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Legislative
Scorecard 2015

E!

19th Annual

IN

2015 Session Summary

The legislators pictured below RECEIVED THE HIGHEST SCORES ON

OUR LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD. They deserve special recognition for
their efforts to limit the growth and reach of State Government and
are the 2015 FRIENDS OF THE TAXPAYER. Senator Dave Osmek
noted with an orange border in addtion to his 100% score deserves
special recognition for signing the taxpayers protection pledge and
is the 2015 BEST FRIEND OF THE TAXPAYER.

Senator
Roger Chamberlain
R-Lino Lakes
38

Senator
Dan Hall
R-Burnsville
56

Senator
Dave Osmek
R-Mound
33

Senator
Dave Thompson
R-Lakeville
58

What happened in
the 2015 Legislative
Session?

The regular 2015 Legislative Session ended

in a chaotic, frantic finale on May 22, 2015. DFL Senate
Majority Leader Tom Bakk and Republican Speaker of the
House Kurt Daudt signed an agreement on the budget. But
immediately, there was trouble. Governor Mark Dayton held
an angry press conference about not getting his version of an
early childhood education spending plan. He vetoed the K-12
bill just 16 hours after the end of session, followed by vetoes
of two other omnibus bills: Environment and Agriculture and
Jobs and Energy.
That was the set up for a special session on June 15, which
produced new versions of the Education bill (with more
money added but not the Governors proposal), a new
Environment and Agriculture Bill and compromise versions of
other bills.
The special session, which lasted one day, brought with it its
own drama over the Environment and Agriculture bill. The
House stuck to the agreement signed with the Governor
and didnt cave to the demands of a few DFL senators to
strip sections relating to environmental degreguation. Iron
Rangers in both bodies agreed with the Republicans that the
Mining industry could do without more layers of regulation if
the Federal laws and the underlying state statutes were in
place. This unusual coalition came together to restore the
original agreement. But compromise has a cost. In many

areas of the budget we see increases in spending across the

board. With a projected $2 Billion surplus DFLers openly taunted
GOPers in the final moments of the regular session about the Not
a penny more campaign of 2011/12 session, when a group of
Republican legislators tried to hold the budget to $32 Billion. This
year, the Republican House presented first a $39.9 then finally a
$41.8 B Budget, including tax expenditures i.e. tax credits and
other mechanisms for lowering or even phasing out taxes. The
final number that was passed was $42 Billion, with a $373 Million
bonding bill
And that brings us to this years scorecard. There are very few
faces on our front cover. And none from the House. We do
want to give honorable mention to these House members who
managed to get a passing grade on this year/s scorecard: .

Representative
Eric Lucero
R-Dayton
30-B

Representative
Jim Nash
R-Waconia
47-A

Representative
Jim Newberger
R-Becker
15-B

Representative
Pat Garofalo
R-Farmington
58-B

Representative
Jerry Hertaus
R-Greenfield
33-A

Representative
Cindy Pugh
R-Chanhassen
33-B

What didnt happen in the 2015 Legislative Session?

No Gas Tax The House GOP, which held this position, stood strong against Governor Dayton and the Senate DFLers. But it came
at a price of no real reform in this funding area. The Republicans had proposed a transportation bill that realigned dedicated funds
to spending priorities in infrastructure like roads and bridges and away from metro area transit, where it has been focused in the
past several years. In an effort to end the session, the DFL Senate and the Republican House compromised on a lights on bill with
increased and rearranged spending and NO GAS TAX.
No Reduction in State Spending. As previously mentioned, the budget bills that were agreed to by the House and Senate left about
a billion and a half dollars on the bottom line unspent that could have gone to tax relief. The standoff between the Governor and the
Legislature and differences between the two bodies meant more spending.
No Met Council Reform. There were several bills and provisions in bills that changed the way that the Met Council is funded and the
way its governed. They would have made the Met Council more accountable to local governments. None of these made it all the way
through the process. They all are being sent back to their committee of origin to start the journey over next session. House Speaker
Daudt created a subcommittee on the Met Council in the House, chaired by Rep. Linda Runbeck specifically for the purpose of crafting
and hearing bills on this topic. The Governor does not seem to be interested in any changes, however, which will make it hard to do any
kind of reform.
No Tax reform or reduction. There was no change at all on taxes without a tax omnibus bill. The Governor made it clear he wasnt
interested signing a tax bill and efforts at negotiations stalled. Both the House and Senate bills had tax relief for ordinary Minnesotans.
The House bill had a family tax credit and credit for student loans. It also had a phase out of the tax on Social Security Benefits that
would have helped seniors, which along with bringing the Estate tax down to the federal level would have encouraged more of them to
stay in Minnesota.

