Legislative Scorecard

A Guide to Minnesota Lawmakers Votes on Taxes and Spending

2008

THE 2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

As Thomas Jefferson so eloquently stated over 200 years ago, The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. These words are just as true today as they were when he first spoke them. The 2008 legislative session proves once again that our economic freedom as well as our individual liberty is at risk every time lawmakers meet. While we can take some solace in the fact that Governor Pawlenty and conservative lawmakers barred the liberals from passing even greater tax increases and even more restrictions on our individual freedom, this in reality is little consolation. Conservatives in Minnesota should no longer be content with simply blocking the liberals tax-and-spend agenda and calling that good enough. We must work to regain the majority because working to control the agenda in the majority is far superior to tilting at windmills in the minority. Trying to stop the stampeding liberals from a minority position is akin to believing you can stop a stampede of buffalo with a bow and arrow. As such, we all need to redouble our efforts in promoting our conservative principles in an effort to elect individuals who will vote on the basis of ideology. This is the only way we will be able to restrain the growth of government. We cant change the legislation that comes out of St. Paul until we change the legislators that we send to St. Paul. Join the Taxpayers League of Minnesota today and help keep government out of your wallet.
Phil Krinkie President

OUR MISSION
For more than a decade the mission of the Taxpayers League has been to reduce the tax burden on working Minnesotans. With the help and support of many dedicated people we have succeeded in our goal. Yet with the liberals in control of both the State Legislature and the U.S. Congress we cant rest on past accomplishments. Thank you for your past support and hopefully you will continue to be engaged in the cause by joining the Taxpayers League today.

All is not well that ends well.

Michael Wigley Chairman

HOW TO USE THE TAXPAYERS LEAGUE SCORECARD

This scorecard reports key votes lawmakers cast on taxes and spending. A + vote denotes a pro-taxpayer position. The rating reflects the percentage of pro-taxpayer votes cast. Also reported is the cumulative score for each state legislator for years 1997-2008. The Taxpayers League of Minnesota is a nonpartisan, nonprofit grassroots taxpayer advocacy organization representing thousands of Minnesotans. It fights for lower taxes, limited government and the full empowerment of taxpaying citizens in accordance with Constitutional principles. Nothing in this scorecard implies endorsement of any candidate for public office.

TO CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES:

MN House Switchboard . . . . . (651) . . . 296-2146 . Toll Free . . . . . . . . . . . (800) . . . 657-3550 . . . . . . MN Senate Switchboard . . . . . (651) . . . 296-0504 Governor?s Office . . . . . . . (651) . . . 296-3391 . . . U.S. House of Reps Switchboard . . (202) 225-3121 U.S. Senate Switchboard . . . . . (202) . . . 224-3121 Or by email at sen.firstname.lastname@senate.mn or rep.firstname.lastname@house.mn

PLEASE JOIN US IN FIGHTING TO HOLD THE LINE ON TAXES

If youre tired of Minnesotas high taxes and big government and you want to join the fight to change it the Taxpayers League would like your help. To support our cause, we suggest a gift of $25, $50 or more be sent to:

TAXPAYERS LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA

PO Box 120444 St Paul, MN 55112 Phone: (651) 294-3590 Fax: (651) 294-3596

www.taxpayersleague.org

 2008 Best Friends of the Taxpayer

Rep. Bruce Anderson R-Buffalo Township (19A) 8th award

Rep. Mark Buesgens R-Jordan (35B) 6th award

Rep. Tom Emmer R-Delano (19B) 2nd award

Rep. Tom Hackbarth R-Cedar (48A) 1st award

Rep. Mark Olson R-Big Lake (16B) 5th award

Sen. David Hann R-Eden Prairie (42) 4th award

Sen. Warren Limmer R-Maple Grove (32) 5th award

Sen. Julianne Ortman R-Chanhassen (34) 1st award

All of the above legislators received a score of 100% on our 2008 Taxpayers League Scorecard. They deserve special recognition for their hard work and willingness to stand strong for individual economic freedom.

