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May 11, 2007 11:08 am US/Central
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Poll: Support For Tax Hike On Rich and Pawlenty
St. Paul (AP) ―
Large majorities of Minnesotans support higher income taxes on the wealthy to pay for lower property taxes and boost education spending, a new poll shows.
The Minnesota Public Radio News poll released Friday found that 72 percent of likely voters favor taxing wealthy incomes at a higher rate to lower property taxes, and 69 percent favor the same approach to pay for education.
The poll findings come amid a dispute over income tax rates at the Capitol, with Democratic leaders favoring a top-tier income tax hike and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty steadfast in opposition.
While Democrats took heart at the seeming support for their income tax plan, the poll gives Pawlenty reason to stick to his guns as well.
It found that 55 percent of respondents rated his performance as governor as "excellent" or "good." Twenty-five percent rated it "fair" and 17 percent thought Pawlenty was doing a "poor" job.
The poll conducted by Mason Dixon Polling and Research has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. It was conducted May 7-9 and involved phone interviews of 625 Minnesotans.
DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said the poll reflected that most Minnesotans know the state's wealthiest are paying a smaller percentage of their incomes than other residents.
"Folks want tax fairness in the system," Kelliher said. "They want to make sure everyone is paying their fair share. The other part that it reflects is that we have a real value in Minnesota about being able to own your home or afford your rent. And our plan is the one that gets property tax cuts to all Minnesotans."
But Kelliher said it will be difficult to deliver on property tax relief if Pawlenty vetoes the income tax increase, as he's vowed to do.
Pawlenty's spokesman, Brian McClung, said it wasn't surprising that most voters would support the income tax increase on top earners since a majority of Minnesotans wouldn't have to pay it. He said the governor's high approval ratings were equally telling.
"The governor is in a really strong position heading into the final days of the legislative session," McClung said. "The governor has been clear and consistent about his message from the start of this session and so the people of Minnesota are hearing what the governor is saying and they like and support it."
McClung also said the poll should have asked respondents whether they support Pawlenty's budget proposal, which doesn't increase taxes.
On Thursday, the Senate passed a bill that would create a new income tax rate on individuals who make more than $226,000 a year and couples who make more than $400,000 a year. The House was expected to vote on the bill Friday, sending it to Pawlenty and his promised veto.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)