***SAINTPAULICY.COM EXCLUSIVE***

Saint Paulicy has dicovered that right at about bar time in Saint Paul this morning, on a voice vote, State Senator Mee Moua inserted language into the Senate Tax Bill that would allow a local option sales tax increase on food and beverage that could add up to 3% to your tab only in Saint Paul. This could generate more revenue by taking another $8-10 million annually. I suppose the city might be taking aim at some Republican convention spending.
 
Senator Moua can’t even wait for the smoke to clear before taking another shot at Saint Paul bar owners.  She is so proud of her late night addition to the tax bill that she forgot to introduce this measure in committee this whole legislative session. No inkling, no discussion, no anything. 
 
Does anyone know exactly why Senator Moua is proposing to impose this tax on her constituents and visitors?  Send us an email at tipline@saintpaulicy.com. These final hours shenanigans by Minnesota's Democrats are not exactly promoting an open and honest legislative process. For the record, if you've witnessed any of Saint Paul's Republicans messing around, let SaintPaulicy know.  Oh wait, there's no one there from that side to protect us, someone that would actually alert us to this.
 
SaintPaulicy checked the Saint Paul website and did not see this tax increase proposal anywhere on the City's legislative priorities and initiatives.  Someone better tell the Council and Mayor that the baseball stadium is already being built in Minneapolis. 
 
A note of caution:  Watch out Ward 6, Dan Bostrom is up for re-election and Senator Moua appears to be setting Pakou Hang, her endorsed candidate up with another way to tax us all. 
 
A little MN Nice for the Rangers
 
Counting on a 2009 State surplus? It just got $20 Million smaller.  It sounds like the DFL Rangers are taking dibs on the first $20 million of the next state surplus, already skimming that amount off the top for the IRRRB to spend. They must be counting on another couple of successful years under Governor Pawlenty.
Maybe they'll buy a suite at the Xcel Center to help offset that RiverCenter Loan.