When considering whether to vote for Rich Murray on Nov. 2, please consider the following:

Fifty-five minutes prior to the expiration of the 2009 legislative session, the Tax Conference Committee approved a committee report, which was then sent to the floor at 11:30 p.m. to an astonished and agitated group of legislators. This bill was then pushed through by Robin Brown and her caucus. Brown even voted to cut off debate so they could pass the bill a few minutes prior to the constitutionally required deadline.

The bill that Robin Brown voted for contained a $1 billion tax increase and a $1.7 billion K-12 payment shift. The tax increases included a new tier creating the fourth highest tax rate in the country, eliminated K-12 and child and dependant care credits and taxed music downloads, heating fuel, beer, snowmobiles and ATVs.

Remember, Robin Brown voted yes on this bill.

How about this one? Robin Brown and her caucus voted to send a tax and spending bill to conference committee with blank spending amounts in the bill. Talk about writing a blank check!

This unprecedented action allowed a few metro legislators control over the spending process. Robin Brown supported this political gamesmanship. We need a representative who will fight against politics as usual and for our district.

If we keep sending the same people to St. Paul, how can we expect different results? Vote Rich Murray on Nov. 2.

Erik Larsen

Albert Lea