by Penny Mio
editor

The first topic posed to governor’s candidate Mark Dayton was about how the state could ever get out of debt.
Dayton’s answer was quick and to the point: tax the rich. Later he explained that some conservatives had discussed a flat tax, where everyone pays the same percentage of tax. That, he said, would be an improvement but a graduated tax so the wealthiest carry the biggest tax burden, would be better.
According to statistics quoted by Dayton, the richest 10% of the state’s population pays only three-quarters what the rest of the population pays. And the richest 1% pays even less.
Current Governor Tim Pawlenty’s pledge of no tax increases is false, Dayton said. “We all know property Mark Dayton visited with about 25 people Wednesday, March 3 at The Smiling Moon. Dayton is running for governor of Minnesota on the DFL tickettaxes have gone up,” he said.
His promise for education is to increase state funding every year, no exceptions. Trips to China have shown him that the United States needs to be competitive and the way to do it is through education. The funding, would be from that tax on the rich.
“I don’t want to be part of the generation that leaves it worse off for the next,” he said.
As for unemployment, he said he would encourage the state to stop outsourcing jobs, such as the 35W bridge construction that was done by a company from out of state.
If elected governor, Dayton said he would see himself as the “make things happen” person, the coordinator that gets the right people in the room together.
There also was discussion on veterans’ services, energy and natural resources important to Minnesota.
About 25 people attended the gathering Wednesday, March 3 at the Smiling Moon. Dayton is about halfway through his mission of visiting all 87 Minnesota counties. He is the DFL candidate for the position of governor that is up for election this fall.