Lessons...

Minnesota is not the only state dealing with the high cost of road repairs.

We are faced with some sobering realities:

* Between 1990 and 2007 Utah experienced a 47.5 percent increase in population growth.

* During that same period of time, travel on Utah roads, measured in vehicle miles traveled on our roads (VMT), increased 78.5 percent.

* During those same years the State added only 4.2 percent more capacity to the highway system to accommodate this explosion of growth.

So what does this mean? In a word: congestion.

To exacerbate the problem:

* Since 2000 UDOT construction costs have increased 91 percent. In fact, recent reports show that steel has increased again by another 30 percent in the past few weeks alone.

* Funding for transportation was raided beginning 2001 when we experienced a downturn in the economy in order to keep public education funding whole. It took the legislature several years to bring funding levels back to pre-downturn totals. But demand for roads and the cost of construction outpaced our capacity to meet the demand several times over leaving us far behind.

However, unlike their Minnesota counterparts, the Utah Legislature is looking at ways outside of raising the gas tax to make up the shortfall in funding.

So what steps have we taken without raising taxes?

* We looked internally for other funding options within existing budgets. We found that between 10 to 20 percent of the revenue from sales tax within the state came from auto related sales (car sales, tires, oil changes, etc). Many of us in the Legislature felt that these tax dollars should be earmarked for roads and so we pushed legislation through to capture this money. It is in place today.

* We are looking at ways to focus economic development in areas where the transportation system in unbalanced. In Northern Utah I-15 is a log jam southbound to SLC in the AM and the opposite in the afternoon leaving half the system underutilized. When placing incentives for economic development we, as a legislature, need to be conscious of balancing the transportation system and encouraging job growth closer to where people live.

Emphasis mine. What a radical thought....moving the jobs to where the people are! Note the difference between what they are doing (encouraging development where the people are) there and what we are doing here - punishing drivers by raising the cost of licensing and driving and owning a car and forcing people into light rail corridors. Instead of tightening government control on the voting public, the Utah legislature is actually solving a problem while maintaining freedoms! That is outside the box thinking!

There are other ways of relieving congestion that require the assistance and cooperation of the business community. By offering staggered start times to employees (thus reducint the number of cars on the road all trying to get somewhere by 8am) or allowing staff to telecommute, you can reduce the number of cars on the road (thus reducing congestion AND greenhouse gas emissions). Offering tax incentives to businesses so that they can purchase the necessary equipment to allow telecommuting (you do need special voice and data equipment that maintains the security of your communications) you can encourage more businesses to think outside the box as well. Enlist the business community in the solution. THEY are the ones that know what their needs are and what the solutions to those needs are!

These are lessons that the Minnesota Legislature can learn Utah colleagues. This is the kind of forward thinking that our Founding Fathers used to make this great country.

That and how cool is it that the Utah State House and Senate have their own blogs! What a way to engage the electorate!

Rep. Abeler Answers His Critics

Gary Gross did a yeoman's work transcribing the speeches of some of the tax hero's from yesterday's debate. Now it is my turn to focus on one of the floor speeches from yesterday and unfortunately Rep. Jim Abeler gave a speech that was not heroic in any form. You can find the speech here and it starts at approximately the 25 minute 55 secondmark. I commented on his remarks briefly (in my live blog post of the days events) but I felt that his remarks deserved special attention and consideration. I will transcribe most of his remarks (because he does go off on some tangents) and reserve comment for afterward.

…Since 1998 we have failed to do the job on this topic also by coincidence. Sometimes you are home on a Sunday afternoon and the suns out and you’re walking the dog and nobody calls and there’s no one around and it’s a quiet park? Well that wasn’t this weekend. I didn’t feel lonely this weekend Madame Speaker and members...I didn’t feel lonely at all. In fact I have 800 unopened emails – not for lack of trying…I just kinda skimmed eh the ones that looked interesting to read, trying to find some local ones. If you want to know what your people think I can tell you…each of you what your people think…and they are both happy and unhappy depending on how much they know. Now I took some calls and some actually used the word I can barely stand against….BOONDOGGLE! No, no please don’t use the “B” word…the
boondoggle...they thought it would be an effective word as they described how they understood this bill.

OK - I have to stop here. Did you catch this? First off, Rep Abeler is whining because people outside of his district dared to speak up to him and tell him "No". Secondly, those of us who took the time to read the bill and who understand all of the tax increases in this bill are bad are just too stupid to truly "understand" what our betters are trying to foist on us.

But unfortunately they didn’t understand the bill…they didn’t understand the problem. And I told them about the report that the Legislative Auditor put out about the state highways and bridges…calling the situation grim.

