Ex-legislator takes anti-tax stance to Taxpayers League

BY BILL SALISBURY
Pioneer Press
Former state Rep. Phil Krinkie, long the Legislature's leading budget hawk, today was named president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, an anti-tax advocacy group.
Krinkie, a Lino Lakes Republican who was defeated in November after 16 years in the House, succeeds David Strom, who has headed the league since 2004. Strom will remain a part-time employee of the league but will focus his attention on expanding the Taxpayers League Foundation, the organization's research arm.
"I have always fought for the interests of taxpayers at the Capitol," Krinkie said in a news release. "With the change in power at the Legislature, taxpayers are besieged by people itching to raise their taxes. I love a good fight, and this is a target-rich environment."
As chairman of the House Tax Committee in recent years, Krinkie earned the nickname "Dr. No" for his outspoken opposition to tax and spending increases. He owns The Snelling Co., a St. Paul heating and air conditioning business.
The Taxpayers League is probably best known for it's no-new-taxes pledge, which Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed before he was first elected in 2002 and struggled to keep through the state's subsequent budget crisis.