District 27A candidates explain views

Published 9:26 am Friday, October 17, 2008

Robin Brown

Age: 47

Address: 27667 Mower-Freeborn Road, Moscow Township, Austin, MN 55912

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1. How should the state government find more funds for local government aid to benefit outstate Minnesota local governments?

Local government aid is a program that provides additional state revenue to local governments in an effort to reduce local property taxes. I voted to increase local government aid by $60 million during my first two years in the Legislature. Minnesota needs to grow our economy by increasing the number of good-paying jobs by making our state more competitive with corporate and income taxes to attract and maintain business. I have demonstrated a strong voting record with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce to create a single factor corporate tax formula for manufacturing facilities and to extend the JOBZ program.

Southern Minnesota has lost thousands of jobs to Iowa because Iowa has a single-factor corporate tax formula that only assesses corporate taxes on products manufactured and sold in Iowa. For an example, John Deere provides thousands of good-paying union jobs yet only is assessed corporate taxes on farm equipment that is manufactured and sold in Iowa. I will continue to vote on legislation that will make Minnesota friendlier to corporations and small businesses. This will then allow Minnesota to reduce the property tax rates in southern Minnesota by increasing local government aid.

2. What should be done to make school funding more equitable in Minnesota?

The current school funding formula is inadequate and unfair to southern Minnesota schools. Metro schools spend thousands more per student due to their large property tax base and the unfair distribution of compensatory revenue. Students should be funded equally regardless of where they reside. The current 32-page funding formula needs to be simplified. I currently serve on three education committees and am co-author of a bill to overhaul the school funding formula. I recently co-chaired a public hearing at Albert Lea High School to hear local testimony regarding the proposed legislation.

I believe that a well-educated public is the foundation of a high quality of life society. I believe there is a direct link between a well-educated public and lower crime rates and social service costs. Education is directly connected to the economic development of our region. Local property taxes could be reduced if the state adequately funded K-12 public education including all special education costs and all day everyday kindergarten. Minnesota needs to grow our economy by increasing the number of good-paying jobs by making our state more competitive with corporate and income taxes to attract and maintain business in order to adequately and fairly fund public education.

3. Do you support or oppose the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment?

I co-authored the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment and voted in the Minnesota House of Representatives to place this proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot. Voters will now have the opportunity to decide whether this proposed amendment should be placed in the Minnesota Constitution. It will ask voters to increase the state’s sales tax three/eighths of a percent and dedicate it to conservation, natural resources and cultural heritage. The new money would be split 33 percent for habitat/natural resources, 33 percent for clean water, 14.25 percent for parks and trails, and 19.75 percent for arts/cultural heritage. The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council was created to make recommendations on the habitat and natural resources portion of the new funding and a conservation partners program to encourage private-sector involvement, which many outdoors groups requested.

Passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment would provide additional revenue to Freeborn and Mower counties to improve water quality, to build and maintain parks and trails and for arts and cultural heritage. While visiting homes in each of the 24 towns in District 27A, I have listened to constituents express their support for clean water, parks and trails and the fine arts.

4. Should the Job Opportunity Building Zone program be changed? If so, how?

I am a strong supporter of the Job Opportunity Building Zone program. On May 5, 2008 (HJP 11292), I voted for an amendment by Rep. Dean Simpson to extend the JOBZ program. This amendment would have allowed new businesses entering JOBZ to receive 11 years of benefits. Current JOBZ benefits sunset in 2015, limiting the number of years that new business are eligible. The JOBZ program has proven to be beneficial to rural Minnesota and more specifically to Freeborn County.

A business tax break is an investment of state financial resources that should result in the creation and retention of good paying jobs for Minnesotans. This will result in the generation of additional income and sales tax revenue to the state that can be recycled for additional business and corporate tax incentives.

I support eliminating any secrecy surrounding the implementation of JOBZ. Governments are held responsible to account for every dollar spent on wages, benefits, goods and services. Business tax breaks are another version of government expenditures and should therefore be publicly accounted for.

Minnesota needs to continue to grow our economy by increasing the number of good paying jobs by providing a friendlier business climate.

5. What would you do to bolster the attractiveness of Minnesota to companies?

As your state representative, I will continue to focus on the big issues facing Minnesota to bolster the attractiveness of Minnesota to companies: economic development, quality education, safe roads and bridges, affordable and assessable health care, and an environment worthy of our children.

As your state representative, I will continue to work across party lines with members of the House and Senate and the governor to create a friendlier business climate that will result in the creation of good-paying jobs.

I will continue to support JOBZ and a single-factor corporate tax formula for manufacturing companies along with a fairer tax structure for all Minnesotans.

I will continue to promote fully funded K-12 public schools that will result in significant savings in cost avoidance of prisons and increased welfare costs.

