0 Comments
KSTP-TV had a nice report on the launch of Minneapolis Public School's summer reading program, which Superintendent Graff did at our Start Reading Now book fair at Hmong International Academy on May 22nd. Thank you KSTP, Atomic Data, and MPS!
One of the crazier things about the Met Council is that it is free to increase the property tax levy that funds part of the operation, without any elected body being able to stop them. Supporters of the current Met Council governance model like to say that this levy is quite small, and we shouldn't be concerned with this taxation without representation question.
For a moment, let's ignore the un-American principle underlying that viewpoint, and look at the numbers: I'm in the process of updated my 2016 report, The Twin Cities Met Council, A Comparative Assessment, and this is one of great examples of how out of step the Met Council is with the rest of the country. As you can see, the Met Council's "small" property tax levy is in fact bigger than the entire budget of all but a handful of the largest regional authorities in the country. What rationale supports that as a legitimate form of government Of, By, and For the People? Much is happening in the world of the Met Council, not least of which is Rep. Jason Lewis’s amendment to the FAA reauthorization that would require - heaven forbid - that the Met Council comply with federal law by having its board be filled with elected officials. Some in the DFL seem to believe that’s a problem. But what’s really a problem is that the Met Council is a living example of taxation without representation. I’m not sure how you get more American than that as a motivating principle for action.
From my 2016 comparative assessment report on the Met Council. I’m in Paris, France for a springtime trip with my wife. But things are happening with respect to my favorite topic, the Twin Cities’ very own Met Council.
On April 26th Rep. Jason Lewis introduced an amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill that would require the Met Council to finally adhere to federal law, and create a governing board with a majority of elected officials - like every other such organization in the country. You can read my post on this for more details at the Center of the American Experiment here. And late night here in Paris, it appears the amendment passed out of committee - unanimously! Great work Rep. Lewis! |
Kevin TerrellSure, e-books have a place in the world. I just prefer real ones, in order to make the job a bit harder for any real life Winston Smith who might be out there. Archives
February 2019
Categories
All
|