MINNESOTA POLITICS NOTEBOOK: Leaders keep quiet about taxes

ST. PAUL - Some Minnesota legislative leaders all but run away when reporters ask them about raising taxes.

On Friday, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, fielded that question by saying House Democrats are concentrating on lowering property taxes. Repeated questions by numerous reporters could not drag any more out of her about the potential for an income or other tax increase.

Kelliher and House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, were even less verbal when asked about a ballot handed out behind closed doors to fellow House Democrats asking if they had to raise a tax, which one would they raise?

House leaders are asking about tax increases at the same time Senate DFL leaders were going out of their way to downplay the possibility of raising taxes. Earlier this year, Kelliher all but ruled out raising taxes, while some Senate Democrats were saying higher taxes were needed.

It was a switcheroo last week. Or was it?

There is a quiet theory around the Minnesota Capitol that Senate Democrats eventually will side with tax increases once people line up in Senate committees with problems that only money can fix. Many groups seeking state money hope that happens.

One tax off the table, at least in Sen. Keith Langseth's view, is greatly increasing income tax on the richest Minnesotans. The Glyndon Democrat said that would not fly.

Urban vs. rural

One of the big divides in the Minnesota Legislature is between Twin Cities lawmakers and those representing rural areas.

Rural legislators say they know Twin Cities problems because they must spend lots of time there.

But they say big-city lawmakers don't know rural areas.

"I think we should start a new program - adopt an urban legislator," Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, said after a suburban lawmaker threw cold water on a bill designed to help small, rural schools.

Mall comes late

The Mall of America wants some state aid to build a massive addition to the Bloomington icon.

But Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, said it may be an issue lawmakers take up another year.

There are plenty of other good ideas already in the works, she said.

The mall came to the Legislature fairly late this year, and deadlines for committees to pass bills loom soon.

Terrorist train?

The U.S. House transportation committee is considering a bill by its chairman, Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota, to make the country's rail, bus and other transportation systems safe from terrorists.

"We're like generals fighting the last war," Oberstar said, complaining that the issue has not been explored. "We need to look over the horizon at the next generation threat."

Congress has focused on aviation security, Oberstar said.

Davis works for Forum Communications Co., which owns the Herald.