I will continue to support a clean and healthy environment in the workplace and in nature. We can significantly reduce health care costs with healthier life habits such reducing smoking, diabetes and heart disease as we promote the use of our lakes, parks and trails.

I will continue to support adequate funding of our transportation infrastructure along with members of the Farm Bureau and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

6. What are your views on the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?

Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

I am a firm supporter of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I am a current member of the National Rifle Association and was proud to receive the endorsement of the NRA when I first ran for state representative in 2006. I recently earned a grade of “A-” with the NRA on its 2008 legislative questionnaire.

Minnesota has a strong tradition of responsible hunters and fishermen. I am proud of our heritage. I am proud to support responsible gun ownership by Minnesota citizens and will continue to support the constitutional right of the people to keep and bear arms.

Those individuals that break gun laws and misuse the right to own guns should be punished to the full extent of the law. Responsible gun owners should be left alone by local and state government officials. In 2008 I voted on an amendment supporting the right to keep, bear and use arms (HJP 9755).

7. What leverage would you have to improve the condition of roads in southern Minnesota?

Citizens of Freeborn and Mower counties deserve safe roads and bridges.

The legislative auditors report showed the state was annually $2.4 billion behind in maintaining its transportation system. I was part of a bipartisan group of legislators (Democrats and Republicans) that overrode the governor’s veto of a $6.4 billion (over 10 years) transportation package.

The Minnesota gas tax had not been increased for 20 years, yet the cost of asphalt, concrete, steel, gravel, sand, construction equipment and labor have experienced significant increases.

Distribution of additional revenue: $3.3 billion to MnDOT projects, $1.4 billion to counties, $364 million to cities, $1.2 billion for Metro Transit programs and $57 million for Greater Minnesota transit programs. This will create 30,000 new transportation jobs every year for the next five years.

The comprehensive transportation bill will provide new funding for local roads and bridges that local governments have been bankrolling for years.

District 27A will receive: $2.3 million for Albert Lea, $10 million for Freeborn County and $12 million for Mower County.

Interstate highway bridges should not fall down and county bridges should not be washed away. I will continue to support safe roads and bridges for the citizens of Freeborn and Mower counties.

8. Where do you think cuts can be made in the state budget?

As your state representative, I will work across party lines with members of the House, Senate and the governor to generate a comprehensive plan for the future of Minnesota. One of the ways to significantly reduce state spending is to identify programs and processes that will create cost avoidance.

For an example, we all know the saying, “It costs more money to send one person to the state pen that it does to Penn State.” Studies suggest that 70 percent of prison inmates are illiterate. Further, students who cannot read by third grade are unlikely to be able to read well by 12th grade.

We know that many high school dropouts end up on welfare and in the court system. Studies show that for every $1 spent on early childhood programs will save $17 in future cost avoidance i.e. welfare, crime, and prisons.

We can no longer continue to experience double-digit growth in the state budget. Our economy and our tax base will simply not be able to sustain the rapid growth in state government. State government needs to become more proactive rather than reactive.

We need to start investing our tax dollars where they do the most good.

9. Please tell us why voters should pick you:

I love Minnesota. This has been a great state for my family of six grown children and husband. I have developed a reputation in providing timely and quality constituent service. In addition to personally visiting nearly 10,000 homes this year, I personally answer phone calls, letters and e-mails and have conducted a series of town meetings throughout the district. I have developed good working relations with city, county, township and school officials.

As a professional educator, small business owner, married mother of six adult children and current state representative, I have demonstrated a variety of leadership skills that have made me an effective legislator. I have demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively across party lines and have formed strong positive relationships with other legislators and the governor.

I have fulfilled my 2006 campaign promise to focus on the big issues facing our district and our state: jobs and economic development, quality education, safe roads and bridges, affordable and assessable health care, an environment worthy of our children.

I have personally visited every home in each of the 24 towns in District 27A. I fully understand the needs of District 27A. I would appreciate your vote on Nov. 4.

Erik Larsen

Age: 49

Address: 217 Ridge Road, Albert Lea, MN 56007

1. How should the state government find more funds for local government aid to benefit outstate Minnesota local governments?

Under the current economic climate and with the high probability of large revenue shortfalls, it is unlikely there will be more funds available for LGA. In fact, it is likely there will be great pressure to cut LGA as the state tries to address its own needs. This is reality, and we have to be prepared to face it. With the budget difficulties we face we need to make sure LGA goes to the intended purposes, such as infrastructure needs that small cities cannot meet and not to simply cover the city’s budget.

At the same time, the state must roll back, and not pass any new, unfunded mandates. If they are not going to pay for it, they should not tell us what we have to do.

2. What should be done to make school funding more equitable in Minnesota?

The inequity in school funding is largely rooted in the funding formulas. They are very complex and always favor the urban school districts. The last school funding bill in 2006 compounded the inequity problem. The new “2nd Minnesota Miracle” education bill being proposed does not address the issue either. The 2nd Miracle includes a line item of $156 million of new money for the urban schools (rural schools get nothing) and the bill is fiscally unrealistic.

