Minnesota SD 36 Republicans

Are you eligible to vote in Minnesota?
If so, are you REGISTERED?

Don’t wait until election day to register – get in and out of your polling place more quickly by registering NOW!

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s website has several tools to help you at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=204

1. Voter Registration Lookup if you’d like to verify you’re registered at your current address
2. Voter Registration Application 
3. Election Official Directory

A PDF of the Voter Registration Form is available by clicking here.

The Secretary’s website also has instructions and lists accepted form of ID for Election Day registration – but why wait? Print out the form above, complete it, and register today!

MY THOUGHTS

The 2012 legislative session starts Tuesday. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to continue the work we did last session.

Republican members of the legislature were committed to denying the Governor his tax increase. We were successful. In addition, we were able to negotiate changes in the Human Services and other budgets that have put Minnesota on a more fiscally prudent path. That is evidenced by the forecasted $876 million surplus for the remainder of the biennium.

That being said, I was very disappointed that we had to give in to additional shifting of school funds and taking money from the tobacco bonds in order to meet the Governor’s desire to spend more. It is essential that we keep the pressure on to hold the line on taxes, decrease business regulations, and make our state more business friendly.

In this legislative preview, I have included the legislative agenda for the 2012 session as well as important issues we will face this session.

 EMPLOYEE FREEDOM
I am excited to tell you that I intend to author the employee freedom, or right to work constitutional amendment. States that allow employees to work for anyone without being compelled to join a union or pay union dues are leading the nation economically. But even more importantly, no American should be forced to join a group or pay dues to a third party in order have a job.

 BUDGET
In November, state economists surprised us by releasing a forecast that showed an anticipated $876 million surplus for the remainder of the biennium. Preliminary January updates to the forecast show continued growth, primarily due to stronger than projected individual income tax payments.

While this is welcome news and the state’s economists are looking to more confident consumers and stronger labor markets, some factors remain out of our control. Going into the session, we will be aware that the best remedy for the state budget is economic recovery and a thriving economy that allows hard-working families and employers to succeed. The upcoming 2012 legislative session is an opportunity to improve the business climate. This is accomplished by holding the line on taxes, reducing the regulating burden, and making it easier to employ people.

 EDUCATION
In 2010 Republicans revitalized Minnesota schools through accountability and reform by repealing several state mandates to give school districts more budget flexibility, and connecting teacher and principal evaluations to student test scores to increase accountability. K-12 education will be a central focus of numerous policy initiatives including system reforms, expanding choice for students and families, and reducing costs. A number of proposals discussed last session will return for consideration, including revising tenure rules such as the last-in, first-out policy, ensuring high school graduates are prepared to enter the workforce, and flexibility the state and districts are given in implementing their own programs.

 JUDICIARY & PUBLIC SAFETY
The Senate Judiciary & Public Safety Committee will continue to prioritize issues as we ensure the safety of the public, address constitutional obligations and explore positive reforms. Some of these issues include protecting our vulnerable adults, reevaluating our sex offender policy, addressing recent Supreme Court decisions, and dealing with commissioner appointments.

JOB GROWTH
During the legislative interim, senators have met with business leaders, entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the state in effort to find ways we can put our economy back on track. Last session, the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee eliminated pass-through grants and legislative earmarking, prioritized spending on specific job programs, created a small business loan guarantee program to help owners secure much-needed capital, funded the Minnesota Trade Office, and offered new dollars for the Minnesota Investment and Redevelopment Fund.

While there are measures the government can take to help spur job creation, the best solution is to create a positive economic climate that job creators can feel confident about when they consider investing in Minnesota or expanding their current operations. Our 2012 legislation will have a primary focus: when entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists are considering locations, we want to position Minnesota to be the answer to each question in a positive way.

CHILD CARE
Gov. Dayton’s decision to issue an executive order to authorize a vote to unionize child day care providers was met with heavy opposition from providers, families, and Senate Republicans. Senate Republicans filed a “friend of the court” brief in support of the providers’ suit against the Governor’s actions, and that suit prevailed when the Ramsey County Judge ordered a halt to the Dayton-prescribed day care unionization election. Although the matter is not completely settled, Senate Republicans are hopeful that the day care providers will prevail in the final ruling, and we continue to support them.