Minnesota State Government Spending Per Person (2015 Dollars)

All Funds

General Fund

Sources: MMB Consolidated Fund Statement August 11, 2015. General and All Funds Spending from 1960. CPI from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and Minnesota Population from the Minnesota State Demographic Center..
B

Taxpayers League of Minnesota

2015 Minnesota House of Representatives Scorecard

Albright, Tony
Allen, Susan
Anderson, Mark
Anderson, Sarah
Anderson, Paul
Anzelc, Tom
Applebaum, Jon
Atkins, Joe
Backer, Jeff
Baker, Dave
Barrett, Bob
Bennett, Peggy
Bernardy, Connie
Bly, David
Carlson., Lyndon
Christensen, Drew
Clark, Karen
Considine, Jack
Cornish, Tony
Daniels, Brian
Daudt, Kurt
Davids, Greg
Davnie, Jim
Dean, Matt
Dehn, Raymond
Dettmer, Bob
Dill, David
Drazkowski, Steve
Erhardt, Ron
Erickson, Sondra
Fabian, Dan
Fenton, Kelly
Fischer, Peter
Franson, Mary
Freiberg, Mike
Garofalo, Pat
Green, Steve
Gruenhagen, Glenn
Gunther, Bob
Hackbarth, Tom
Halverson, Laurie
Hamilton, Rod
Hancock, Dave
Hansen, Rick
Hausman, Alice
Heintzeman, Josh
Hertaus, Jerry
Hilstrom, Debra
Hoppe, Joe
Hornstein, Frank
Hortman, Melissa
Howe, Jeff
Isaacson, Jason
Johnson, Brian
Johnson, Clark
Johnson, Sheldon
Kahn, Phyllis
Kelly, Tim
Kiel, Debra
Knoblach, Jim
Koznick, Jon
Kresha, Ron
Laine, Carolyn
Lenczewski, Ann
Lesch, John
Liebling, Tina
Lien, Ben

1
A
A
+
A
A
A
+
A
+
-

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
- - + - - - + + A
A A A A + + - + +
A - + + - - A + +
A - + - - - A + +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - + + - +
A - + - - + A - +
A - + - A A - - +
- - + - - - + - +
- A A A - - + - +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - - + - +
+ - + - + + - - +
+ - + - - + - - +
- - + - - + - - +
- - + + - - + + +
A - + - + + - - +
- - + - + + - - +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - - + + +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - + + - - +
+ - + + - - + - +
A - - - - + A - +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - A A + - +
A - + + - - A + +
- - + - - + - - +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - - + - +
+ - + - - - + + +
+ - + - - + - - +
- - A + - - + + +
- - + - - + - + +
+ - + + - - + + +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - - + - +
- - - + - - + - +
- - + - - + - - +
- - + - - - + - +
+ - + - - - + + +
+ - + - + + - - +
- - + - + + - + +
- - + - - - + - +
+ - + + - - + + +
A - + - + + - - +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - + + - + +
A - + - - + A - +
- - + - - - + A +
- - A - - + - A +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - + - + +
- - + - + + - - +
- - + - A A - + +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - - - + + +
+ - - - A A + - +
- - + + - - + + +
- - + - - - + - +
- - + - + + - - +
- - + - + + - - +
+ - + - + + - - +
- - + - + + - + +
- - + - - + - + +

