Law Makers Vote To End Program For Poor And Use The Money For Corporate Tax Breaks (Video and Audio included)
April 2, 2010
Minnesota State Capitol
Marty Owings
EDITORIAL
This week at the Capitol, as Law Makers hurried to get their work done before the Easter break, the media hardly took notice when a $30 million dollar program for the poor was cut and the money was used for Corporate tax breaks. It was a page right out of the old Robin Hood story book, the difference here is that Robin Hood, in the form of the Legislature, robbed from the poor and gave to the rich.
Specifically, Law Makers voted to repeal the Low Income Motor Fuels Tax Credit, which provides poor Minnesotan's with a tax refund/credit for money they spend on transportation. The bill shifted the money to a number of programs that included a 5% reduction in the 1st tier Corporate tax rate, a corporate tax refund, 5% reduction in taxes for small business and a Small Business Investment Refundable Tax Credit among others. The measure was part of the larger Tax bill authored by Rep. Ann Lenczewski (DFL) who is also the powerful House Tax Committee Chair.
I spoke to a Law Maker who requested not to go on the record and said that some Legislators felt a few dollars on individual refunds for the poor, was not as important as funding a so called jobs bill. Another Legislator, who also asked to remain anonymous, said that the measure succeeded in the DFL controlled House because Unions pushed hard for the change, adding that Unions were ready to do just about anything to get their workers off the bench and back on the job. The same Law Maker said it was also done to appease Governor Pawlenty who asked for the change. I was unable to confirm this with the Governor's office.
When the measure came up on the House floor for debate, two Law Maker's voiced strong opposition to the change, including Representative Jeff Hayden (DFL) and Bobby Joe Champion (DFL) who implored their fellow Law Makers to vote against the measure. Champion stated passionately, "We are in the peoples house and that doesn't just represent certain segments of our community, but it should be all of the peoples house". Champion was upset that his fellow DFLer's were supporting a cut to yet another program for the poor.
Champion has every right to be upset. During the past two Legislative sessions alone, programs for low income, children, elderly, disabled and even homeless people have been slashed disproportionately when compared to cuts in other areas of the state budget. For instance, cuts to these areas alone last year represented more than 70% of the overall reduction to the state budget.
Rep. Jeff Hayden (DFL) who represents Minneapolis also expressed his concern when he remarked on the floor that since coming to the Legislature, the one thing he can be certain of is cutting programs for the poor. Hayden added that he found the actions of his fellow Law Makers, "difficult to understand".
Whatever their motivations were, the House passed the measure 78 to 54. Passing a bill that not only cuts another program for the poor, but gives the proceeds to corporate tax breaks, means that more than a few DFL Legislators ignored their own stated conscience. The choice they made was more than symbolic though, in a very real sense they chose to add insult to injury for a group of Minnesotan's who are already without much of a voice at the Capitol.
These are troubling times for Minnesota, but it is also a time of opportunity for Legislators to show character. Every session at the Capitol there are a few opportunities for each party, regardless of ideology, to illustrate character by matching their words with their votes. At the bottom of this page is a complete list of Law Makers and their votes on the measure.
Here is video of Rep. Champion's (DFL) floor speech and my audio interview with him and Rep. Hayden (DFL) that followed.
Video Courtesy of TheUptake.org http://theuptake.org/
Here is the Full Audio interview with Rep. Hayden (DFL) and Rep. Champion (DFL)
Click Here For The Audio.