HIGHER EDUCATION
The Higher Education funding bill passed during the 2011 session funded priorities while reducing bureaucratic overhead and encouraging true structural reforms. The bill included student-friendly initiatives such as increased funding for the Minnesota State Grant Program, increased funding for the State Work Study Program, maintained current funding levels for the Child Care Grant program, and included a tuition cap. In order to build on that success, members of the Senate Higher Education Committee have used the interim period to travel the state to visit with campus faculty, staff, administrators and students to discuss solutions and listen to ideas to encourage the long-term health and effectiveness of Minnesota’s higher education system. Legislators plan to use those experiences and conversations to help guide legislation in 2012 to further improve Minnesota’s schools.

GOVERNMENT REFORM- SUNSET COMMISSION
As part of last summer’s agreement to end the government shutdown, a group formed as the Minnesota Sunset Commission is reviewing the future of 25 state boards, councils and agencies, and in February will submit a report to the Legislature outlining which boards, commissions and agencies should continue. Commission members may look to consolidate agencies that are duplicating work, and agencies should be prepared to answer how they’re spending public money. Six Democrat and six Republican appointees of Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders make up the Sunset Commission.

2012 BONDING BILL
While even-numbered years are traditionally the time and place for the Legislature’s bonding bills, a $497 million bonding bill helped end the 2011 shutdown in July. The governor and lieutenant governor are pressing for another large bonding bill, saying that the state has enough resources to allow for a $775 million bonding bill in the regular 2012 session. The Governor unveiled his list of public works on January 17. I do not support a bonding bill.

 TENTATIVE 2012 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
January 24: 2012 Session convenes
February 2-7: Legislative recess to allow legislators to return home for caucuses
February 15: Gov. Dayton is tentatively planning his State of the State speech in the House Chamber
April 6-13: Easter/Passover recess
Mid to late April: Final adjournment

CONNECT WITH SENATOR THOMPSON:
www.senate.mn/SenatorThompson
www.twitter.com/ThompsonSenate
Sen.Dave.Thompson@senate.mn

SD 36 Republican Precinct Caucuses are Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Senate District 36 GOP precinct caucuses are held in multiple locations, several of which have changed from previous years. Please see the list below to identify where your precinct meets.

If you are unsure of which precinct you live in, please go to the Secretary of State’s pollfinder website at http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

PLEASE NOTE that you will most likely NOT caucus at your polling place. After entering your address, you will find your precinct name in the middle of the response (see below). Use this to identify at which of the two locations your precinct is caucusing.

Senate District 36A Precincts

In the Auditorium, Lakeville North High School, 19600 Ipava Ave.

LAKEVILLE Pcts  2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14
(LAKEVILLE 1 & 12 are in SD36B, and meet at Boeckman Middle School, see below)
 

Senate District 36B Precincts

Boeckman Middle School, 800 Denmark Ave. (The old Farmington High School)
Please use the NORTH ENTRANCE

CASTLE ROCK TWP
COATES
DOUGLAS TWP
EMPIRE TWP
EUREKA TWP
FARMINGTON Pcts 1 thru 6
GREENVALE TWP
HAMPTON CITY & TWP
LAKEVILLE Pcts 1 and 12
MARSHAN TWP
MIESVILLE
NEW TRIER
NORTHFIELD W-3 P-3
RANDOLPH & RANDOLPH TWP
RAVENNA TWP
SCIOTA TOWNSHIP
VERMILLION CITY & TWP
WATERFORD TWP

These four 36B precincts will caucus at Cannon Falls High School Library 

DENNISON (in part)
STANTON TWP
WARSAW TWP
WELCH TWP

THE INSIDE SCOOP
12/5/2011

Rep. Patrick Garofalo

- JUDGE RULES AGAINST DAYTON REQUIRING UNION VOTE
- FORECAST SHOWS SURPLUS FOR STATE OF MINNESOTA
- DANGERS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

COURT STOPS A VOTE REQUIRING UNION

Ramsey County Judge Dale Lindman granted a restraining order to those opposed to Governor Dayton’s executive order.  Dayton’s order required a union vote for home day care providers.  Minnesota law allows the Governor to order a union election for state employees.  The Governor argued that since some parents of children in day care receive subsidizes, that made these businesses owners under the same rules as state employees.  The judge in this case disagreed.  Here is a link to the story.  http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/135038868.html

A WORD YOU HAVEN’T HEARD IN A WHILE….SURPLUS!!

