October 6, 2008

Group that endorsed Sen. Thune says other state ballot measures could make tax bill, size of government bigger

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A national conservative organization that in 2004 endorsed Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., in his successful bid to oust former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Monday issued a guide to ballot items across the nation favorable to taxpayers, favorably highlighting South Dakota's Initiated Measure 10 as a proposal that "could lower taxes or control government."

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13184562.html

The National Taxpayers Union -- which claims 362,000 members nationally and 1,275 in South Dakota -- in a news release announced its 2008 National Ballot Guide to state ballot measures it said would benefit taxpayers.

"'(V)oters across the country have a chance to pass numerous pro-taxpayer measures,' NTU Director of Government Affairs Kristina Rasmussen said. ...NTU identified 106 ballot questions in 34 states that would affect taxpayers. Measures that could lower taxes or control government include: ...South Dakota's Initiated Measure 10, which would prohibit taxpayer funds from being used for lobbying and create an online state spending database." http://www.ntu.org/main/press.php?PressID=1058&org_name=NTU

Dena Espenscheid, East River Field Coordinator for the bipartisan YES on 10 campaign, welcomed the group's assessment.

"Voting yes on Measure 10 will stop politicians from spending our tax dollars for lobbying and political campaigns, and stop them from using our tax dollars to reward their campaign contributors with no-bid government contracts that drive up the cost of government," Espenscheid said. "The politicians, tax-funded lobbyists, and government contractors who oppose Measure 10 out of financial self-interest won't be happy about it, but NTU is right that Measure 10 will be a big win for taxpayers."

The introduction to NTU's 2008 National Ballot Guide states: "Measures that could lower taxes or control government are listed...with a plus sign ( + ), and measures that could raise taxes or expand government are listed...with a minus sign ( – )." http://www.ntu.org/pdf/20081006_NationalBallotGuide.pdf

Measure 10 is the only South Dakota ballot measure NTU lists as one "that could lower taxes or control government," describing it in more details as follows:

"(+) Initiated Measure 10 would prohibit taxpayer funds from being used for lobbying, bar legislators and their staff from being able to use their positions to secure state-contracted jobs, outlaw the process of trading state contracts for campaign donations, and create an online database of state contracts exceeding $500."

NTU's ballot guide lists the following South Dakota ballot measures as proposals that "could raise taxes or expand government":

"( - ) Constitutional Amendment G would repeal certain reimbursement restrictions
for travel by legislators to and from a legislative session. ...Passage of Amendment G would result in higher reimbursement costs.

( - ) Constitutional Amendment I would provide for an increase in the maximum number of legislative days per year from 35 to 40. ...the extra days in session will cost taxpayers at least $115,000.

( - ) Constitutional Amendment J would eliminate the term limits for state legislators that were first passed by voters in 1992. Passage of this amendment would mean putting more power in the hands of incumbent politicians and the lobbyists who know them well.

( -) Initiated Measure 9 aims to prohibit the practice of 'short selling' in the financial
securities trade. ..."

According to its news release, "NTU is a nonpartisan, nonprofit citizen organization founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom at all levels."

The nearly 40-year old group's website includes numerous testimonials, including from conservative icon, the late President Ronald Reagan.

"My Administration came to Washington to achieve many of the goals shared by the National Taxpayers Union – reduction of income taxes, control of government spending," Reagan said, according to the group's website. "[NTU's] support for the across-the-board tax rate reduction and income tax indexing helped pave the way for Congressional adoption of these important reforms during the first years of my Administration." http://www.ntu.org/main/testimonials.php

The group also lists a testimonial by former Rep. Tim Penny, D-MN: "National Taxpayers Union is a strong and committed voice for smaller government and pro-growth national economic policies. It is a highly effective champion of lower taxes for individuals and businesses."

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