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Governor Pawlenty has shifted the cost of local government from
the State to property taxes. In 2007, I successfully
authored legislation to reduce farm property taxes and voted to
increase local government aid. Unfortunately, the Governor
vetoed that legislation. This year the property tax credit
was increased. I want to change the tax system in
Minnesota to make it more fair and progressive by shifting
revenue from property and sales tax to income tax.
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Protecting Drinking Water and the Environment
I
authored legislation that will update drinking water standards
for ten commonly detected ground water contaminants, like the
pesticide atrazine, that are detrimental to human health.
I have been a leader in raising concerns about the impact of
ethanol on food prices and the environment. I support
adoption of the California clean car emission standards. I
also support more "green" and efficient home construction
designs.
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Confronting the Energy Crisis
High energy costs are hurting our state's economy as well as the
pocketbooks of many Minnesotan's, especially those on fixed
incomes. Minnesota made big strides the last biennium in
promoting renewable energy, conservation, and energy efficiency.
Much more needs to be done to reduce energy consumption and to
enhance energy efficiency if we are ever going to reduce high
energy costs. In order to do this we have to break the
influence of special interest groups.
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Supporting the Middle Class
More and more Minnesotans are slipping from the middle class
into financial crisis. I helped pass legislation that
addressed the mortgage foreclosure crisis by providing funding
for increased demand on food shelves and affordable housing.
I authored legislation that was included in the transportation
funding bill to provide a gas tax credit to people with low
incomes.
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