Last Thursday, the state’s budget forecast showed some surprising news.  An $876 million dollar budget surplus is now forecast for the current budget cycle. (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013).  The forecast changes were primarily as a result of lower than expected projected spending.  But before politicians get excited promising more spending or lower taxes, I think the prudent thing to do is use this money to replenish our reserves and pay back some of the “accounting shifts” in our budget.  While there are signs that the economy is turning around, we are not out of the woods yet.  No decisions will be made until the final forecast comes out February 29, 2012.  Here is a link to a summary of the forecast.  http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/fu/11/summary-nov11.pdf

DEREK BOOGAARD

Former Minnesota Wild player Derek Boogaard died earlier this year of an accidental prescription drug overdose.  The New York Times has an excellent video story on Boogaard’s history before and during his time in Minnesota.  2 of the 3 parts of the video are already online.  The 3rd part comes out tomorrow.  Definitely worth a view.  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/12/04/sports/hockey/boogaard-video.html#chapter/1

HOLIDAY SEASON

At this time of year, I am once again reminded of how thankful I am for my wonderful wife Julie and the 2 best kids a Dad could ever ask for – Alex and Abby.  I hope the holiday season allows you spend time with those you love and/or to focus on the true meaning of the holiday season.  It is an honor and privilege to serve as your State Representative.  Please have a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and enjoyable holiday season.  I’ll be in touch next year.   Thanks!

FOR THE WEEK ENDING: Friday, December 2, 2011

BUDGET SURPLUS
Like all Minnesotans, I was thrilled to see that our state is expected to have an $876 million budget surplus during the remainder of the biennium. This is certainly a step in the right direction.
It is important to note that this same budget forecast predicts a $1.3 billion shortfall next biennium. We are still not out of the woods, and we still need significant changes in the way Minnesota does business in order to avoid these repeated shortfalls.
It is estimated that about 80% of the surplus can be attributed to changes made in our Health and Human Services budget. These are changes promoted by Senator David Hann and other Republican leaders. Governor Dayton and DFLers in both houses of the legislature opposed most, if not all of these reforms. Less government spending, holding the line on taxes, and reducing business regulations lead to prosperity and job creation.