WARNING: TAX INCREASE AHEAD

Did you know there is a TAX INCREASE on the ballot on November 4th ?
You will have the opportunity to vote on a 3/8 of a cent sales tax increase that will constitutionally dedicate money to the arts and the natural environment. This tax increase is just a way for lawmakers to side-step the real question of how they spend the $27 billion a year taxpayers give them now. The tax increase you will vote on in November didnt start out as a tax increase at all. Initially the idea was to dedicate a portion of the existing sales tax to environmental conservation programs only. But that plan proved unpopular with liberal legislators who didnt want to divert current sales tax revenue to rural environmental programs. So instead they are asking voters to increase the states sales tax by an additional 3/8 of a percent and direct a portion of the dollars to arts and cultural heritage. As projected by the Minnesota Revenue Department, by 2011 this tax increase will siphon $276 million out of taxpayers pockets to be divided up among four new pots of money: 33% to the Outdoor Heritage Fund, 33% to the Clean Water Fund, 14% to the Parks and Trails Fund, and 20% to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Certainly, this is a tax increase that leaves no special interest group behind! Aside from the regressivity of a sales tax increase itself, dedicating taxpayer dollars is bad public policy. Dedicating dollars to these programs will lead to a lack of transparency and likely become bureaucratic slush-funds. If arts and outdoors advocates want funding for their pet projects, their programs should have to compete with other functions of state government like road construction, public safety and education. Its not often that Minnesotans get a clear choice between raising taxes and fiscal responsibility.

Remember: Vote NO Tuesday, November 4th!

2008 VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

M INNESOTA STATE SENATE
(SJ = Senate Journal Page Number)

STATE SENATE
2008 9 9 0 0 0 20 100 0 64 78 73 91 73 9 9 0 9 100 9 0 36 0 64 0 11 9 73 9 100 9 82 0 0 27 64 45 18 20 0 18 73 10 0 18 0 9 30 10 9 90 9 60 9

Name
Ellen Anderson Tom Bakk Linda Berglin Don Betzold Terri Bonhoff Jim Carlson Satveer Chaudhary Tarryl Clark Richard Cohen Kevin Dahle Dick Day Scott Dibble Steve Dille John Doll Sharon Erickson Ropes Michelle Fischbach Leo Foley Dennis Frederickson Chris Gerlach Joe Gimse David Hann Linda Higgins Bill Ingebrigtsen Debbie Johnson Mike Jungbauer Amy Koch Paul Koering Gary Kubly Keith Langseth Dan Larson Ron Latz Warren Limmer Tony Lourey Ann Lynch John Marty James Metzen Geoff Michel Mee Moua Steve Murphy Rick Olseen Gen Olson Mary Olson Julianne Ortman Sandra Pappas Pat Pariseau Larry Pogemiller Yvonne Prettner Solon Ann Rest Claire Robling Julie Rosen Sandy Rummel Kathy Saltzman Tom Saxhaug Linda Scheid David Senjem Kathy Sheran Katie Sieben Rod Skoe Dan Skogen Dan Sparks LeRoy Stumpf David Tomassoni Patricia Torres Ray Ray Vandeveer Jim Vickerman Betsy Wergin Charles Wiger

1
+ * * + + + + + + + + + + + + * + * + + + -

2
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

3
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

4
+ + * + + + + + + + -

5
+ + + + + + + + + + + -

6
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

7
+ * + * + + + * + * + + + + + + * + * + + + + * * * + -

8
* + + + * + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + * -

9
+ + + + + -

10 11
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + * + * + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + +

