Congressman Trey Radel sends out sarcastic letter

Radel thanks Minnesota Governor for raising taxes

By Mike Mason

CREATED Feb. 1, 2013

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  • Radel sent letter to Minnesota Governor thanking him for raising taxes. Video by fox4now.com

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 LEE COUNTY - Thanks for raising the taxes!  That's what a Southwest Florida Congressman is saying tonight. Congressman Trey Radel sending a letter to the Governor of Minnesota today, saying a new tax hike on seasonal residents in the gopher state will send them flocking to Florida. Four in your Corner's Mike Mason getting their reaction tonight.

 
Mike Mason: "Trey Radel's letter taking on a sarcastic tone but for some Minnesotans we spoke with it's a serious issue and makes good sense to them."
 
Mike Mason: “So you don't think they should be taxing people like that?”
Steve Machacek: "No, no."
 
Shelley Machacek: "I guess I'm glad I don't live in Minnesota anymore then."
 
Frequent flyers flocking to Florida -- seasonal residents migrating down here to escape the deep freeze. And now Congressman Trey Radel offering a warm welcome to Minnesotans.
 
Shelley Machacek: "It's beautiful, I love it."
 
Radel writing this letter to Governor Mark Dayton saying: “I'm writing today to thank you. As a Floridian, I am overjoyed to hear about your plan to raise taxes on Minnesotans, most especially the so-called "snowbirds."
 
Radel goes on to say: “From what I understand, your plan will tax the income of individuals who spend at least 60 days in Minnesota even if they are full time residents of another state, like Florida.”
 
We caught up with a couple of former Minnesotans at Southwest Florida International Airport ....they're not happy to hear about the Governor's new tax plan.
 
Mike Mason: "Should they be doing it?”
Shelley Machacek: "No, absolutely not."
 
Steve Machacek: "They're not going to change it if we don't say something to him other politicians and the people that are getting taken for a ride."
 
Radel's letter seems sarcastic and sincere at the same time. Telling the Governor: “It's my sincere hope your plan has just driven many Minnesotans to become year-round residents of our great state.”
 
Steve Machacek: "If he's thanking him for sending people down I hope the guy in Minnesota gets the point."
 
Mike Mason: "Radel says the new tax should raise about $30 million a year which is really just a drop in the bucket compared with the state's $38 billion dollar budget.