Thank You to Governor PawlentyThank You to Governor PawlentyThank You to Governor Pawlenty

1 4 t h A n n u a l1 4 t h A n n u a l

LegislativeScorecard • 2010

2010 Best Friends of the Taxpayer

All of the legislators below received a score of 100% on our 2010 Legislative Scorecard. They deserve special recognition for their hard work and willingness to stand strong for individual economic freedom.

RepresentativeBruce AndersonBruce Anderson

R-BuffaloTownship (19A)

10th award

RepresentativeMark BuesgensMark Buesgens

R-Jordan(35B)

8th award

Representative Steve DrazkowskiSteve Drazkowski

R-Wabasha(28B)

1st award

SenatorRay VandeveerRay VandeveerR-Forest Lake

(52)2nd award

2010 Scorecard Summary2010 Scorecard Summary2010 Scorecard Summaryhis year’s legislative grudge matchactually started at the end of the 2009session when Governor Pawlenty bal-

anced the state budget by making $2.7 billion inbudget cuts without consulting DFL leadershipor calling a special legislative session. Eventhough the animosity started with the $2.7 bil-lion in budget reduction it quickly expanded toa $380 million veto of funding for the GeneralAssistance Medical Care program.

Next the Democrats rushed to pass a one bil-lion dollar building construction bill paid forwith state bonds. Governor Pawlenty had clear-ly stated his objections to any bill spendingmore than $750 million. Even with the threat ofa veto, the DFL forged ahead passing a $1.1 bil-lion package of construction projects. Uponreceiving the bill, the governor line-item vetoed$319 million of projects from the bill.

The fight that had been simmering for monthsover the General Assistance Medical Care pro-gram funding began to boil next. Again,Democrat legislators had attacked the governor

for eight months regarding his veto of this pro-gram. In their defense, DFL leaders worked longand hard to craft legislation to address thehealth care needs for this very low income pop-ulation. Even though their bill had broad bipar-tisan support, Governor Pawlenty quicklyrejected the bill with another veto. This sent theDemocrats scrambling to find an alternativesolution before funding was entirely eliminatedon April 1st. In quick fashion, DFL legislatorsworked out a compromise with the governorand passed another General Assistance MedicalCare bill which the governor did sign.

In the biggest surprise of the 2010 session, theMinnesota Supreme Court in early May ruledthat Governor Pawlenty had overreached hisexecutive authority when he unilaterally made$2.7 billion in budget cuts in June of 2009.

Faced with the prospects of having to resolvea $3 billion budget hole, and with only twoweeks left before the mandated adjournmentof May 17th, there were few options availableto the DFL legislative majorities to close the

budget gap. As usual the Democrats went totheir old reliable maneuver --- "tax the rich"tax increase.But their patented "tax the rich" move failed,

just as it had at the end of the 2009 session.With a package of budget cuts and a $450 mil-lion income tax increase, the DFL leadershipwas barely able to muster enough votes to passtheir last ditch attempt to balance the budget.Even before the bill was passed, the governorpledged to veto their proposed tax increase.

Now with only nine days before adjournment,Democrats were bewildered. Their hopes of a$400 million state bailout arriving from federalhealth care dollars disappeared along with theirefforts to raise taxes. There was little left for theDFL majorities to do but to rubber stamp thebudget unallotments that they had so strenuous-ly objected to for the last 10 months. GovernorPawlenty was able to emerge victorious from abruising and bitter legislative contest. WhileDemocrats held their heads high for providing abalanced budget, most of their budget solutionswere thwarted by the governor in the end.

LEGEND: “+”= pro-taxpayer vote “–”= anti-taxpayer vote “*”= did not vote

STATE SENATE

2010 VOTE DESCRIPTIONS(SJ = Senate Journal Page SF = Senate File)

1) MORE MONEY FOR HEALTH CARE (SJ 7019) – This bill added spending to anout of control general assistance medical care program in dire need of reform.A vote against is scored as a plus. (SF 2168 passed 47-16, vetoed by the gov-ernor.)

2) BILLION DOLLAR DEBT INCREASE (SJ 7137) – Despite a billion dollar budgetdeficit the legislature’s first action was to increase the state’s debt by $1.2B.The taxpayer friendly vote was to oppose it. (SF 2360 passed 47-19.)

3) BILLION DOLLAR DEBT INCREASE TAKE TWO (SJ 7665) – After a threatenedveto of the billion dollar bonding bill by the governor, the legislative confer-ence committee nicked the bloated debt increase legislation from $1.2 billiondown to $1.1 billion. A vote against the bill is scored as a plus. (SF 2360passed 49-17.)

4) ADOPTION OF GOVERNOR PAWLENTY’S BUDGET (SJ 8837) – In an attempt toresolve the budget impasse, Governor Pawlenty’s entire budget proposal wasoffered as an amendment to SF3223. The taxpayer friendly position was tovote ‘yes’. (Amendment failed 10-56.)

5) THEY CALLED IT A “JOBS BILL” (SJ 9254) – This bill had nothing to do withcreating jobs, what it did was pick winners and losers. The bill provided a taxcredit to “angel investors” but no incentive for those in a position to createjobs to do so. Opposing the bill was the taxpayer friendly vote. (SF 2568passed 58-3.)

6) INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT PLANS (SJ 10364) – This amendment would haveprovided portability and investment choice for state employees’ pensions, andsaved the taxpayers money by establishing individual accounts for retirement.A vote for is scored as a plus. (The amendment failed 24-36.)

7) OMNIBUS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL (SJ 10411) – The estimatedcost of this expansion of services is $1.42B over three years from surchargeson hospitals, insurance companies, and group homes which will increasehealth care costs at a time when we should be focused on lowering healthcare costs. The taxpayer friendly vote was against it. (The bill passed 42-19and was vetoed by the governor.)