1. A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY? (SJ 6500) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose placing this Constitutional amendment on the November ballot. This bill, which would increase the state sales tax and dedicate the revenue to outdoor and cultural heritage programs is not only universally regarded as bad fiscal policy, but the hundreds of millions raised through the tax increase will no doubt be used for any number of pet-projects and wasteful spending initiatives. (Conference Committee report passed 46-17, no Gubernatorial action required) 2. THE $6.6 BILLION DOLLAR TRANSPORTATION TAX INCREASE (SJ 6648) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose one of the largest tax increases in Minnesota history and send this tax-laden Transportation bill back to the drawing board. In addition to raising the gas tax, sales tax and vehicle registration tax, this bill also created a whole new level of government in the Metro area to spend millions on unnecessary transit boondoggles. (Bill passed 47-20, vetoed by the Governor) 3. THE TRANSPORTATION BILL OVERRIDE VOTE (SJ 6707) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to sustain the Governors veto of the $6.6 billion Transportation tax bill and save Minnesotans from one of the largest tax increases in state history. Two Republican Senators joined 45 DFL Senators to override the Governers veto. (Override successful 47-20) 4. ANOTHER BILLION DOLLAR BONDING BILL (SJ 7046) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to reject the Senates initial version of the bonding bill. The bill, which blew past the historically accepted budget target established by the Department of Finance, included all manner of wasteful pork projects. Among the lowlights: hundreds of millions for local arenas, hockey rinks, parks and trails and the Central Corridor lightrail boondoggle with no money for state priorities like road and bridge construction. (Bill passed 57-9) 5. THE ECONOMIC WAR OF HOUSE FILE 1812 (SJ 10888) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose this end-of-session budget balancing bill that drained $500 million from the states budget reserve while reducing spending by only $268 million. (Bill passed 56-11) 6. TAX, TAX, TAX. SPEND, SPEND SPEND. (SJ 8458) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to reject the Senates Tax bill that contained hundreds of millions in Local Government Aid giveaways to cities and counties and increased taxes on Minnesota companies that do business overseas. Yet another example of tax-and-spenders in St. Paul having no idea who creates the jobs and what it really takes to make Minnesotas economy work. (Bill passed 39-28) 7. A MINIMUM WAGE THAT WOULD LEAD TO MAXIMUM UNEMPLOYMENT (SJ 10030) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to scrap the second attempt in three years to increase the states minimum wage. Even though the minimum wage was already raised in 2005, this year liberal lawmakers sought to raise it again and to index it to inflation! As the nation moves through a period of economic uncertainty, the last thing legislators should be doing is increasing the cost of doing business for Minnesota companies. Thankfully, the Governor had his veto pen ready. (Bill passed 40-18, vetoed by the Governor) 8. CAP AND TRADE WHILE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FADES (SJ 10261) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose this attempt by environmental activists to further regulate Minnesotas economy. This cap on greenhouse gas emissions would not only hurt some of Minnesotas largest employers but lead to fewer jobs and fewer workers to carry the tax burden. (Bill passed 41-22) 9. A HEALTH CARE BILL IN NEED OF EMERGENCY TREATMENT (SJ 10548) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to reject the end of session health care reform bill that will add more people to the states health insurance plan, pay individuals and groups to sign-up new medical welfare recipients and does little to address the factors that cause health care services spending to eat up more and more of the States budget. (Bill passed 62-5) 10. A SECOND BONDING BILL, TWICE AS BAD (SJ 10663) As part of the end of session negotiations, Legislative leaders and the Governor agreed to another bonding bill containing funding for the Central Corridor light rail line: a billion dollar trolley that will only increase congestion. Of course, the taxpayer-friendly vote was no. (Bill passed 50-17) 11. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY 7, MINNESOTA VIKINGS 0 (SJ 8273) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to support this amendment to the Senate Omnibus Tax bill that would strip funding for a Vikings stadium study. Apparently, twenty-two members of the State Senate think taxpayers should pay for yet another stadium study. (Amendment passed 41-22)

D66 D6 D61 D51 D43 D38 D50 D15 D64 D25 R26 D60 R18 D40 D31 R14 D47 R21 R37 R13 R42 D58 R11 R49 R48 R19 R12 D20 D9 D63 D44 R32 D8 D30 D54 D39 R41 D67 D28 D17 R33 D4 R34 D65 R36 D59 D7 D45 R35 R24 D53 D56 D3 D46 R29 D23 D57 D2 D10 D27 D1 D5 D62 R52 D22 R16 D55

9 21 9 9 11 18 26 4 9 0 10 19 0 10 64 78 9 12 33 57 9 13 9 60 75 10 11 30 60 82 91 55 57 97 8 70 85 81 94 64 25 15 36 20 94 4 9 19 15 80 8 11 4 81 9 90 6 86 7 15 27 77 64 17 23 13 14 74 9 18 25 13 20 16 16 4 87 17 71 25

M INNESOTA HOUSE
(HJ = House Journal Page number)