Here is the complete list of House Of Representatives and their votes on this measure (A No vote would have saved the program for the poor)
Y Abeler, Jim (R) 203 651-296-1729 rep.jim.abeler@house.mn
N Anderson, Bruce (R) 295 651-296-5063 rep.bruce.anderson@house.mn
Y Anderson, Paul (R) 239 651-296-4317 rep.paul.anderson@house.mn
Y Anderson, Sarah (R) 217 651-296-5511 rep.sarah.anderson@house.mn
N Anzelc, Tom (DFL) 417 651-296-4936 rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn
Y Atkins, Joe (DFL) 503 651-296-4192 rep.joe.atkins@house.mn
Y Beard, Michael (R) 207 651-296-8872 rep.mike.beard@house.mn
Y Benson, John (DFL)517 651-296-9934 rep.john.benson@house.mn
Y Bigham, Karla (DFL)353 651-296-4342 rep.karla.bigham@house.mn
N Bly, David (DFL)557 651-296-7065 rep.david.bly@house.mn
Y Brod, Laura (R) 291 651-296-4229 rep.laura.brod@house.mn
Y Brown, Robin (DFL)337 651-296-8216 rep.robin.brown@house.mn
N Brynaert, Kathy (DFL) 421 651-296-3248 rep.kathy.brynaert@house.mn
N Buesgens, Mark (R) 307 651-296-5185 rep.mark.buesgens@house.mn
Y Bunn, Julie (DFL) 521 651-296-4244 rep.julie.bunn@house.mn
Y Carlson Sr., Lyndon (DFL)479651-296-4255 rep.lyndon.carlson@house.mn
N Champion, Bobby Joe (DFL)329 651-296-8659 rep.bobby.champion@house.mn
N Clark, Karen (DFL)471 651-296-0294 rep.karen.clark@house.mn
Y Cornish, Tony (R) 281 651-296-4240 rep.tony.cornish@house.mn
N Davids, Greg (R) 283 651-296-9278 rep.greg.davids@house.mn
Y Davnie, Jim (DFL) 545 651-296-0173 rep.jim.davnie@house.mn
Y Dean, Matt (R) 287 651-296-3018 rep.matt.dean@house.mn
Y Demmer, Randy (R)245 651-296-9236 rep.randy.demmer@house.mn
N Dettmer, Bob (R) 251 651-296-4124 rep.bob.dettmer@house.mn
Y Dill, David (DFL)571 651-296-2190 rep.david.dill@house.mn
Y Dittrich, Denise (DFL) 371 651-296-5513 rep.denise.dittrich@house.mn
Y Doepke, Connie (R) 215 651-296-4315 rep.connie.doepke@house.mn
N Doty, Al (DFL) 433 651-296-4247 rep.al.doty@house.mn
N Downey, Keith (R) 323 651-296-4363 rep.keith.downey@house.mn
N Drazkowski, Steve (R) 247 651-296-2273 rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn
Y Eastlund, Rob (R) 243 651-296-5364 rep.rob.eastlund@house.mn
N Eken, Kent (DFL) 575 651-296-9918 rep.kent.eken@house.mn
Y Emmer, Tom (R) 301 651-296-4336 rep.tom.emmer@house.mn
Y Falk, Andrew (DFL) 431 651-296-4228 rep.andrew.falk@house.mn
N Faust, Tim (DFL) 567 651-296-0518 rep.tim.faust@house.mn
N Fritz, Patti (DFL) 551 651-296-8237 rep.patti.fritz@house.mn
Y Gardner, Paul (DFL) 581 651-296-2907 rep.paul.gardner@house.mn
Y Garofalo, Pat (R) 221 651-296-1069 rep.pat.garofalo@house.mn
N Gottwalt, Steve (R) 236 651-296-6316 rep.steve.gottwalt@house.mn
N Greiling, Mindy (DFL) 381 651-296-5387 rep.mindy.greiling@house.mn
N Gunther, Bob (R) 289 651-296-3240 rep.bob.gunther@house.mn
N Hackbarth, Tom (R)309 651-296-2439 rep.tom.hackbarth@house.mn
N Hamilton, Rod (R) 209 651-296-5373 rep.rod.hamilton@house.mn
Y Hansen, Rick (DFL) 401 651-296-6828 rep.rick.hansen@house.mn
Y Hausman, Alice (DFL) 453 651-296-3824 rep.alice.hausman@house.mn
Y Haws, Larry (DFL)473 651-296-6612 rep.larry.haws@house.mn