And what YOU don't understand, Rep. Abeler, is that the the situation about our personal finances is equally grim. Foreclosures are at a record high, bankrupty filings are too. People are barely living paycheck to paycheck as it is...we are at the breaking point. Maybe you should try to understand OUR situation Rep. Abeler.

They also said that there is money available for preservation ONLY which is kinda bad when you want a lane out your way on Hwy 10 to ease some of that congestion.

Here's a radical thought Rep. Abeler....why not take out some pork out of the bonding bill to bring more money to MNDOT. OR another radical thought.....quit spending money on light rail until our roads are up to snuff! I'll bet you can get a lot of lane miles out of the money being spent on the Central Corridor!

I do have to commend, again, the Minnesota Chamber…they read the report. They’ve been living this report…they know that their people can’t get across town at peak times and even not peak times. And so they took up…they became the surrogate for us…for me…they became the surrogate for the governor and they waded into this thing with both their feet and they courageously took on this topic on behalf of their membership and there was compromise.

This, then, is the DFL's idea of "compromising" with the minority who is looking out for the people's interests. They bring in a LOBBYING organization to help them write the bill so that they can say that they "compromised" with someone.

This bill is smaller than last year.

Let's see....last years bill was $5.5 billion and this years is $6.6.....when I took math way back when....6 was a LARGER number than 5. Has that somehow changed?

This bill has reform in it….MNDOT has to face the scrutiny of the Chamber of Commerce….not known for being easy softball negotiators. The Chamber Of Commerce and the business partnership are exactly the opposite….they’re a bunch
of jerks when it comes to their negotiating. They’re gonna go after MNDOT and say “why are you picking projects like this?” and “what are you doing with the money we gave you?”

What are they doing with the money WHO gave them? That is not the Chamber's money, nor is it the Legislatures money it is the taxpayers money and MNDOT should not be accountable to a 3rd party lobbying organization, they should be accountable to WE THE PEOPLE!

MNDOT (unintelligible) this task force…it’s in the report. There is compromise in this bill. I was so happy with the amendments in this bill that came out. I was not part of any discussions and every amendment that came out I thought “that’s a good amendment…that makes the bill even better”

In one of my favorite movies, Indigo Montoya says "You keep using that word, but I do not think it means what you think it means." The same can be said to Rep. Abeler here. He keeps using the word compromise and then he says that he was not part of any discussions on the bill and that the amendments (all DFL amendments)were added to make the DFL Transit bill even better. How is that compromise with the minority or the Governor exactly?

There is a quarter percent lower in the sales tax…it is a number that the people
can afford – the Chamber can afford it.

Here's a thought....if the Chamber can afford it why not let THEM PAY IT. Oh and remind me what roads that quarter percent sales tax goes for Rep. Ableer.....

Now we have a bill that starts at two cents….people calling me thought it was like a quarter or something. Can I use a prop on the floor? Do you know it starts at two cents? But I do want to warn you that it’s going to go up to a nickel. A nickel so that you can get across town or so many your kid don’t get killed at a bad intersection of Hwy 47.

Two cents a GALLON next month and 3 cents A GALLON in October Rep. Abeler. For drivers like myself that is an extra $2.00 a week, $8.00 a month, $104 a year per car (we have two) and that is in ADDITION to the sales tax increase and in ADDITION TO the license tab fee increase and in ADDITION TO the 3.5 cents per gallon gas tax surcharge that you oh so conveniently forgot to include in your talk.

I’ve been on radio shows…I’ve been on some radio shows where I’ve given quotes and some radio shows where they’ve called me a names. Names that I would not even call you or anybody that I would want to make a joke about. It used to be called slander to name call on radio shows where you get to hide behind your microphone. Jason Lewis who is relatively small market radio talk guy he has been calling me names and he has had people calling me up and sending me emails based on 1/10th of the story. At least if you are going to have them call me, tell them the whole story.

Where to start.....from the top I guess. Jason Lewis, like you Rep. Abeler, is a public person and as such the level to reach slander are much higher. As a politician, you have an even higher bar to reach (just ask Senator McCain about slander from the media). And before you go accusing ANYONE of not telling the whole story about this bill, I would suggest that you look at your own words in this very speech! There have been a number of things about this bill that you have either flat out ignored or completely glossed over in your empassioned plea for "the whole story".

And my good friend Phil Krinkie, the Taxpayers League…I’m on their blog…call Jim
and Kathy…we didn’t feel lonely. Part of why I am doing this today is because they did this. I don’t know why they would do it again I thought they would play fair.

They did it because you and your friends in the DFL were not playing fair with US!

These are people who have really good citizens listening to them. These are our bread and butter citizens. They all have jobs, they have good families, they care, they pay their taxes and they are obedient to laws and they tell them a half a truth.