11 12
+ + 42 78
- - 33 17
+ A 42 68
+ + 42 81
+ + 42 71
- - 42 6
- - 25 0
- - 17 8
+ + 42 42
+ + 33 33
+ + 42 75
+ + 42 42
- - 42 10
- - 33 8
- - 25 18
+ + 58 58
- - 33 12
- - 33 33
- + 33 56
+ + 42 42
+ + 50 85
+ + 42 64
- - 33 13
+ + 58 83
- - 17 8
+ + 42 84
- - 25 9
+ + 50 87
- + 33 13
+ + 42 82
+ + 42 48
+ + 58 58
- - 33 13
+ + 50 78
- - 33 13
+ + 67 77
+ + 42 75
+ + 50 85
+ + 42 66
+ + 42 79
- - 25 11
+ + 42 63
+ + 58 75
- - 42 10
- - 42 12
+ + 42 42
+ + 67 88
- - 33 13
+ + 42 80
- - 42 12
- - 25 9
+ + 42 78
- - 17 8
+ + 42 78
- - 33 13
- - 33 12
- - 25 12
+ + 42 60
+ + 50 70
+ + 42 31
+ + 58 58
+ + 42 70
- - 33 7
- - 33 33
- - 50 14
- - 42 18
- + 42 10

Dist
43B
60A
39B
48B
55A
30B
10B
57A
67A
65B
04B
51A
29A
54B
06A
06B
17A
65A
59A
03B
64A
47A
40A
15B
37A
08A
25B
13B
29B
28A
34A
05A
24A
56B
26B
64B
27B
33B
25A
11B
49B
38A
37B
54A
22A
07A
35B
48A
07B
50A
34B
11A
16A
14A
61B
16B
36A
18A
20A
63B
53A
35A
57B
46A
42A
46B
30A

DFL
DFL
R
R
R
R
R
R
DFL
DFL
DFL
DFL
R
R
DFL
DFL
R
DFL
DFL
DFL
DFL
R
DFL
R
DFL
R
DFL
R
R
DFL
R
DFL
R
R
R
DFL
DFL
R
R
R
DFL
R
R
DFL
R
DFL
R
DFL
DFL
DFL
R
DFL
R
R
DFL
R
R
R
R
DFL
DFL
R
R
DFL
DFL
DFL
R

Lillie, Leon
Loeffler, Diane
Lohmer, Kathy
Loon, Jenifer
Loonan, Bob
Lucero, Eric
Lueck, Dale
Mack, Tara
Mahoney, Tim
Mariani, Carlos
Marquart, Paul
Masin, Sandra
McDonald, Joe
McNamara, Denny
Melin, Carly
Metsa, Jason
Miller, Tim
Moran, Rena
Mullery, Joe
Murphy, Mary
Murphy, Erin
Nash, Jim
Nelson, Michael
Newberger, Jim
Newton, Jerry
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
O'Driscoll, Tim
O'Neill, Marion
Pelowski Jr., Gene
Peppin, Joyce
Persell, John
Petersburg, John
Peterson, Roz
Pierson, Nels
Pinto, Dave
Poppe, Jeanne
Pugh, Cindy
Quam, Duane
Rarick, Jason
Rosenthal, Paul
Runbeck, Linda
Sanders, Tim
Schoen, Dan
Schomacker, Joe
Schultz, Jennifer
Scott, Peggy
Selcer, Yvonne
Simonson, Erik
Slocum, Linda
Smith, Dennis
Sundin, Mike
Swedzinski, Chris
Theis, Tama
Thissen, Paul
Torkelson, Paul
Uglem, Mark
Urdahl, Dean
Vogel, Bob
Wagenius, Jean
Ward, JoAnn
Whelan, Abigail
Wills, Anna
Winkler, Ryan
Yarusso, Barb
Youakim, Cheryl
Zerwas, Nick

