ession Summ ary Session 3 S 2013

17 t h A n n u a l

Legislative Scorecard 2013

recognition of ch of state government. are also signers of our TAXPAYERS PROTECTION PLEDGE and are our 2013 BEST FRIENDS of the TAXPAYER; recognized for making and keeping their promise to the taxpayers of Minnesota.

REPRESENTATIVE MARK ANDERSON R-LAKE SHORE 9-A

REPRESENTATIVE SARAH ANDERSON R-PLYMOUTH 44-A

REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID FITZSIMMONS PAT GAROFALO R-ALBERTVILLE R-FARMINGTON 30-B 58-B

REPRESENTATIVE TOM HACKBARTH R-CEDAR 31-B

REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA KIEFFER R-WOODBURY 53-B

REPRESENTATIVE JIM NEWBERGER R-BECKER 15-B

REPRESENTATIVE NICK ZERWAS R-ELK RIVER 30-A

SENATOR MICHELLE BENSON R-HAM LAKE 31

SENATOR DAVID HANN R-EDEN PRAIRIE 48

SENATOR WARREN LIMMER R-MAPLE GROVE 34

SENATOR DAVID OSMEK R-MOUND 33

SENATOR DAVE THOMPSON R-LAKEVILLE 58

2013 Session Summary

The new legislature wasted no time repealing laws that the Republican House
tax increase. It was touted as targeting the rich but after scrutiny by the Department of Revenue was found to touch Minnesotans from nearly every walk of life. Business to business taxes, such as a farm equipment repair tax and a warehouse and storage service tax were deemed so onerous that even the Governor himself remarked that these taxes, ones his administration originally proposed, could surely be repealed next session. Business leaders have called for them to be repealed even sooner, in a special session, which may occur this Fall. Local governments also did well this session with the enactment of laws that allow them to tax their citizens for roads without a vote (a wheelage tax or a local option sales tax.). Rochester got a new level of government with the power to tax and bond by members of an unelected board appointed by the Governor. project was also promised $455 Million in state aid. Public sector unions also did very well this sessiontheir contracts which, had been held up by the previous legislature as

A bonding bill of $177 million was approved in this non-bonding year.

he Taxpayers League has produced scorecards since 1997. As a result, we have collected the voting records T of a number of legislators who have served many terms and we have observed the changes that have happened over the years. One legislator stood out in particular, not only due to her transformation from a relatively high the more important because as role in creating Minnesotas tax Minnesota House. Check she gained seniority she has also played an important policy as Chair of the Tax Committee of the out her Taxpayers Leauge record below.