They are telling us the half of the truth that you don't want us to know. They are telling us the half of a truth that your willing accomplices in the media willingly hide for you. And that is the biggest problem here. We the people are better informed now than we were when people like Rep. Abeler took office. They can no longer hide behind pretty words....the bills are out there on the internet for ALL to see and now that ALL can see for themselves what is being done "in our name". What seems to bother Rep. Abeler most of all is that the unwashed masses dared to speak up and speak out against the Legislature. He only wanted to hear what his friends on the Chamber told him and when we the people spoke out, he couldn't handle it. So maybe it is time for the people of HD48B to find a representative that does not mind talking to "we the people". We can do better.

Here They Are!

These are the 6 "Republicans" who voted to over-ride the Governor's veto.

Rep. Abler

Rep. Erhardt

Rep. Tinglestad (hello HD49!)

Rep. Heidgerken

Rep. Neil Peterson

Rep. Hamilton

For those that have not had endorsing conventions, now is the time for the disgruntled activists to make their wills known! There are 6.6 BILLION reasons for you to do so!

Live Blogging the Veto Over Ride Vote

Gary Gross and I will again be live blogging the gory details of the veto over ride vote which is supposed to take place this afternoon. The Legislature was supposed to convene at 12:30 and of course they have not done so yet so as soon as there is action, you will hear about it from Gary and I.

12:40 and there is much chanting and shouting from the gallery. I can't make out what is being said so if anyone reading this is there and can shoot me an update I would appreciate it. A lot of legislators are filing in so maybe something will start soon.

12:57 and we're gaveled to order!

12:58 - ok I thought Friday's prayer was a multicultural liberal rant.....YIKES.

1:06 Communication from the Governor - the over-ride has been read and Rep. Lieder brings HF2800 back to the floor for reconsideration. They're starting off with a bang.

1:08 - Rep. Lieder starts off with the lie that this is a "safe roads" bill and a bill that "strikes a balance between rural and metro". Gary and Drew and everyone else at True North who has covered this has already exposed this as a lie so I will leave that off.

For clarification - a green vote is a vote to approve Rep. Lieder's motion to over-ride the veto and a red vote is to sustain the veto.

The first speaker is Gary's adopted rep - Steve Gottwalt. He re-iterated that this bill was not a compromise as there has been no discussion with the Governor on transportation and no consideration of the minority report.

Rep Severson (Sauk Rapids) got up and spoke about a constituent of his that called him to tell him about how this bill would kill his limited income because he has to drive from Sauk Rapids to Rochester to the Mayo Clinic two times a week. He talks about all of the pork that is in this bill, the bike trails (Sue covered this yesterday) and urged that the members vote red on the bill.

Rep. Hortman got up and said that this was a compromise bill - after all Rep. Earhart wrote part of it....need I say any more?

Rep. Buesgens is speaking now about compromise again. He said that the Legislatures version of compromise was compromise between people who want to take a whole LOT from the people and those who want to take less. He called it a compromise of thieves! He said that if there was real compromise in this bill then there would be spending cuts to match the taxes increased. Mark is on fire today - he mentions that foreclosures are tripling and that people are on unemployment and barely squeaking by and yet there is talk of taxing them even more! He said that the lobbyists who are bellying up to the trough are the ones who are guaranteed to make millions off of this bill while the people of Minnesota will be working even harder in order to keep the trough full!

Rep Abler spoke next about how that he was not lonely over this weekend and that he had over 800 emails most of them decrying the bill. He said that we "don't understand" the bill. Well Rep. Abler - why don't you try living my life and then tell me how I "don't understand" how your bill is going to steal food from my family! Rep. Abler is taking Jason Lewis to task. He also took Phil Krinkie and bloggers to task - saying that we are only telling part of the story. He chastises us to "tell the whole story". We are telling the story that YOU refuse to tell Rep. Abler.....maybe YOU should tell the whole story. He asks "have you forgotten that a bridge fell in Minneapolis?" How can we forget when we have unscrupulous politicians campaigining on it sir? He said he has been asked "what about your career?" and that no one in the chamber considers it a career. If that is the case why have the Legislature been in committee every day since last year's session was gaveled out of session?

Rep. Wardlow is up next telling about his weekend. He mentioned that he heard from many of his constituents on this bill - everyday people struggling to make ends meet thanked him for voting against the transportation bill. He also brings up the lack of referendum on the sales tax increase in the metro. He asks "why do outstate residents get a chance at a referendum and the metro does not?"

Rep Olson is talking about an email that he got on the life of a democracy - how a democracy is doomed once people realize that they can vote themselves other peoples money (to see the whole thing go to Anti-Strib). These are serious times that we live in Rep. Olson says - we can not afford to be raising taxes in a time of economic uncertainty.

