More Scolding of Rural Legislators

My parents live in Fergus Falls, which is represented in the Legislature by Republicans Cal Larson (Senate) and Bud Nornes (House). I was able to get a letter to the editor published in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal re: their support of the Mike Opat/Brad Finstad/Carl Pohlad stadium swindle. http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/articles/2006/10/23/opinion/opinion08.txt I was born in Fergus Falls, and live in Minneapolis. With parents and many other relatives in Fergus Falls, I visit frequently. My family enjoys a lively discussion of current events, and I know of the recent struggles Fergus Falls has faced with school facilities and funding decisions. Just be thankful you are given the opportunity to vote. Your Republican representatives in the legislature, Bud Nornes and Cal Larson, voted for a 30-year sales tax in Hennepin County to fund a capital project for private owners, namely the Minnesota Twins. State law requires that local option sales taxes be approved by referendum, unless the Legislature allows an exception. Hennepin County voters were denied a right to vote on this tax. We had it forced down our throats, thanks to the support of rural legislators like Larson and Nornes. Bud Nornes is on record with the Taxpayers League as a ‘no new taxes’ pledge signer. What happened? Here's the real irony — building and supporting a school is a constitutionally-required function of state government. Building a playground for grown men to play a child’s game is not a function of government, by any definition. Vote these fake conservatives out of office on Nov. 7. They raised the taxes on one-fourth of the state's population, for something government shouldn't even be doing. Mark Hanson Minneapolis

Sending a message to Brad Finstad's District

Eva Young and I both had letters to the editor published in the New Ulm Journal. It would be nice to not have Brad Finstad return to St. Paul next winter. Unfortunately, thanks to Mike Opat, the sales tax will be in place by the time the Legislature is back in session. From Eva: TO THE EDITOR: Jane Peichel’s letter to the editor discussed “protecting our area taxpayers from paying for stadiums.” Protecting New Ulm taxpayers is done at the expense of the Hennepin County Taxpayers. I called Brad Finstad last spring, and told him I take it personally when he wants to increase my taxes to pay for something he wants. I live in Minneapolis. Our local libraries are open three days a week. Many of our roads are in horrible shape. Traffic lights frequently don’t work. The schools are in crisis. We are known throughout the state for being high crime. These are all quality of life issues that should be bigger priorities than giving corporate welfare to a billionaire. We have voted to increase our taxes for schools and libraries. We voted to increase our taxes for a new central library. We have voted to limit taxpayer funding for professional sports stadiums. Rep. Brad Finstad pushed legislation for a 30 year, 1.1 billion dollar tax increase to pay for a stadium, and to stop Hennepin County residents (from)having a say in this through a referendum as required by state law. We will be paying the stadium tax longer than the stadium will last. Does anyone buy a car with a 30 year mortgage? Brad Finstad’s sole priority during the last legislative session has been sticking Hennepin County Residents with the stadium tax. His leadership on that issue has been noticed, and many Hennepin County residents will take it personally should he be reelected. New Ulm is a popular tourist destination. Brad Finstad’s leadership and visibility on this issue has made New Ulm a visible boycott target for angry Hennepin County residents should Finstad get reelected. A Hennepin County resident boycott of New Ulm will be harmful to the economy of New Ulm. Brad Finstad is making New Ulm known for being deadbeats. Deadbeats charge items to other people’s credit cards. That’s exactly what Brad Finstad’s stadium legislation did — it charged his project — the stadium — to the unwilling Hennepin County Taxpayer credit card (our sales tax). Finstad started an economic war with his single minded insistance that Hennepin County — and only Hennepin County — bear the costs of the Twins Stadium. Please vote to defeat Brad Finstad on November 7. EVA YOUNG And from me TO THE EDITOR: In his July 2006 press release announcing a run for re-election, Rep. Brad Finstad said the following: “My goal is to continue working hard on traditional family value issues while protecting the pocketbooks of state taxpayers.” Well, I’m a state taxpayer and Rep. Finstad worked hard to make sure I was denied the right to vote on a local option sales tax in Hennepin County. One-fourth of the state’s population is facing a 30-year added tax burden to subsidize private investors. As it is a tax on purchases, it is highly regressive. How cynical does a guy have to be to work on passing a bill that includes an exception to the referendum requirement? The only reason a referendum wasn’t part of the Twins stadium legislation is that the supporters knew very well that the voters would not approve it. Instead, “No New Taxes” Governor Pawlenty and a bunch of fake conservative out-state legislators endorsed the idea that four (out of seven) Hennepin County commissioners are much smarter than the voters. I can’t even totally boycott paying these taxes without moving, as it will apply to utility bills. We all know what Rep. Finstad means when he refers to “traditional family values.” but how about asking our elected officials to demonstrate their high moral character in every vote they take? So far, Rep. Finstad appears to be a good imitator of the “I’ve got mine” ethic that has run rampant through the Tom DeLay-engineered US House of Representatives. Kick this guy out of office. Situational ethics have no place in the Legislature. Your representative should work for the best interest of all Minnesotans. Vote for Bob Skillings on Nov. 7. MARK HANSON

Ethical Depravity in New Ulm

Mike Opat's friend in the Legislature, Brad Finstad, has to answer questions about his support for the Twins Stadium swindle. What sort of moral and ethical universe does Brad live in, where he'll acknowledge that the team is a state asset, but by gosh, his district isn't going to help pay for it? I guess it takes this kind of politician to impose a 30 year tax with no referendum to fund a capital project for wealthy private investors. From the New Ulm Journal House District 21B Candidate Forum Stadium bill draws questions for Finstad By KEVIN SWEENEY Journal Editor NEW ULM — Rep. Brad Finstad’s authorship of the Twins stadium bill last session and his work to get it passed was the most contentious question in his debate with DFL challenger Bob Skillings in a League of Women Voters District 21B candidate forum Tuesday night. Finstad was chief author of the bill that finally authorized the building of a Minnesota Twins ballpark in Minneapolis, and he shepherded it through the committee hearings in House and Senate. Asked why he supported public funding of a Twins stadium, Finstad pointed out that no one in his district would pay a cent toward the ballpark, unless they spent money in Hennepin County, where a .015 percent sales tax is funding the project. Finstad defended his work on the bill as an issue of importance to people of his district and across the state. “I think Bob and I agree that the Minnesota Twins are a huge asset to the state. ... I heard my first three years in the Legislature, weekly and door to door about the issue. I have here the names of over a thousand people in our district that have contacted me, my office or the Minnesota Twins about their support for this proposal that was passed.” Finstad said the project was not his idea. Hennepin County commissioners had come to the state asking for authorization for a local sales tax to put a new ballpark in the county. “Fifty-four percent of the season ticket holders are in Hennepin County, and 27 percent of that local option sales tax will be made up of people from outside Hennepin County, and you and I will have the opportunity to watch the Minnesota Twins for the next 30 years without having to pay for it. I was in no way pushing an issue that made us have to put state funds toward a professional team.” Skillings said he wondered “if Hennepin County was so enthused about taking this on for the benefit of the whole state, why didn’t a Hennepin County legislator be the chief author?”