One Legislators Score: from Friend to Foe

Taxpayers League Score

2009: Named Foe of the Taxpayer

S TA TE S E N A TE
RATING
Life % 2013

1. MORE MONEY ON THE CREDIT CARD The first year of a legislative session is supposed to be a budget year and the second the bonding year. Instead we get a bonding year and a budget year in 2013. The taxpayer friendly vote is NO. (HF 1070) 2. CHILD CARE UNIONIZATION This bill sets up an election for childcare providers to organize a union. The problem is that unions have the ability to do this now but have failed to get enough support so their friends in the legislature are giving them a push. We think that they should have agreed with the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press and voted NO. (HF950/SF 778) 3. SHIFTS AND GIMMICKS IN HEALTH CARE SPENDING Although this has been billed by some as a cut in spending on heath care this is one bill where you really do have to follow the money due to the avalanche of new laws and shifts in HHS spending. The taxpayer friendly vote is NO. (HF1233/SF 1034) 4. OBAMACARE FOR MINNESOTA: THE HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE The Health Care exchange bill is Minnesotas compliance mechanism for the Federal Affordable Health Care Act. It has been widely criticized on the policy side but also stands to increase the cost of health insurance for Minnesotans and their employers. This bill is bad for Minnesota, we think legislators should have voted NO. (HF 5) 5. ANTI-FREE MARKET DOLLARS FOR COLLEGE The higher education funding bill freezes college tuition at all state funded institutions. Students are insulated from the true cost with a budget increase of 6%. The pro-taxpayer vote on this bill was NO. (SF 1236) 6. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEANS GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT St. Pauls loan for the RiverCentre is forgiven. Also $89.9 million for affordable housing, subsidies on rent and free voicemail for felons and a grant to a non-profit tenants rights group. The taxpayer friendly vote is NO. (HF729/SF1057) 7. EDUCATION: SPEND MORE BEFORE YOU PAY BACK WHAT YOU BORROW? The 2013 K-12 Omnibus spending bill contains a $485 million increase on top of the FY 14-15 forecasted budget but it doesnt pay back the school shift,. The taxpayer friendly vote on this bill was a NO. (HF630/SF453) 8. BIG BUCKS FOR ARTS AND CRAFTS The Legacy spending bill has made news for ridiculous and wasteful spending ever since the amendment passed in 2008. Taxpayer friendly vote is NO and this law should be repealed. (HF1183/ SF1051) 9. TAXAPALOOZA! This years Omnibus Tax bill contained $2.1 billion in tax increases including a cigarette tax as well as a tax on cigarette retailers, a gift tax, a tax on online businesses, an increase on rental cars from 6.2% to 9.2%, There are also new business to business taxes on warehousing and storage services, electric and farm equipment repair and telecommunications equipment. On the spending side, it also increases payments made to cities, towns and counties including $338 million for the city of Rochesters new public/private partnership with the Mayo Clinic and a brand new office building for the State Senate. The taxpayer friendly vote on this bill would have been a NO. (HF677) 10. MORE MONEY FOR STATE WORKER PENSIONS The 2013 Omnibus Pension bill includes a $26 Million dollar bailout of the St. Paul and Duluth Teachers Pensions. In the case of the Duluth Teachers Pension, it also includes a benefit increase. The taxpayer friendly vote is NO. (HF489/HF629) 11. THE WHEELS COME OFF IN SPENDING FRENZY Local tax decisions are taken out of the hands of voters and put in the hands of county officials, to enact wheelage and local sales tax for counties outside the Twin Cities Metro. The Met Council gets an additional $35.8M in bonding for buses. This bill also has the distinction of being the largest road and bridge construction bill in state history. The taxpayer friendly vote is NO. (HF1444/SF1173) 12. LESS TRANSPARENCY, MORE SPENDING , PAY RAISES FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS The State Government Finance Omnibus bill contains a spending increase of $32.33 million with large spending increases to cover new and more expanded mandates. The Governor gets a pay increase and Commissioners not only got a pay increase, their salaries no longer have to be below the Governors. The pro-taxpayer vote is NO.(SF1589) 13. ENVIRONMENTALISTS RUN AMOK AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE The Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture Finance and Policy Bill pitted farmers against environmentalists but in the end, the bureaucrats only win. New programs were established for studying bee habitat, more monitoring and regulation including paint recycling fees that will be passed on to the consumer. Taxpayer friendly vote is NO. (HF 976/1170)

District Party 29 R 3 DFL 31 R 44 DFL 15 R 51 DFL 38 R 59 DFL 57 DFL 64 DFL 20 DFL 16 R 61 DFL 60 DFL 40 DFL 4 DFL 13 R 49 DFL 9R 41 DFL 56 R 48 R 67 DFL 62 DFL 36 DFL 39 R 8R 24 DFL 37 DFL 53 DFL 30 R 17 DFL 46 DFL 34 R 11 DFL 66 DFL 52 DFL 28 R 26 R 18 R 32 R 47 R 33 R 65 DFL 14 R 35 R 55 R 7 DFL 45 DFL 23 R 10 R 5 DFL 42 DFL 21 DFL 25 R 19 DFL 54 DFL 2 DFL 27 DFL 1 DFL 58 R 6 DFL 63 DFL 22 R 12 R 43 DFL 50 DFL