Rep. Holberg - what we pass matters! Amen to that. She also brings forward the lie that this is for roads because the money (in the Madore amendment) was taken out of roads while transit dollars stayed the same when the sales tax was reduced!

I'm starting to feel a little sorry for Rep. Hortman, she seems to be the only one who is willing to stand up and DEFEND this pig of a bill! Every time there is a criticism of the bill, she is the one that gets to recite the DFL spin on the issue.

Rep. Wenstrom - this will take a lot of money out of family budgets and small business budgets if this bill passes. We need to be better stewards of the PEOPLES money. There needs to be reform of how the money is spent! There isn't enough money in our family and small business budgets to pay for all of these taxes. A year and a half ago - I didn't hear anyone campaigning on raising taxes. They all said we could live within our means....

Rep. Demmer is echoing Rep. Nornes and Rep. Olson when he said that transportation spending is not a high priority for his contituents - not like housing and the economy. He talks about how the Federal Government is giving money BACK to the taxpayers while the MN Legislature is busy taking it away! He called this a Christmas Tree bill....I like that! He said that he read a quote from Thomas Jefferson in his local paper that sums this all up...."When Government is big enough to give us everything that we want it is big enough to take it all away!" We all know that a transportation bill that works on ROADS AND BRIDGES and maybe looks at transit is needed but in a time of economic trouble like we are facing now, we need to look at priorities! People come up and aske me about the "Gas tax bill"...if constituents do not understand what the bill is IT IS OUR FAULT!

Rep. Berns said that a compromise would be one where everyone was unhappy and I think he has it down....

Rep. Hortman got up again and Rep. Buesgens brings up a point of order asking whether Rep. Hortman is able to rise to speak again (this is her 4th time up) stating that according to Mason's Rules, a speaker was only allowed to speak on an issue twice. Rep. Kelliher has deferred the ruling saying that it is clearly within the rights if it the member is a part of the drafting of the bill which Rep. Hortman is a co-author of.

Rep. Hortman claimed that this bill would only cost families $126.00 a year. Rep. Emmer got up and slammed that back at her saying that by the DFL's own numbers this bill will cost every man, woman and child in the state of Minnesota $126.00 a year. He also slapped at Rep. Sertich's claims that the bill will create 33,000 jobs when it came out in committee that this job will only create eleven hundred full time construction jobs! He said that it will create temporary jobs, but nothing permanent. Rep. Emmer is now asking each of the freshman members (individually) if they campaigned on raising taxes and neither one of them would answer the question directly. Shelly Madore DID say that she would vote to raise taxes because a bridge fell and people died!

Rep. Seifert - there is some agreement here today. There is agreement between the liberal media, the DFL and the special interests agree to stick it to the poor and middle income citizens in Minnesota! Say one thing do another...campaign as moderates, pass the largest tax increase in the states history - but the people will be fooled no longer.

VOTING - 91 Ayes and 41 nays the veto is over-ridden. Look for updates on who turned to follow.

Can Someone PLEASE Explain This To Me?

Rep. Ron Erhardt (R?-Edina) is one of the six who voted for the Transit Bill that was going to raise the state and metro sales taxes. Yet he has also is the chief author of House File 2551 a bill to:

A bill for an act
1.2relating to taxation; repealing the sales tax exemption on clothing; decreasing
1.3the sales tax rate; creating an income tax credit; adjusting local option sales tax
1.4rates; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 295.60,
1.5subdivision 1; 297A.62, subdivision 1; 297B.02, subdivision 1; proposing coding
1.6for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 290; repealing Minnesota Statutes
1.72006, section 297A.67, subdivision 8.

So let me get this straight....we are going to repeal the clothing exemption - thus raising taxes on working class Minnesotans EVEN MORE and then we are going to decrease the sales tax in this bill so that we can raise it in another? If we decrease the sales tax, Rep. Erhardt, how are we going to be paying for the toy trains in the metro? Inquiring minds really want to know.

Needs Vs. Wants

More from Logical Lady Sue Jeffers

When Rep. Kathy Tinglestad showed up at her BPOU convention yesterday, she provided a copy of the DOT Legislative audit to justify her vote to support the transit bill. The audit stated that roads and bridges have improved in the last 6 years but funding is falling behind. The report said more money is needed for road and bridge funding. The problem for our legislature is that they are simply not spending money on roads and bridges this year.