N Hayden, Jeff (DFL)539 651-296-7152 rep.jeff.hayden@house.mn
Y Hilstrom, Debra (DFL)379 651-296-3709 rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn
N Hilty, Bill (DFL) 559 651-296-4308 rep.bill.hilty@house.mn
N Holberg, Mary Liz (R) 303 651-296-6926 rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn
Y Hoppe, Joe (R) 317 651-296-5066 rep.joe.hoppe@house.mn
Y Hornstein, Frank (DFL) 437 651-296-9281 rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn
N Hortman, Melissa (DFL) 377 651-296-4280 rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn
Y Hosch, Larry (DFL)565 651-296-4373 rep.larry.hosch@house.mn
Y Howes, Larry (R) 201 651-296-2451 rep.larry.howes@house.mn
Y Huntley, Thomas (DFL)585 651-296-2228 rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn
Y Jackson, Gail Kulick (DFL) 531 651-296-6746 rep.gailkulick.jackson@house.mn
Y Johnson, Sheldon (DFL) 549 651-296-4201 rep.sheldon.johnson@house.mn
N Juhnke, Al (DFL) 485 651-296-6206 rep.al.juhnke@house.mn
Y Kahn, Phyllis (DFL) 365 651-296-4257 rep.phyllis.kahn@house.mn
Y Kalin, Jeremy (DFL) 579 651-296-5377 rep.jeremy.kalin@house.mn
Y Kath, Kory (DFL) 357 651-296-5368 rep.kory.kath@house.mn
Y Kelliher, Margaret Anderson (DFL) 463 651-296-0171
rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn
Y Kelly, Tim (R) 241 651-296-8635 rep.tim.kelly@house.mn
N Kiffmeyer, Mary (R) 229 651-296-4237 rep.mary.kiffmeyer@house.mn
Y Knuth, Kate (DFL) 507 651-296-0141 rep.kate.knuth@house.mn
N Koenen, Lyle (DFL) 439 651-296-4346 rep.lyle.koenen@house.mn
O Kohls, Paul (R) 313 651-296-4282 rep.paul.kohls@house.mn
Y Laine, Carolyn (DFL) 407 651-296-4331 rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn
O Lanning, Morrie (R) 259 651-296-5515 rep.morrie.lanning@house.mn
Y Lenczewski, Ann (DFL) 509 651-296-4218 rep.ann.lenczewski@house.mn
N Lesch, John (DFL) 537 651-296-4224 rep.john.lesch@house.mn
N Liebling, Tina (DFL) 553 651-296-0573 rep.tina.liebling@house.mn
Y Lieder, Bernard (DFL) 423651-296-5091 rep.bernie.lieder@house.mn
Y Lillie, Leon (DFL) 369 651-296-1188 rep.leon.lillie@house.mn
N Loeffler, Diane (DFL) 49 651-296-4219 rep.diane.loeffler@house.mn
Y Loon, Jenifer (R) 311 651-296-7449 rep.jenifer.loon@house.mn
Y Mack, Tara (R) 321 651-296-5506 rep.tara.mack@house.mn
N Magnus, Doug (R) 253 651-296-5505 rep.doug.magnus@house.mn
Y Mahoney, Tim (DFL) 591 651-296-4277 rep.tim.mahoney@house.mn
N Mariani, Carlos (DFL) 563 651-296-9714 rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn
Y Marquart, Paul (DFL) 597 651-296-6829 rep.paul.marquart@house.mn
N Masin, Sandra (DFL) 527 651-296-3533 rep.sandra.masin@house.mn
Y McFarlane, Carol (R) 223 651-296-5363 rep.carol.mcfarlane@house.mn
Y McNamara, Denny (R) 255 651-296-3135 rep.denny.mcnamara@house.mn
Y Morgan, Will (DFL)411 651-296-4212 rep.will.morgan@house.mn
Y Morrow, Terry (DFL) 415 651-296-8634 rep.terry.morrow@house.mn
N Mullery, Joe (DFL) 367 651-296-4262 rep.joe.mullery@house.mn
Y Murdock, Mark (R) 213 651-296-4293 rep.mark.murdock@house.mn