Name 1 Anderson, Bruce D. Bakk, Thomas M. Benson, Michelle R. + Bonoff, Terri E. * Brown, David M. Carlson, Jim Chamberlain, Roger C. Champion, Bobby Joe Clausen, Greg D. Cohen, Richard Dahle, Kevin L. Dahms, Gary H. Dibble, D. Scott Dziedzic, Kari Eaton, Chris A. Eken, Kent Fischbach, Michelle L. Franzen, Melisa Gazelka, Paul E. * Goodwin, Barb Hall, Dan D. + Hann, David W. Hawj, Foung Hayden, Jeff Hoffman, John A. Housley, Karin Ingebrigtsen, Bill Jensen, Vicki Johnson, Alice M. Kent, Susan Kiffmeyer, Mary Koenen, Lyle Latz, Ron + Limmer, Warren Lourey, Tony Marty, John Metzen, James P. Miller, Jeremy R. Nelson, Carla J. Newman, Scott J. Nienow, Sean R. Ortman, Julianne E. + Osmek, David J. Pappas, Sandra L. Pederson, John C. Petersen, Branden Pratt, Eric R. * Reinert, Roger J. Rest, Ann H. Rosen, Julie A. Ruud, Carrie Saxhaug, Tom Scalze, Bev Schmit, Matt Senjem, David H. + Sheran, Kathy Sieben, Katie Skoe, Rod Sparks, Dan Stumpf, LeRoy A. + Thompson, Dave Tomassoni, David J. Torres Ray, Patricia Weber, Bill Westrom, Torrey N. Wiger, Charles W. Wiklund, Melissa H. -

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

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

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

5 + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

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

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

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

9 + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

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

11 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

12 + + * + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + -

13 + 92 92 0 16 + 100 91 - 15 23 + 69 73 0 39 + 92 85 0 0 8 8 0 9 0 8 + 77 76 0 10 0 6 0 6 0 0 + 85 71 - 15 15 + 92 88 0 3 * 85 82 + 100 91 0 0 0 6 0 0 + 85 85 + 92 69 8 8 0 0 8 8 + 92 92 0 0 0 13 + 100 91 0 7 0 17 0 12 - 62 64 - 62 64 + 92 85 + 92 85 + 92 86 + 100 100 0 6 + 54 61 + 85 85 + 85 85 0 9 * 8 24 + 85 61 - 85 85 0 9 8 8 0 0 + 69 66 8 7 0 10 0 17 0 14 0 13 + 100 97 0 13 0 5 + 85 85 - 69 69 0 20 0 0

(HF=House File / SF=Senate FIle)

L EGEND : + = Pro-taxpayer vote = anti-taxpayer vote * = did not vote

H O US E
Dist Party Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + 11 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + * + -

OF

R E PR E S E N TA T I V E S
RATING
2013
2013

RATING
35A 55B 62B 09A 44A 12B 05B 52B 32B 55A 26B 44B 41A 20B 19B 45A 62A 23B 31A 28B 63A 38B 59B 39A 03A 14B 21B 49A 15A 02A 01A 17A 11B 43A 30B 08B 45B 24B 58B 02B 18B 23A 31B 51B 22B 52A 66A 33A 40B 58A 47B 61A 36B 13A 07A 42B 32A 19A 67B 60B 21A 53B 01B 09B 41B 47A 50B R R DFL R R R DFL DFL R R R DFL DFL DFL DFL DFL DFL R R R DFL R DFL R DFL DFL R DFL R DFL R DFL DFL DFL R R DFL DFL R R R R R DFL R DFL DFL R DFL R R DFL DFL R DFL DFL R DFL DFL DFL R R R R DFL R DFL Abeler, Jim Albright, Tony Allen, Susan Anderson, Mark Anderson, Sarah Anderson, Paul Anzelc, Tom Atkins, Joe Barrett, Bob Beard, Michael Benson, Mike Benson, John Bernardy, Connie Bly, David Brynaert, Kathy Carlson Sr., Lyndon Clark, Karen Cornish, Tony Daudt, Kurt Davids, Greg Davnie, Jim Dean, Matt Dehn, Raymond Dettmer, Bob Dill, David Dorholt, Zachary Drazkowski, Steve Erhardt, Ron Erickson, Sondra Erickson, Roger Fabian, Dan Falk, Andrew Faust, Tim Fischer, Peter FitzSimmons, David Franson, Mary Freiberg, Mike Fritz, Patti Garofalo, Pat Green, Steve Gruenhagen, Glenn Gunther, Bob Hackbarth, Tom Halverson, Laurie Hamilton, Rod Hansen, Rick Hausman, Alice Hertaus, Jerry Hilstrom, Debra Holberg, Mary Liz Hoppe, Joe Hornstein, Frank Hortman, Melissa Howe, Jeff Huntley, Thomas Isaacson, Jason Johnson, Brian Johnson, Clark Johnson, Sheldon Kahn, Phyllis Kelly, Tim Kieffer, Andrea Kiel, Debra Kresha, Ron Laine, Carolyn Leidiger, Ernie Lenczewski, Ann + + * + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 12 13
Life

