesota Constitution to limit lawmakers' ability to use available resources or decide the size of the state budget would endanger the state's economic future. Three proposed constitutional amendments would limit lawmakers' ability to respond to changing circumstances and needs. They would result in legislative gridlock and more budget gimmicks, ultimately putting the state's future at risk.
More Tax and Spending Limits Analysis
- Status of Proposed Constitutional Budget Amendments in Minnesota, Updated March 2012
- Constitutional Amendment Would Undermine Minnesota's Economic Recovery, Updated February 2012
- Constitutional Budget Limits Would Put Minnesota's Future at Risk, November 2011
- Constitutional Revenue Limits Damaged Colorado's Business Climate, Quality of Life, May 2011
- TABOR in Minnesota (House File 3840), June 2006
- What is TABOR? June 2006
- The Truth About TABOR: Wrong in Practice, March 2006
- The Truth About TABOR: Wrong in Theory, March 2006
