Say Anything Blog

Mitch Vance, the Democrat candidate for North Dakota State Treasurer, issued a press release today hitting state Republicans on goverment spending.

Here’s the key graph:

“This may come as a revelation to some,” Vance reports, “but in 2007, 14.1 cents of every dollar in personal income in North Dakota went to fund state and local government. Based on the data, North Dakotans deserve at least a $275 rebate or credit.” Vance’s research provides the price of government as a percentage of personal income for the years 1998-2007. The data for 2008 has yet to be released. His research also reveals another startling fact many North Dakotans already know: of the taxes that most affect people directly—real estate, sales, and income taxes—property taxes account for 47% of the total.

Consider that for a moment: 14.1% of the personal income every North Dakotan earns goes to the government.

That’s a lot.  Of course, some North Dakotans pay more than others given that higher-income citizens pay a higher percentage rate than lower-income citizens, but it’s clear that the state’s government is too great a burden on the state’s citizens.  Especially when compared to previous years as we see in this graphic provided by Vance:

What makes this point particularly poignant is that it’s coming from a Democrat candidate for political office.  Which illustrates, I think, just how completely North Dakota Republicans have abandoned the principles that are supposed to be at the core of their party: Limited government and lower taxes.

Mitch Vance, a Democrat, is talking about the heavy burden North Dakotans pay in taxes.  Meanwhile John Hoeven, the state’s Republican Governor, opposes efforts to lower those taxes and supports efforts to increase taxes.

Of course, if Vance were to be elected State Treasurer there wouldn’t be a lot he could do about spending which is set by the Governor and the Legislature, but it is interesting to see a Democrat getting to the right of state Republicans on spending and tax issues.