Legislators are considering spending hundreds of millions of dollars on various projects instead of roadsand bridges. Just some of the projects include the Thief River Falls pedestrian and bicycle pathways system; ice arena complex in the city of Crookston; renewable energy clean air project in Koochiching County; AgLan Center; electrical system of the Yellow Medicine County Agriculture and Transportation Museum; Bemidji Regional Event Center; regional community center in Upsala; Prairie Ecology Center in Jackson County; Duluth Entertainment Convention Center arena, Paynesville, Cold Spring downtown riverfront redevelopment project; National Hockey Center at St. Cloud State University; Pemberton community center; Mankato to predesign and design a performing arts theater and Southern Minnesota Women's Hockey Exposition Center; Mayo Civic Center Complex in Rochester; Minnesota Wildlife Art Museum; senior center in the city of Mora; Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval; Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie; Burnsville Performing Arts Center; Richfield athletic fields, Asian Pacific Cultural Center; acquisition and renovation of a building for St. Paul Youth Services.

Listed below is another $100 million in requests that could also be spent on roads and bridges instead of election year bribes for incumbent DFL districts. As you know this is just a partial list of funding requests. I have attached bill numbers and authors for your convenience.

HF3002 (Moe) A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for state trail acquisition, rehabilitation, and repair; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. $29 million.

HF 2302 (Welti) Great River Ridge Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1.34 million

HF697 (Welti) Chester Woods Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. No dollar amount listed

HF143 (Peterson, A.) Minnesota River Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1 million

HF2594 (Dill) North Shore state parks and trails funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. (The Committee will only hear the trail portion of the bill at this time.) $9.6 million

HF2461 (Gardner) Rice Creek North Regional Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2.189 million

HF2598 (Hosch) Stearns County; Rocori Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2.02 million

HF2199 (Hansen) South St. Paul span arch bridge funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $800,000

HF2511 (Koenen) Clara City walking path funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $850,000

HF858 (Sailer) Big Bog State Recreation Area funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1.6 million

HF2834 (Wollschlager) Cannon River pedestrian bridge funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2 million

HF2707 (Lenczewski) Bloomington; Old Cedar Avenue Bridge replacement funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2 million

HF1026 (Hortman) Anoka County bicycle and pedestrian trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. No amount listed

HF1369 (Garofalo) Cannon River pedestrian bridge funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1.5 million

HF1522 (Lillie) Gateway Trail tunnel funding provided, and money appropriated. $650,000

HF2284 (Demmer) Mantorville; Stage Coach Trail and welcome center design grant provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $100,000

HF2829 (Hornstein) Minneapolis; Grand Rounds parkway improvements funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2 million

HF2819 (Johnson) Lower Afton Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $450,000

HF2848 (Bly) Mill Towns State Trail construction funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1 million

HF2881 (Faust) Mora; Spring Lake Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $100,000

HF2914 (Pelowski) A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for the Wagon Wheel Trail; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. $249,000

HF2917 (Pelowski) A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for an extension of the Root River State Trail; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. $1.641 million

HF2929 (Koenen) A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for a segment of the Minnesota River Trail; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. $4.5 million

HF2431 (Nornes) Vergas; Roger Hanson Memorial Trail completion funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $50,000

Is it any wonder that the citizens of Minnesota have no faith in their elected officials when it comes to solving the REAL problems facing this state. None of this (mostly from the bonding bill) money should be spent on anything other than roads and bridges, roads and bridges, roads and bridges....then when the roads and bridges are finally up to par, then we can take a look at spending money on the "nice to haves".

More Backlash Against The Transit Bill

From Logical Lady Sue Jeffers.

Passed by a near unanimous voice vote on Saturday February 23, 2008 at the Wabasha County BPOU Convention.

The Wabasha County Republican Party of Minnesota supports and encourages the Republican Party of Minnesota and the Minnesota House Republican Caucus to PROMOTE and support any Republican Candidate who seeks party endorsement against any Republican Incumbents who vote to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto on the transportation bill.

Conduct Unbecoming

Logical Lady Sue Jeffers brings us this.

Carver County Republican has the details.

Rep. Ron Erhadt, in responding to acaller asking him to uphold the Governor's veto and not support the Democrat overrride attempt responded with anger and profanity, telling the caller to "tell the people who told you to call to go 'F***' themselves."

The call was made by Tom Winterer of Chanhassen to Erhardt's home this morning. Winterer is new to grassroots politics, and just joined the Carver County Republicans at the Feb. 5 precinct caucuses.

In the call, Erhardt asked Winterer why he was calling, since he was not a constituent or Edina resident.

"I'm calling because I'm going to be taxed under your veto override," Winterer said. "He told me I didn't know what I was talking about. I told him there are vast sums of money that are not being directed properly."

Erhardt responded, "Tell the people to go "F***' themselves and that they are full of 'S***'."

Erhardt has a challenger and Hennipen County's Republican endoring convention is meeting today.

Obviously it is now time for Rep. Erhardt to be retired if he has no desire to serve "we the people".

Fallout!