1
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
-

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - + - + + - - - + - + + - +
- - + - - - + - - + - - - + +
- - + - - - + +
+ - + + - - + +
- - + - - - + A - + - - - A - - + - - + - - - + - + + - - - + - + + - - - + - - + - + A A A - - + - - + - - - + +
- - + - - + + - - + - - + + - - + - - - + +
- - - - + + - + - + - + + - - - + - + + - - - + - - + - + - + + - - + +
+ - + - - + - - - + + - - + +
- - + - - + - +
- - + - - - + +
- - + - - + - +
- - + - - - + + - + - - - + +
- - + - - + - - - - + - - + +
- - + - + + - - - + - - - + +
- - + - - - + +
- - + - - - + +
- - + - + + - - - + - - + - + - + + - - + +
+ - + + - - + - - + - - - + - - + - - + - - - + - - - + +
- - + - - - + +
- - + - + + - - - + - - - + + - + - + + - + - + - - - + +
+ - R - - + - +
+ - + - + + - - - + - + + - - - - - - - + +
A - + - + + A - - + - - - + - - + - - - + - - + - + + + - - + - - - + - - + - - - + - - + - - - + - - + - - - + +
- - + - + + - + - + - + + - + - + - - - + +
- - + - - - + +
- - + - - + - - - + - - + - +
A - + - - + A - - + - - - + +

10
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

Life%

R
DFL
R
R
R
DFL
DFL
DFL
R
R
R
R
DFL
DFL
DFL
R
DFL
DFL
R
R
R
R
DFL
R
DFL
R
DFL
R
DFL
R
R
R
DFL
R
DFL
R
R
R
R
R
DFL
R
R
DFL
DFL
R
R
DFL
R
DFL
DFL
R
DFL
R
DFL
DFL
DFL
R
R
R
R
R
DFL
DFL
DFL
DFL
DFL

2015

55B
62B
09A
44A
12B
05B
44B
52B
12A
17B
32B
27A
41A
20B
45A
56A
62A
19B
23B
24B
31A
28B
63A
38B
59B
39A
03A
21B
49A
15A
01A
53B
43A
08B
45B
58B
02B
18B
23A
31B
51B
22B
02A
52A
66A
10A
33A
40B
47B
61A
36B
13A
42B
32A
19A
67B
60B
21A
01B
14B
58A
09B
41B
50B
66B
26A
04A

Life%

Dist

2015

taxpayersleague.org/scorecards

11 12
- - 33 9
- - 42 12
+ + 42 77
+ + 50 79
+ + 50 50
+ + 75 75
+ + 42 42
+ + 33 74
- - 25 13
- - 33 9
- - 33 22
- - 25 9
+ + 42 70
+ + 50 65
- - 42 10
- - 33 8
+ + 50 50
- - 25 7
- - 42 17
- - 33 5
- - 33 13
+ + 67 67
- - 33 11
+ + 67 90
- - 33 9
+ + 50 69
- + 42 18
+ + 42 72
+ + 58 85
- + 33 24
+ + 50 89
- - 33 6
+ + 50 75
+ + 50 50
+ + 50 50
- - 42 42
- + 33 11
+ + 67 88
+ + 58 87
+ + 42 42
- + 33 16
A + 42 80
+ + 50 79
- - 33 13
+ + 42 70
- - 50 50
+ + 58 87
- + 42 18
- - 42 15
- - 33 7
+ + 42 42
- - 33 8
+ + 42 72
+ + 42 37
- - 50 11
+ + 42 76
+ + 42 65
+ + 42 62
+ + 50 50
- - 33 10
- - 42 15
+ + 58 58
+ + 50 78
- - 25 8
- - 33 13
- - 25 25
+ + 50 83

9/17/15

Vote Descriptions

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.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13 14 15 16 17 18

+
+
A
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
A
+
+
A
+
+
+
A
A
+
+
+
+
A
A
+
+
-

+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
A
+
A
-

+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

A
+
A
+
A
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

A
A
+
A
A
+
A
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

77
31
92
8
46
23
100
23
23
23
23
38
31
23
31
23
46
23
69
8
100
85
15
23
38
62
54
23
23
31
85
8
0
77
23
31
15
38
38
85
69
85
100
15
54
92
54
23
23
38
69
23
31
23
54
8
31
23
31
23
100
23
31
54
62
15
23

HF= House File/SF=Senate File

LEGEND: += Pro-taxpayer vote; = anti-taxpayer vote A= did
not vote R= Did not vote due to a conflict of interest.
All scores except for amendments were bills voted on re-passage.
Lifetime scores are calculated from a members first session, through
all sessions served or the first scorecard in 1997.