The funding formulas must be addressed. The difficulty lies in the political power base that is located in and constantly supports the urban schools at the expense of greater Minnesota schools. A child in poverty in Albert Lea should not be short-funded relative to a child in Minneapolis.

Another part of the answer is to remove the windmill tax offset. Revenue generated from wind energy has the potential to provide significant help to our school districts. The offset was to be removed but mysteriously reappeared in the 11th hour by urban House and Senate leaders Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Larry Pogemiller.

I will reach out to all rural Minnesota House representatives, regardless of party affiliation and lead the effort to bring equal school funding.

3. Do you support or oppose the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment?

I oppose. As a hunter and a regular boater, swimmer, water skier on our local lakes I am all for habitat protection and clean water. However, the constitution is not the place to set taxing or spending policy. The amendment would set a president for other special interest groups to set up constitutionally dedicated funding (education, snowmobilers, you name it). The amendment would reduce flexibility for the legislators to deal with budgetary needs. We elect legislators to do the job of debating and deciding the best allocation of funds.

4. Should the Job Opportunity Building Zone program be changed? If so, how?

Fundamentally the JOBZ program should remain. JOBZ has been a valuable tool in attracting new jobs to our area. Larson Manufacturing, Albert Lea Select Foods and many others are here because of JOBZ. JOBZ needs to be extended so we can offer a full 12 years of benefits.

Virtually all programs need to be adjusted to address unintended consequences. We need to work to create better procedures and policies to make sure we have fairness and consistency in the application of the program.

5. What would you do to bolster the attractiveness of Minnesota to companies?

When we shop for a car or house, we look for the best deal. Businesses do the same thing.

Minnesota adds substantial costs to doing business. High taxes, a complex and uneven tax code, excessive regulations and uncertainty about what policies will be in the future all contribute to making Minnesota unattractive. Simply put, a business can get a better deal in a neighboring state.

Minnesota simply needs to decide that it wants to be a job state and focus its energy on accomplishing that task. As your state representative I will take the lead on making Minnesota competitive with our neighbors. Simple things like streamlining permitting and inspections can go a long way toward improving the business climate.

With a competitive state environment, Freeborn and Mower counties can attract more jobs.

6. What are your views on the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
Commissioner District 1

Commissioner District 3

Commissioner District 5

Albert Lea City Council 1st Ward

Albert Lea City Council 3rd Ward

Albert Lea City Council 5th Ward

Albert Lea Mayor

The Second Amendment reads, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

The Second Amendment is crystal clear. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This goes well beyond a right to have guns for hunting and sporting events. It involves the right to self-defense and even, if necessary, to keep the government honest.

I believe in and support the Second Amendment.

7. What leverage would you have to improve the condition of roads in southern Minnesota?

The true answer to this issue is to have the rural legislators, regardless of party, work together to achieve better funding for the vital road and bridge infrastructure that brings our goods and services to market.

When it comes to road funding, again, we have formulas that determine how the money is allocated. Metro legislators push for formulas that allocate transportation monies based on miles traveled. Greater Minnesota has fewer miles traveled, but more miles of roads to repair.

Ultimately speaking we need to rely on our experts (county and city engineers) to set priories. Personally I will seek their input and work hard in St. Paul to secure the funding needed to keep our roads and bridges safe and in good repair.

8. Where do you think cuts can be made in the state budget?

All areas of the budget need to be up for review. The state needs to operate like you run your home, if you don’t have the money, don’t spend it. Like your family budget, the state needs to set priorities.

An obvious area the state can review is welfare. Welfare makes up nearly 30 percent of the state budget and continues to grow faster than the rest of the budget. It is also an abused system. Minnesota is overly generous on our welfare programs, especially compared to neighboring states. Welfare is supposed to be a safety net, not a hammock.

There should be regular reviews of departments and their programs to evaluate their cost effectiveness. Programs not meeting performance standards need to be eliminated or modified to meet standards.

9. Please tell us why voters should pick you:

In my life I have worked for small businesses and big businesses, I have been self-employed and owned a small business. I have worked blue collar and white collar. In my current position with the National Federation of Independent Business, I meet with small business owners every day learning about their concerns and the issues they face on a daily basis.

As the son of an Air Force officer I have had the opportunity to experience all parts of this great country and lived in Europe. Even though Albert Lea was always considered home, by the age of 25, I had live on the East Coast, the West Coast, the South and the North, the Plains and the Mountains, England and Germany, and traveled the South Pacific. In 1985 I moved back to Albert Lea, which makes me the fourth generation of my family to live and work in our district.

My life experience gives me a very broad perspective. I have the ability to see things from more than one angle and I understand what it takes to create new private sector jobs. Above all else we need to reverse our population loss and grow.