N Murphy, Erin (DFL) 413 651-296-8799 rep.erin.murphy@house.mn
Y Murphy, Mary (DFL) 343 651-296-2676 rep.mary.murphy@house.mn
Y Nelson, Michael V. (DFL) 569 651-296-3751 rep.michael.nelson@house.mn
Y Newton, Jerry (DFL) 331 651-296-5369 rep.jerry.newton@house.mn
N Nornes, Bud (R) 277 651-296-4946 rep.bud.nornes@house.mn
Y Norton, Kim (DFL) 387 651-296-9249 rep.kim.norton@house.mn
Y Obermueller, Mike (DFL) 335 651-296-4128 rep.mike.obermueller@house.mn
Y Olin, Dave (DFL) 593 651-296-9635 rep.dave.olin@house.mn
N Otremba, Mary Ellen (DFL) 445 651-296-3201 rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn
N Paymar, Michael (DFL) 543 651-296-4199 rep.michael.paymar@house.mn
Y Pelowski Jr., Gene (DFL) 491 651-296-8637 rep.gene.pelowski@house.mn
N Peppin, Joyce (R) 279 651-296-7806 rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn
Y Persell, John (DFL) 529 651-296-5516 rep.john.persell@house.mn
Y Peterson, Sandra (DFL) 345 651-296-4176 rep.sandra.peterson@house.mn
Y Poppe, Jeanne (DFL) 487 651-296-4193 rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn
N Reinert, Roger (DFL) 429 651-296-4246 rep.roger.reinert@house.mn
N Rosenthal, Paul (DFL) 393 651-296-7803 rep.paul.rosenthal@house.mn
N Rukavina, Tom (DFL) 477 651-296-0170 rep.tom.rukavina@house.mn
N Ruud, Maria (DFL) 515 651-296-3964 rep.maria.ruud@house.mn
N Sailer, Brita (DFL) 577 651-296-4265 rep.brita.sailer@house.mn
Y Sanders, Tim (R) 315 651-296-4226 rep.tim.sanders@house.mn
Y Scalze, Bev (DFL) 451 651-296-7153 rep.bev.scalze@house.mn
N Scott, Peggy (R) 225 651-296-4231 rep.peggy.scott@house.mn
N Seifert, Marty (R) 233 651-296-5374 rep.marty.seifert@house.mn
Y Sertich, Anthony "Tony" (DFL) 459 651-296-0172 rep.tony.sertich@house.mn
Y Severson, Dan (R) 261 651-296-7808 rep.dan.severson@house.mn
N Shimanski, Ron (R) 227 651-296-1534 rep.ron.shimanski@house.mn
Y Simon, Steve (DFL) 375 651-296-9889 rep.steve.simon@house.mn
Y Slawik, Nora (DFL) 403 651-296-7807 rep.nora.slawik@house.mn
N Slocum, Linda (DFL) 501 651-296-7158 rep.linda.slocum@house.mn
Y Smith, Steve (R) 271 651-296-9188 rep.steve.smith@house.mn
Y Solberg, Loren (DFL) 443 651-296-2365 rep.loren.solberg@house.mn
Y Sterner, Phillip (DFL) 523 651-296-4306 rep.phil.sterner@house.mn
Y Swails, Marsha (DFL) 409 651-296-1147 rep.marsha.swails@house.mn
Y Thao, Cy (DFL) 359 651-296-5158 rep.cy.thao@house.mn
Y Thissen, Paul (DFL)351 651-296-5375 rep.paul.thissen@house.mn
N Tillberry, Tom (DFL) 583 651-296-5510 rep.tom.tillberry@house.mn
N Torkelson, Paul (R) 211 651-296-9303 rep.paul.torkelson@house.mn
Y Urdahl, Dean (R) 237 651-296-4344 rep.dean.urdahl@house.mn
Y Wagenius, Jean (DFL) 449 651-296-4200rep.jean.wagenius@house.mn
N Ward, John (DFL)533 651-296-4333rep.john.ward@house.mn
N Welti, Andy (DFL) 389 651-296-4378 rep.andy.welti@house.mn
N Westrom, Torrey (R) 273 651-296-4929 rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn
N Winkler, Ryan (DFL) 525 651-296-7026 rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn
Y Zellers, Kurt (R) 267 651-296-5502 rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn