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + + + -

* + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + -

54 92 0 100 100 92 0 0 85 92 92 0 0 0 0 0 0 85 92 77 0 92 0 92 0 0 85 8 92 0 92 0 15 0 100 92 0 0 100 85 92 62 100 15 69 0 0 92 0 92 92 0 0 92 0 0 92 0 0 0 92 100 92 85 0 92 0

53 92 9 100 84 75 1 7 79 77 88 10 0 3 1 18 11 68 91 73 12 85 0 88 7 0 91 41 85 0 76 5 9 0 100 88 0 8 75 85 91 67 80 15 66 10 11 92 12 88 82 10 8 92 11 0 92 0 11 11 78 91 73 85 3 91 35

Dist 66B 26A 04A 43B 60A 39B 48B 57A 67A 65B 04B 51A 29A 12A 54B 06A 06B 65A 56B 59A 03B 64A 56A 40A 15B 37A 08A 25B 13B 29B 64B 28A 34A 05A 24A 27B 33B 25A 10B 49B 38A 37B 27A 17B 54A 22A 35B 48A 46B 07B 50A 11A 16A 14A 61B 16B 36A 18A 63B 10A 53A 57B 46A 20A 42A 34B 30A

Party DFL DFL DFL DFL DFL R R R DFL DFL DFL DFL R DFL R DFL DFL DFL DFL DFL DFL DFL R DFL R DFL R DFL R R DFL DFL R DFL R DFL R R DFL DFL R R DFL DFL DFL R R DFL DFL DFL DFL DFL R R DFL R R R DFL DFL DFL R DFL R DFL R R

Name Lesch, John Liebling, Tina Lien, Ben Lillie, Leon Loeffler, Diane Lohmer, Kathy Loon, Jenifer Mack, Tara Mahoney, Tim Mariani, Carlos Marquart, Paul Masin, Sandra McDonald, Joe McNamar, Jay McNamara, Denny Melin, Carly Metsa, Jason Moran, Rena Morgan, Will Mullery, Joe Murphy, Mary Murphy, Erin Myhra, Pam Nelson, Michael V. Newberger, Jim Newton, Jerry Nornes, Bud Norton, Kim O'Driscoll, Tim O'Neill, Marion Paymar, Michael Pelowski Jr., Gene Peppin, Joyce Persell, John Petersburg, John Poppe, Jeanne Pugh, Cindy Quam, Duane Radinovich, Joe Rosenthal, Paul Runbeck, Linda Sanders, Tim Savick, Shannon Sawatzky, Mary Schoen, Dan Schomacker, Joe Scott, Peggy Selcer, Yvonne Simon, Steve Simonson, Erik Slocum, Linda Sundin, Mike Swedzinski, Chris Theis, Tama Thissen, Paul Torkelson, Paul Uglem, Mark Urdahl, Dean Wagenius, Jean Ward, John Ward, JoAnn Wills, Anna Winkler, Ryan Woodard, Kelby Yarusso, Barb Zellers, Kurt Zerwas, Nick