CHANGING THE HOMESTEAD MARKET VALUE CREDIT TO THE HOMESTEAD MARKET VALUE EXCLUSION
Q. WHY DID THE LEGISLATURE & GOVERNOR MAKE THIS CHANGE?
A. Eliminating the Homestead Market Value Credit was supported by the League of Minnesota Cities, the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Inter-County Association and the Association of Metro Municipalities. The proposal was the subject of many hearings at the Capitol and was passed in the final 2011 budget solution because the credit program wasn’t working.
In its 10 years of existence, the program, a chronic victim of roller-coaster deficits, was fully funded only once. In nine of 10 years, the state required counties to include a credit on residential property tax statements but failed to fully reimburse local government for the cost. The state’s failure to pay for the credit caused budget uncertainty for local governments and left local officials holding the bag for the state’s empty promises to taxpayers.
Q. WILL ENDING THE HOMESTEAD MARKET VALUE CREDIT PROGRAM FORCE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO INCREASE LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES?
A. NO. The MVHC program has been completely unreliable to local governments. Since its inception, local governments have been fully reimbursed only one time. Year after year they were forced to guess what their compensation would be, and inevitably were forced to cut, or raise taxes on all types of property to make up the difference. Therefore, much of the impact on local levies and other properties should have already occurred in past local government budgets. Changing to the direct-to-taxpayer MVHE alleviates this problem over the long term. Rather than reducing MVHC payments year after year, the Legislature provided local governments with the consistency in local tax revenues they have been asking for. The Legislature also provided additional relief in the state’s property tax refund program (see chart, front), carefully structured the new exclusion, and attempted to phase-out the statewide business and seasonal /recreational property tax, which was vetoed by Governor Dayton.
Q. DID THE STATE CUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID TO CITIES AND COUNTY PROGRAM AID TO COUNTIES?
A. NO. The truth is that LGA and CPA payments were maintained at 2010 levels through 2013 — no increase, no decrease. In 2009, Gov. Tim Pawlenty made unallotments that reduced LGA and CPA from $768.6 million to $591.3 million for 2010. The DFL-controlled Legislature adopted Pawlenty’s reductions for 2010-11, but made them temporary. Given the deficit, it was never reasonable for any city or county manager to budget for a 2012 increase in aid. Gov. Dayton and the Legislature approved 2012-13 payments at the same levels as 2010-11.
In 2010, as now, some at the Capitol assumed local officials would dramatically raise property taxes. In reality, property tax levies across the state went up just 1.9 percent from 2010 to 2011 — the smallest increase since 2002. For the most part, local leaders in 2010 chose to reduce spending rather than raise taxes in response to reductions in state aid. There is no reason to believe they are any less concerned now about exercising fiscal discipline.
Q. DOES CUTTING STATE TAX AIDS AND CREDITS TO LOCAL GOVERMENT FORCE THEM TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES?
A. NO. Many in government would have taxpayers think that any change in state funding causes a reaction in local tax rates, but that need not be the case. The state collects sales and income taxes across the entire state, only to turn around and give subsidies to local governments in some cities and not others.
Local government aid is an ineffective way to provide tax relief to citizens. More than half of Minnesotans live in cities that don’t qualify for LGA, yet the state will spend $1.18 billion on LGA and CPA in fiscal years 2012-13. More problematic is the fact that these subsidies get sent to cities and counties, who often spend the money rather than redirecting it to taxpayers for property tax relief.

CONNECT WITH SENATOR THOMPSON: www.senate.mn/SenatorThompson
www.twitter.com/ThompsonSenate Sen.Dave.Thompson@senate.mn

Patrick Garofalo, R-Farmington, said he will seek a fifth term in the Minnesota House and will not run for Dakota County commissioner in 2012.

Please CLICK HERE to read the full story by Laura Adelmann at thisweeklive.com

To the editor,

With all the disenchantment with government these days, it’s important to recognize when government gets it right, particularly when it’s due mainly to the efforts of one person.

State Rep. Pat Garofalo deserves such recognition.

This week the Farmington School Board was able to pay off an $8.8 million loan that the State of Minnesota made to our school district in 1991. Since then, the loan has been accumulating interest and by the time the district would have had to start paying back the loan, it would have cost district taxpayers more than $34 million. 

Rep. Garofalo worked with our school district leaders to craft legislation making it advantageous for the district to pay back the loan principle now and have the accumulated interest forgiven. Other school district with similar loans can also benefit from the new law.

At the same time, the state comes out ahead, too. The loans repaid by our school district and others come at a time when the state is in great need of revenue. Rep. Garofalo’s law provides the incentives for school districts to pay back these state loans at exactly the same time the state is most in need of revenue.

Win-win solutions like the one crafted by Rep. Garofalo are important reminders of how important it is have smart, thoughtful representation in St. Paul. We owe Rep. Garofalo a $34 million thank you.

Tim Burke

Farmington

Tim Burke is a member of the Farmington School Board

http://www.farmingtonindependent.com/event/article/id/18389

On a less happy note, next month a forecast will be released showing the state’s budget situation.  State revenues are currently running ahead of projections, but I expect the forecast to show a modest deficit.  Look for more discussions about whether government should cut spending or raise your taxes.  I believe cutting spending is the most sustainable way to balance our state’s budget.  Here is a link to a recent story.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/06/state-likely-to-face-another-deficit/