The fallout begins. Michael Brodkorb (of Minnesota Democrats Exposed) reported today that the delegates of the House District 49B Convention (Rep. Kathy Tinglestad's district) withheld endorsement today. What this means is that they chose to postpone the endorsement for this seat. This is a bold move by the activsts. It is not often that an incumbent legislator is so thoroughly "dissed" by their convention.

The grass roots activists have spoken loudly to Rep. Tinglestad. We put too much effort into things like the Party Platform to have our elected officials ignore it. Rep. Tinglestad now faces a choice. Which way she chooses, will have serious consequences, not only for her but for her BPOU and for the party as a whole. As the next few weeks worth of BPOU conventions progresses, we will continue to see fallout from the Transit vote.

The Notables from Tonights Transportation Vote

The final vote on the bloated Transportation Funding went as follows - 83 Democrats and 6 Republicans voted FOR the Transportation bill and 42 Republicans and 2 Democrats voted against it. The 6 Republicans who voted for the bill were:

Rep. Jim Abler (48B)
Rep. Ron Erhardt (41A)
Rep. Rod Hamilton (22B)
Rep. Bud Heidgerken (13A)
Rep Neil Peterson (41A)
Rep Kathy Tinglestad (49B)

Word has it that Rep. Peterson was bought out by a pork project for his district.

The 2 Democrats who voted against the pork fest were:

Rep. John Lesch (66A) and Mary Ellen Otremba (11B).

For those of you who are so inclined, a phone call or two (politely of course) to between now and next Tuesday (when the House is tenatively scheduled to take up the over-ride vote) reminding the 6 "Republican" legislators that the citizens of Minnesota ARE overtaxed enough as it is thank you very much might be in order. Furthermore, a reminder that Section 1 of the Republican Party of Minnesota standing platform (which starts off as follows):

Republicans believe that limited government is the best government and that free
enterprise is the best path to prosperity for all Minnesotans. We support reducing taxes, spending and regulation to create business opportunities for our hard-working families and businesses. Therefore, we support:
A. Reducing the burden of existing taxation on our economy, supporting President Bush's tax cuts and making those cuts permanent; abolishing federal and state capital gains taxes as well as taxes on marriage, sickness, death, or inheritance; and keeping
Internet access and sales free of taxation.
B. Limiting the ability of Congress and the Legislature to use tax increases as the first solution to every problem by requiring a supermajority vote in Congress or the Minnesota Legislature to enact such increases; by a state Constitutional amendment
limiting growth in state spending to inflation plus population growth; by requiring that all state surpluses be returned to the taxpayers in proportion to the taxes paid; and adopting a United States Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget.

might be in order. Emphasis above is mine, but you get the point! Until the Legislature gets their spending priorities in order (roads and bridges, roads and bridges, ROADS AND BRIDGES) then we the people should not support any new taxes or any legislators who support raising taxes on an already over-burdened populace.

Final Vote

89 Ayes 44 Nays - mostly along party lines. Some notable votes:

Abler - Aye
Erhardt - Aye
Tinglestad - Aye
Beard - NO (I told you so AAA)

I will look for the posted roll call vote and comment once I get back from our BPOU meeting tonight.

Break over

The last amendment (Siefert Amendment) was to prohibit illegal immigrants from getting the Motor Fuels Tax Credit. Surprisingly (based on the discussion surrounding the amendment) it passed 73-60.

There are still a number of amendments being proposed. Some are more arcane than others. I will not waste everyone's time live blogging on all of them, but I will comment on things that strick my fancy as they happen.

WHOA - Rep. Howe reports that one of the LA's got a threatening email over the debate on this bill. Come on people....that is just not cool...

OK - we are done amending the bill. Rep. Buesgens is up and talking about how the tax increases are going to hurt people and jobs in the state. He talked about how these tax increases are an economic killer! Gary managed to get the money quote - a quote that I missed due to needing to help the Junior Logician with a homework assignment....

4:15- On to debating the bill. Rep. Buesgens speaking: “Winston Churchill said that trying to tax their way into prosperity is like a farmer standing in a bucket, then trying to lift the bucket up by the handle.” God bless Rep. Buesgens. Now he’s onto talking about “overburdening our families.” “This bill is bad for families. This bill is bad for our economy. This bill is bad for Minnesota.” AMEN!!!

Rep. Buesgens is absolutely correct.

Intersting.....Rep Olson has asked that the bill be tabled until the February 28th budget forcast comes out. The motion to table the bill failed 37 Ayes to 96 Nays....

Give Rep. Juhnke full props for being the first one to mention the 35W bridge collapse in the debate. You certainly have to love a man who plays politics on dead bodies.

Rep. Kohls calls this bill the largest tax increase in Minnesota history. Rep. Hortman says that this bill is a "compromise" in that is it smaller than last years bill? Gary dispelled that myth!