1 + + * + +

2 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

3 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

4 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

5 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + * + + + + + + + + +

6 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

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

8 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

9 10 11 - - - - - - - - - - + + * + + + + + + - - - - - - - - + * + - - + - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + * + - - + + + - - + + + - - + + + + + + - - - - + + * - - + + - - + + + + + + - - + - + + + + + + - - - - - - + + + + + + + - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + - - - - - - + + + - - + + + - - + + + + + +

12 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

13 + + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

0 15 0 0 0 85 92 92 8 0 0 0 77 8 85 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 85 0 100 0 85 8 85 92 0 8 85 0 85 0 92 92 0 8 85 92 0 0 0 92 85 8 0 0 0 0 92 85 0 85 77 85 0 0 0 85 0 92 0 92 100

11 17 0 6 10 88 79 83 13 8 23 7 79 8 66 0 0 3 6 16 12 1 82 9 100 2 70 16 73 92 15 24 92 0 85 8 92 94 0 14 91 83 0 0 0 76 92 8 7 0 3 0 79 85 9 76 77 65 9 0 0 85 6 82 0 88 100

Life

The State Budget in three easy pieces

and the Governor must sign a balanced budget. But what is this budget? Its not all of the states and money from other sources. In the General Fund, money is mainly in two areas Health and Human Services, and Education. All other state spending, like aid to local government and state government administration is a smaller portion of the General Fund.

All Funds Budget for FY 2012/13: $61.6 Billion

Other Funds 20% General Fund Federal 54% Funds 26%
Actual Spending for the biennium 12/13

General Fund Spending FY 2012/13: $33.3 Billion

HHS 31% E-12 Ed 46% Other 23%

Non-HHS and E-12 General Fund Spending $7.5 Billion

Environment Other Energy and 4% Nat. Resources 4% Property Tax State Credits Government and Aid to Local 11% Government 37% Higher Ed 19% Public Safety 24%

Taxpayers Protection Pledge is simple. It merely states that the candidate will oppose placing any additional tax burden on Minnesotans to operate the neccessary function of state government Before you support or vote for any candidate check to see if they have signed the Pledge at: www.taxpayersleague.org.

Hard working Minnesotans already pay enough in state and local taxes. Our budget problems

What is the Taxpayer Protection Pledge?

Signature _______________________ Witness _____________________ Date___________________________ Date _______________________

Taxpayers League of Minnesota 1402 Concordia Avenue Saint Paul, Mn 55104

Taxpayers League of Minnesota 1402 Concordia Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104

Standard U.S. Postage PAID Capitol Direct

Join The Taxpayers League of Minnesota and Help us Fight the Liberal Tax-and-Spend Agenda! Dear Friends,
the regulatory burden on job creators. In addition, businesses looking . But we have an opportunity ahead to make our voices heard. Next year will be an important year in Minnesota politics and people need to follow whats going on at the state level, not just the federal level. Taxpayers Leagues 2013 Legislative Scorecard will be a critical tool for voters to learn about state issues, as candidates emerge to run for the Harold Hamilton Chairman of the Board Taxpayers League of Minnesota Harold has been a dedicated taxpayer advocate and committed freedom fighter for Minnesota, founding the Minnesota Watchdog in 2005 and serving as the Taxpayers League Chairman of the Board. He steadfastly supports our efforts to slow the growth of government and fight for economic freedom. Were delighted to be able to call him a friend of the taxpayer! mined to educate voters on legislators voting record on taxes and spending issues. We will be advocates for reducing taxes in 2014. You can help by:

2013 was a challenging year for those of us in Minnesota who believe in

1) Contributing today; $200, $100, $50 or even $25 A gift of any size will help defeat a tax increase! 2) Getting Involved; sign up at www.taxpayersleague.org to receive our email updates and legislative alerts! representatives voted to spend our money. Sincerely,

w w w.ta x p a y e rs le a g ue .o rg 651-789-0092