Life%

Dist
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

2015

2014
2015 Minnesota senate Scorecard
90
16
93
20
69
28
92
2
12
9
9
64
11
10
11
10
68
21
85
7
90
91
7
7
15
76
67
15
10
15
78
10
12
90
9
17
12
53
59
89
85
87
100
6
62
90
76
10
24
60
83
9
15
21
65
7
11
17
16
14
95
13
8
73
63
18
10

1. MILLIONS ON TOP OF BILLIONS for EDUCATION $3 Million more into the education bureaucracy on top of scheduled

budget increases. The taxpayer friendly vote was NO. (HF 1 Special Session)
2. MORE MONEY ON THE STATES CREDIT CARD This is a budget year, not a bonding year. There was no emergency
funding in this bill. With a $2 (now 2.5) B surplus why go into more debt? The taxpayer friendly (and your
grandchildrens) vote was NO. (HF 2 Special Session)
3. ADDING REGULATION TO INNOVATIVE RIDESHARING BUSINESSES This bill creates new regulations for networked
ridesharing businesses like Uber and Lyft . The taxpayer friendly and free market vote was NO. (HF1679)
4. PUTTING A STOP TO THE RUNAWAY STATE LOTTERY The legislature stopped the State Lottery from selling tickets online
and at gas pumps . They challenged the fact that the Lottery director had authorization to do so. Taxpayer friendly, stop
out of control government vote was YES. (SF 299)
5. MORE PAY INCREASES FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS State workers contracts passed this year continued automatic pay
increases and no pay for performance reform. Taxpayer friendly vote was a NO. (SF 280)
6. MNSURE DISASTER ROLLS ON, CLAIMS VICTIMS Of all the disappointments of the 2015 session, not closing down or
really modifying MNsure in any meaningful way has got to be the most stunning. There was testimony that MNsure screwups actually caused peoples deaths. And still all the taxpayers got was another task force. Taxpayer friendly vote was
to say NO to this mess. (SF 1458)
7. VETOED EDUCATION BILL: MORE MONEY DIDNT MAKE IT BETTER Pumping more money into the system without reform
has not resulted in improvement. The Taxpayer friendly vote was NO. (SF 844)
8. HOUSE PUSHES BACK 11TH HOUR ATTEMPT BY SENATE TO KILL JOBS IN NORTHERN MN The Senate stripped out two mining
friendly provisions of the compromise Agriculture/Environment Bill. This amendment RESTORED those provisions in the
bill back to the original agreement. The taxpayer friendly and jobs friendly vote was YES. (HF 5 Special Session HOUSE
ONLY --McNamara Amendment.)
9. COMMUNITIES COULD CHOOSE SUNDAY ALCOHOL SALES This amendment came after consideration of a complete
legalization of Sunday sales and would have been a decent compromise, leading to the final result of more choice for
Minnesotans on how to procure booze for the Vikings game. Taxpayer and freedom loving vote was YES. (SF 1238
HOUSE ONLY Drazkowski Amendment)
10. NOBODY WANTS A GAS TAX, AT LEAST IN THE MN HOUSE. The GOP House Leadership put up this amendment on the
Governors Gas Tax proposed increase. Not one member of either caucus voted for it. Taxpayer friendly vote was NO.
(HF 848 House Version McNamara Amendment)
11. EDUCATION REFORM WILL HAVE TO WAIT The House passed this Education Reform bill affecting teacher tenure. The
Last in First Out rule (Often referred to as LIFO) makes seniority the most important factor in teacher retention when
layoffs occur. The Taxpayer and kid friendly vote was YES. (HF 1 --HOUSE ONLY)
12. MINIMUM WAGE,INCREASE ALREADY PASSED WOULD INCLUDE TIP CREDIT Businesses that employ minimum wage
workers such as restaurants ask, why not take into account that some minimum wage workers make vastly more than
minimum wage through their tips. A hot button issue of the 2010 election, tip credit was DOA in the Senate. The job
friendly vote was YES. )(HF 1027HOUSE ONLY)
13. 11TH HOUR ATTEMPT BY METROCRATS IN THE SENATE TO KILL JOBS IN NORTHERN MN (See Vote #8) This was the
amendment that stripped those provisions. The taxpayer friendly and jobs friendly vote was NO. (HF 5 Special Session
HOUSE ONLY Marty Amendment.)
14. MORE TAX INCREASES? This Senate bill contained Governor Daytons transportation plan for new a new gas tax metrowide sales tax increase to pay for transit. Why cant government prioritize spending to pay for roads and bridges instead
of increasing taxes? Taxpayer friendly vote was NO. (HF 4SENATE ONLY)
15. NO MORE NEW LIGHT RAIL LINES WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL The County Transit Investment Board and the Met
Council do preliminary work for light rail lines. Eventually they come to the legislature for approval and actual funding but
with the argument that money has already been spent. This amendment would have put a stop to that. Taxpayer friendly
vote was NO. (SF 1647 Osmek AmendmentSENATE ONLY)
16. MAKE MINNESOTAS PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SET PRIORITIES . The colleges and universities asked for
increases in their budgets and the legislature tried to get them to address their costs. The universities and colleges
threatened n to raise tuition, something that they knew would be deeply unpopular. While not a solution to the problem,
this amendment would force a tuition freeze for one year. Taxpayer friendly vote was YES. (HF 5 Ortman Amendment
SENATE ONLY)
17. NO TAX REFORM THIS YEAR No tax bill made it through the entire process this year. The House and Senate bills were
quite different from each other. The Senate bill had no significant tax relief or reform and so Taxpayer friendly vote was
NO. (HF 848 --SENATE ONLY)
18. THE LINE FORMS AT THE RIGHT In the past 10 years we have seen two new baseball stadiums and two new football
stadiums get built in the Twin Cities. Now Soccer wants one. Why cant the owners find their own investors to fund it just
like any other business rather than asking for taxpayer money? (SF 888 Peterson AmendmentSenate ONLY)