3:52- We’ve heard alot about compromise. Let’s keep in mind that this isn’t true compromise. Last year’s bill called for a $5.5 billion tax increase. This year’s bill calls for $7.5+ billion in tax increases.

Some compromise Rep. Hortman. Even if we use her numbers ($6.5 billion) we are still looking at a larger bill than we had last year!

Rep. Olson raised an interesting point of parlimentary inquiry. Many of the Republican Reps have been asking for the bill to be held until the forecast is released on Feb. 28. Rep. Olson's point of inquiry was if the bill passes today and it neeeds to go to a joint conference committee how many days would it be before the Governor has to act on it. Once out of committee (assuming that it only takes one day to get out of committee) the Governor has three days (not counting Sunday) to act. So if it hits the Governor's desk Saturday morning, he has to act before Tuesday - two days before the next budget forcast is released. Putting it in that context does not make the prospect of waiting until the forecast is out ot be an unreasonable request.

Rep Steve Gottwald is speaking now about how the message out of this bill is that the legislature can't prioritize and so we are forcing the taxpayers to bear the brunt of the legislatures failures! He said that they are being told that they bond roads and bridges because it will pass the burden on to our children and grandchildren but it is ok to do it for dolphin pools and festivals! He said that if the other members can go sell that to their constituents then they are much better sales men than he!

Rep Drazkowski....it's about priorities and discipline...something "we are lacking as a body". There is nothing courageous reaching into your neighbors pocket to pay for things. WOW - where did this guy come from and can we clone him?

Back In Session

While I am getting back into the swing of things on the debate on the floor, listen to this report (HT Gary and Drew). Tom Hauser did the math on the claim of 30,000 new jobs and found out that the claims are (gasp) not near reality.

Rep Mark Olson (in defense of his amendment) just gave a speech that has echoed what many of us have said....it's about priorities! We need to make roads and bridges a priority!

The mantra continues....roads and bridges, roads and bridges, roads and bridges....and priorities. Good for you guys. It's more than past time to be talking about necessaties and "nice to haves".

The roll is being taken on the Olson Amendment. I came into the webcast in the middle of it but the best that I can tell is that the amendment would guarantee that 50% of all bonded dollars went to ROADS AND BRIDGES. The motion failed 40 Ayes to 93 Nays along party lines.

Rep Olson has another amendment on the floor and has asked for a roll call vote on it. The Amendment requests that no taxes be raised during this time of economic downturn and recommends that the revenue increases in transportation funding be offset with tax/spending cuts in other areas. Rep Solberg rose to raise a point of order that the amendment was not germane. Rep Olson ably defended why it is germane and Rep. Solberg withdrew his point of order. Rep Olson points out that state spending is 52% HIGHER than the rate of inflation and insists that the citizens of Minnesota simply can not afford that to continue! Bravo Rep. Olson.

Rep. Lenczewski argued against the amendment because of it's "regressivity". Rep. Brod got up and stated that if you are against "regressivity" then you need to vote AGAINST THE ENTIRE BILL! Brava Rep. Brod.

Rep. Erhardt rises and askes how much is being taken out of the general fund in order to fund the roads under the Olson Amendment. Rep. Olson said that it is reducing what is spent less $19 million. Rep Erhardt claims that necessary items like Education funding would be cut out of the General Fund and argues against the Amendment. Rep. Olson said that the money would not come out of necessary items like Education but it would come from one time monies and rainy day funding.

Rep. Erhardt went off on a tangent and finished off his tirade with a comment "I'd like to see those numbers (reffering to federal funding)" and then finished with a rather odd laugh. All Speaker Anderson could follow up with was "okaaaayyyyy". The roll was called and went down on a 41-92 party line (except for Rep. Erhardt) vote.

Rep. Heidgerken made a great point (talking about the amendment to change the sales tax from 1/2 cent to 1/4 cent) that most Minnesotans do not have "transit". Now to the defense of that, most counties do have a city/county circulator bus or other form of localized bus circulation. That said, this transit money is the troubling part. Again - this bill is supposed to be for "roads and bridges". If we are serious about fixing our ailing infrastructure then we must temporarily stop subsidizing Hiawatha LRT and North Star and Dan Patch lines and the Central Corridor LRT. We have to reset our priorities. How difficult is that for the Legislature to understand?

Rep. Morrow got up and gave an impassioned plea in support of the amendment saying (directly to Rep. Tinglestad) "we want North Star don't we?" NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!! ROADS AND BRIDGES, ROADS AND BRIDGES, ROADS AND BRIDGES!

Rep. Buesgens is speaking now likening this "compromise" to a thief taking all of your money, handing half of it back to you and saying "see we compromised!"