OF

REPRESENTATIVES

1. A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY? (HJ 7684) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose placing this Constitutional amendment on the November ballot. This bill, which would increase the state sales tax and dedicate the revenue to outdoor and cultural heritage programs is not only universally regarded as bad fiscal policy, but the hundreds of millions raised through the tax increase will no doubt be used for any number of pet-projects and wasteful spending initiatives. (Conference Committee report passed 85-46, no Gubernatorial action required) 2. THE $6.6 BILLION DOLLAR TRANSPORTATION TAX INCREASE (HJ 7883) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose one of the largest tax increases in Minnesota history and send this tax-laden Transportation bill back to the drawing board. In addition to raising the gas tax, sales tax and vehicle registration tax, this bill also created a whole new level of government in the Metro area to spend millions on unnecessary transit boondoggles. (Bill passed 89-44, vetoed by the Governor) 3. THE TRANSPORTATION BILL OVERRIDE VOTE (HJ 7889) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to sustain the Governors veto of the $6.6 billion Transportation tax bill and save Minnesotans from one of the largest tax increases in state history. There should have been enough votes to sustain the veto, but six Republican House members voted against the Governor, their caucus and the majority of Minnesotans to help this bill become law. (Override successful 91-41) 4. ANOTHER BILLION DOLLAR BONDING BILL (HJ 8348) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to reject the Houses initial version of the Capital Investment Committees bonding bill. The bill, which blew past the historically accepted budget target established by the Department of Finance, included all manner of wasteful pork projects. Among the lowlights: hundreds of millions for local arenas, hockey rinks, parks and trails and the Central Corridor lightrail boondoggle with no money for state priorities like road and bridge construction. (Bill passed 99-34) 5. THE ECONOMIC WAR OF HOUSE FILE 1812 (HJ 12723) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose this end-of-session budget balancing bill that drained $500 million from the states budget reserve while reducing spending by only $268 million. (Bill passed 115-19) 6. SOCIALISM DISGUISED AS PROPERTY TAX REFORM (HJ 11356) Though it took nearly the entire Legislative session to put together, when it was finally finished the Houses Omnibus Tax bill was a horrendous amalgamation of tax increases, political pandering and destructive economic policies. The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose this bill whose property tax reform provision would have according to the Minnesota Revenue Department amounted to a tax increase for 69% of Minnesotans. (Bill passed 80-52) 7. A MINIMUM WAGE THAT WOULD LEAD TO MAXIMUM UNEMPLOYMENT (HJ 11863) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to scrap the second attempt in three years to increase the states minimum wage. Even though the minimum wage was already raised in 2005, this year liberal lawmakers sought to raise it again and to index it to inflation! As the nation moves through a period of economic uncertainty, the last thing legislators should be doing is increasing the cost of doing business for Minnesota companies. Thankfully, the Governor had his veto pen ready. (Bill passed 89-45, vetoed by the Governor) 8. CAP AND TRADE WHILE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FADES (HJ 12151) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to oppose this attempt by environmental activists to further regulate Minnesotas economy. This cap on greenhouse gas emissions would not only hurt some of Minnesotas largest employers but lead to fewer jobs and fewer workers to carry the tax burden. (Bill passed 96-36) 9. A HEALTH CARE BILL IN NEED OF EMERGENCY TREATMENT (HJ 12431) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to reject the end of session health care reform bill that will add more people to the states health insurance plan, pay individuals and groups to sign-up new medical welfare recipients and does little to address the factors that cause health care services spending to eat up more and more of the States budget. (Bill passed 127-7) 10. A SECOND BONDING BILL, TWICE AS BAD (HJ 12914) As part of the end of session negotiations, Legislative leaders and the Governor agreed to another bonding bill containing funding for the Central Corridor light rail line: a billion dollar trolley that will only increase congestion. Of course, the taxpayer-friendly vote was no. (Bill passed 107-26) 11. NOT PROPERTY TAX REFORM, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF (HJ 11303) The taxpayer-friendly vote was to support this amendment to the Omnibus Tax bill that would force total state property taxes to be less than 30% of total state revenue. (Amendment failed 19-112)

LEGEND: += pro-taxpayer vote = anti-taxpayer vote *= did not vote

LIFE 9

Party/ District

RATING

HOUSE
Party/ District
R48B R19A R43A D3A D39B R35A D43B R33B D57A D25B R25A D27A D23B R35B D56A D45B D61A R24B D62A R52B R49A R29A R52A D6A D47A D58B D12B R28B R17A D2A R19B R41A R16A D8B R21B D26B D53A R36B R15A D54A R24A R48A R22B D39A D66B D15B R13A D46B D8A R36A R34B D60B D47B D14B R4B D7A D7B D67B D13B D59B D17B D60A D50B D20B R34A D51A D50A

OF
2008

REPRESENTATIVES
2008 10 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 55 18 9 100 18 27 55 9 9 91 0 18 0 0 9 22 0 18 9 73 0 64 82 0 55 0 0 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 45 0 0 0 55 0 64 0 0 73 LIFE