our mission...

The Taxpayers League stands up for Minnesota taxpayers by championing lower taxes,
limited government, local control, and free enterprise through nonpartisan grassroots
advocacy and full empowerment of taxpaying citizens.

our Vision...

The Taxpayers League advocates for prosperity by fighting to reduce and reform
taxation, eliminate government waste, and improve efficiency. It serves
as a strong voice for all taxpaying citizens in Minnesota. We publish the
Harold Hamilton,
Chairman of the Board,
Taxpayers League Scorecard, sponsor a Taxpayers Freedom Rally at
Taxpayers League of
the state capitol and promote the Taxpayers League Protection Pledge,
Minnesota
a pledge for candidates and office holders to their constitutents that
they will oppose increasing taxes. We also keep taxpayers informed about fiscal issues
through social media and a podcast.

Join Us

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. Please send your gift
to Taxpayers League of Minnesota PO Box 2270262 Minneapolis, MN 5541 or go to
taxpayersleague.org and donate online.

facebook.com/taxpayersleague

Ted Lillie, President of the

Taxpayers League of Minnesota

@taxpayersleague

HAS YOUR LEGISLATOR MADE A PLEDGE TO YOU?

THE Taxpayers Protection Pledge
I _______________pledge to taxpayers of the District ______ of Minnesota and all of the people of this State
that I will oppose any and all efforts to raise taxes.
Signature____________________________________________Date_________________
Witness______________________________________________Date________________
This pledge is for legislators and any officials elected in single member districts.

The 2016 No New Gas Tax Pledge

I _______________pledge to taxpayers of the District ______ of Minnesota and all of the people of this State
that I will oppose any and all efforts to raise the gas tax in the 2016 session.
Signature_____________________________________________ Date_________________
Witness_______________________________________________Date_________________
This pledge is for legislators and any officials elected in single member districts.