Rep. Seifert is saying that he can not vote for an amendment that would raise taxes on the outstate voters who can least afford it.

Rep. Berns got up and asked where the sales tax referendum was for the metro area residents! Apparently outstate gets to vote on it but the 7 county metro area does not.

Rep. Solberg got up and read a Chamber of Commerce letter endorsing the Lieder Amendment (which would lower the sales tax increase from 1/2 cent to 1/4 cent). Rep. Brod got up and asked several questions on the amendment including whether there was a fiscal note done to see what negative impact the sales tax increase would have on local governments and state government (local and state governments are not tax exempt). Rep. Solberg snarked "well if you want to look for a reason to vote against the Chamber of Commerce"to which Rep. Brod answered "no I am looking for a reason to vote for or against this bill based ON FACT!" Brava Rep. Brod.

The Lieder Amendment passed 98-34 mostly on party lines.

The debate has gone from transportation and into immigration so I am going to take a break.

Get Ready to Rumble!

OK - I have the video streaming up and running, the live blog of the floor vote of the Transportation Bill will commence as soon as the session is gaveled to order. Newer entries will be at the end of the post so keep refreshing and scroll down.

10:08am and Representatives are still meandering to their seats. At this rate, we should get a call to order in about 10-15 minutes.

10:37 and still no call to order. It looks like maybe 1/3 of the legislators are even on the floor so I suspect we will be waiting a little longer.

10:48 on the phone with an equally bored Gary Gross. At this rate, we might get a vote at about midnight? Seriously, do you suppose that there is some backroom negotiations going on and that may be the reason for the delay?

10:52 and a SLEW of legislators just walked in. Maybe, just maybe we will get started on this some time today.

10:55 FINALLY we have a call to order! Starting off with a prayer and a moment of silence in honor of the communities of Marshall and Cottonwood.

11:02 - the roll is closed and a quorum has been attained. It's time to get this show on the road! While you are waiting for the main show, swing over to MDE and read his post about the armtwisting that has been going on behind the scenes.

11:05 - FFA Day at the Capital. Introductions are made of some of the FFA reps in attendance and a proclaimation is read by various outstate representatives.

11:12 and it is time to rumble. HF2800 is on the floor. Rep. Lieder (DFL Crookston) calls it a "safer roads" bill? If there is money going to "transit" then it is NOT a roads bill! Roads and bridges, roads and bridges, roads and bridges....it's that simple guys!

11:16: Oooooo a $25.00 tax credit for the working poor to offset the increase in tabs and gas tax and the increased metro sales taxes. How generous. I'm sure that will buy a lot of food for the families of the working poor.....Oh wait - the tab fees will only increase if the vehicle is new or never registered in MN before? There goes the new car industry. I can see that there will be a rush on used car sales in MN if this is passed.

Speaking of the metro sales tax....NO REFERENDUM will be allowed on this. Does anyone remember the outcry when the legislature did this same thing for the Twins stadium? If we are going to increase the metro sales tax for anything it should be for metro roads FIRST. Remember, roads and bridges, roads and bridges, roads and bridges!

Rep. Heidgerken hits my point - no money will be raised if there is an influx of used car sales. He also talks about the increase in transit costs and who will bear those costs. The answer was that Hennepin County is on the hook for the cost over-runs for the Hiawatha line.

Rep. Eastlund brings up a point about the tab fees and how dealers would get hit the hardest by this because they are the ones that buy the out of state vehicles.

11:34 Rep. Marquardt (DFL- Dillworth) brings up the trope that this bill will create 30,000 new jobs A YEAR and that it will decrease property taxes! I would really like to see where he gets that data, because I know that our property taxes have not gone up due to transportation funding....it has been because of out of control spending on things like city halls and community centers....not making roads.

Rep. Kohls (R-Victoria) is asking Rep. Marquardt about some of his claims - like where this bill says that cities and counties will reduce property taxes! He wants to know where that dollar for dollar reduction will be! Rep. Marquardt gets the Joe Soucheray "B as in B S as in S" award for answering the question "What page is this on?" by saying that it is on "every page of this bill".

Oh goodie - we are getting into the LGA debate. I suspect we shall be hearing from Representative Beard soon enough.

Rep. Emmer (R-Delano) asked Rep. Lieder if he could guarantee the citizens of Minnesota would see a property tax reduction and the short answer was no....

Just a quick aside. I will be dropping off live blogging in about 5 minutes and jumping over to MidStream Radio where Jazz and I will be talking about the faux McCain adultery scandal and Rep. Lesche's breed ban bill. I hope you will tune in for a while.

Quick update - Rep. Buesgens is making a great point about how this bill is not about more money for roads and bridges if we are saying that the bill will reduce cities and counties spending on roads and bridges!