RATING

Name
Jim Abeler Bruce Anderson Sarah Anderson Tom Anzelc Joe Atkins Michael Beard John Benson John Berns Karla Bigham David Bly Laura Brod Robin Brown Kathy Brynaert Mark Buesgens Julie Bunn Lyndon Carlson Karen Clark Tony Cornish Jim Davnie Matt Dean Chris DeLaForest Randy Demmer Bob Dettmer David Dill Denise Dittrich Willie Dominguez Al Doty Steve Drazkowski Rob Eastlund Kent Eken Tom Emmer Ron Erhardt Sondra Erickson Tim Faust Brad Finstad Patti Fritz Paul Gardner Pat Garofalo Steve Gottwalt Mindy Greiling Bob Gunther Tom Hackbarth Rod Hamilton Rick Hansen Alice Hausman Larry Haws Bud Heidgerken Debra Hilstrom Bill Hilty Mary Liz Holberg Joe Hoppe Frank Hornstein Melissa Hortman Larry Hosch Larry Howes Thomas Huntley Mike Jaros Sheldon Johnson Al Juhnke Phyllis Kahn Jeremy Kalin Margaret A. Kelliher Kate Knuth Lyle Koenen Paul Kohls Scott Kranz Carolyn Laine

1
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

2
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

3
+ + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

4
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

5
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

6
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * -

7
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

8
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

9
+ + + + + -

10 11
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + * -

Name
Morrie Lanning Ann Lenczewski John Lesch Tina Liebling Bernie Lieder Leon Lillie Diane Loeffler Shelley Madore Doug Magnus Tim Mahoney Carlos Mariani Paul Marquart Sandra Masin Carol McFarlane Denny McNamara Frank Moe Will Morgan Terry Morrow Joe Mullery Erin Murphy Mary Murphy Michael Nelson Bud Nornes Kim Norton Dave Olin Mark Olson Mary Ellen Otremba Dennis Ozment Erik Paulsen Michael Paymar Gene Pelowski Joyce Peppin Aaron Peterson Neil Peterson Sandra Peterson Jeanne Poppe Tom Rukavina Connie Ruth Maria Ruud Brita Sailer Bev Scalze Marty Seifert Tony Sertich Dan Severson Ron Shimanski Steve Simon Dean Simpson Nora Slawik Linda Slocum Steve Smith Loren Solberg Marsha Swails Cy Thao Paul Thissen Tom Tillberry Kathy Tingelstad Ken Tschumper Dean Urdahl Jean Wagenius Neva Walker John Ward Lynn Wardlow Andy Welti Torrey Westrom Ryan Winkler Sandy Wollschlager Kurt Zellers

1
+ + + * * + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + +

2
+ + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + +

3
+ + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + +

4
* + + + + + + + + + +

5
+ + + + -

6
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + +

7
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

8
+ + + + + * + + + + + + + * +

9
+ + -

10 11
+ + + + + + + + + + + + * -

27 55 100 96 55 74 9 4 0 11 73 76 0 13 64 78 0 9 0 0 0 4 4 4

R9A D40B D66A D30A D1B D55A D59A D37A R22A D67A D65B D9B D38A R53B R57B D4A D40A D23A D58A D64A D6B D46A R10A D29B D1A R16B D11B R37B R42B D64B D31A R32A D20A R41B D45A D27B D5A R26A D42A D2B D54B R21A D5B R14A R18A D44A R10B D55B D63B R33A D3B D56B D65A D63A D51B R49B D31B R18B D62B D61B D12A R38B D30B R11A D44B D28A R32B

45 61 9 44 9 22 18 26 0 14 0 15 0 15 5 45 70 0 19 9 0 0 36 36 61 45 62 0 23 4 4 0 15 16 70 26 4 89 33 64 85 18 2 89 16 43 19 11 20 64 30 28 21 84 15 70 91 15 66 24 0 76 15 9 6 15 0 61 9 58 11 12 0 70 26 75 5 4 88

90 80

100 94 9 17 0 24 0 12 45 69 0 15 91 91 64 73 9 9 0 9 82 73 9 100 18 82 0 82 0 0 82 55 9 45 100 27 0 0 0 55 0 9 82 91 0 0 9 45 18 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 91 0 0 87 93 74 82 13 25 0 4 82 79 27 89 66 84 4 84 13 9 68 74 21 66 74 55 13 13 11 54 21 18 88 82 14 17 22 61 15 16 16 20 13 0 12 0 17 90 10 0

0 21

LIFE

Party/ District

RATING