8) RAISING THE CORPORATE TAX RATE (SJ 10867) – Minnesota already has the3rd highest corporate tax rate in the world! Raising the rate would makeMinnesota businesses less competitive and increase unemployment. A vote inopposition is scored as a plus. (Amendment failed 9-57.)

9) JUST ANOTHER TAX INCREASE (SJ 10867) – Once again the DFL controlledlegislature proposal was to add a new fourth tier to income tax rates. Theincrease in revenue was estimated at more than $400 million a year. The taxpayer friendly vote is against (SF 1556 passed 34-33.)

10) MORE TAXES (SJ 10875) – The bill represents a landfill of tax changesincluding the authorization of several local option sales taxes for select cities aswell as $34 million additional debt for the Met Council. A vote against it is thetaxpayer friendly vote. (SF 3327 passed 54-13.)

11) WASTEFUL SPENDING OF LEGACY MONEY (SJ 11465) – $26 million of dedi-cated arts and heritage funding was parceled out to special interest groups forworthless endeavors like $1.8 million for landowners to protect rocks. The tax-payer friendly vote was ‘no’. (SF 2462 passed 59-7.)

12) MORE TAXES (SJ 12051) – The bill represents a potpourri of tax changesincluding the authorization of higher food, beverage, and lodging taxes forselect cities as well as $34 million additional debt for the Met Council. Thetaxpayer friendly vote is against. (SF 3327 passed 50-17.)

T

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSTATE SENATE

LEGEND: “+”= pro-taxpayer vote “–”= anti-taxpayer vote “*”= did not vote

Party/Dist, Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

66 D Ellen Anderson - - - - - - - - - - - + 8 96 D Thomas Bakk - - - - - - * + - - - - 8 2061 D Linda Berglin - - - - - - - * - - - - 0 851 D Don Betzold - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 1043 D Terri Bonoff - - - - * + - + + - - - 25 2238 D Jim Carlson - - - - - - - + + - - - 17 1050 D Satveer Chaudhary - - - - - - - + - - + - 17 1815 D Tarryl Clark - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 864 D Richard Cohen - - - - * - - + - - - - 8 1025 D Kevin Dahle - - - - - - - + + - - - 17 860 D D. Scott Dibble - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 918 R Steve Dille - - - - - * - + + - - - 17 5140 D John Doll - + + - - + - + + - - - 42 2231 D Sharon Erickson Ropes - - - - - + + + + - - - 33 1914 R Michelle Fischbach + + + - - + + + + - - + 67 7216 D Lisa Fobbe - - - - * + - + + - - - 25 2347 D Leo Foley * - - - - - - + - - - - 8 1021 R Dennis Frederickson - - - - - - + + + - - - 25 5437 R Chris Gerlach + + + - - + + + + + + + 83 8813 R Joe Gimse + + + - - * * + + - - + 50 5342 R David Hann + + + + - + + + + + - + 83 9158 D Linda Higgins * - - - - - - + - - - - 8 811 R Bill Ingebrigtsen + + + + - + + + + + - + 83 6949 R Debbie Johnson + + + - + + + + + + + + 92 8148 R Michael Jungbauer + + + + - + + + + + + + 92 8063 D Kenneth Kelash - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 419 R Amy Koch + + + + - + + + + + - + 83 8712 R Paul Koering - - - - - + + + + + - + 50 6120 D Gary Kubly - - - - - - - + - - - + 17 239 D Keith Langseth - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 1344 D Ron Latz - - - - * * - - - - - - 0 1532 R Warren Limmer + + + + - + + + + + + + 92 928 D Tony Lourey - + - - - - - + - - - - 17 430 D Ann Lynch - - - - - - - + + - - - 17 1054 D John Marty - - - - + - + - - - - - 17 1939 D James Metzen - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 1341 R Geoff Michel - + * + - + + + + + - + 67 7867 D Mee Moua - - - - - * - - - - - - 0 528 D Steve Murphy - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 917 D Rick Olseen - - - - - - - + + - - - 17 833 R Gen Olson * + + - - + * + + - - - 42 754 D Mary Olson - - - - - - - + + - - - 17 1234 R Julianne Ortman + + + + - + + + + + - + 83 8965 D Sandra Pappas - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 536 R Pat Pariseau + + + - - + * + + - * - 50 8226 R Mike Parry + + + - - + + + + + + + 83 8359 D Lawrence Pogemiller - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 77 D Yvonne Prettner Solon - * - - - - - - - - - - 0 1245 D Ann Rest - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 2535 R Claire Robling + + + + - + + + + + - + 83 7624 R Julie Rosen + + + - * + + + + - - - 58 5853 D Sandy Rummel - - - - - + - + + - - - 25 2056 D Kathy Saltzman - - - - - + - + + - - - 25 193 D Tom Saxhaug - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 1146 D Linda Scheid - - - - - * * + - - - - 8 1329 R David Senjem + - - + - + + + + - - - 50 6823 D Kathy Sheran - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 857 D Katie Sieben - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 142 D Rod Skoe - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 2210 D Dan Skogen - - - - - - - + + - - - 17 1427 D Dan Sparks - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 181 D LeRoy Stumpf * - - - - - - + - - - - 8 145 D David Tomassoni - - - - - * - + - - - - 8 1562 D Patricia Torres Ray - - - - - * * - - - - - 0 252 R Ray Vandeveer + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 8622 D Jim Vickerman - - - * - - - + - - - - 8 1555 D Charles Wiger - - - - - - - + - - - - 8 22

2010

LIFE

RATING2010 VOTE DESCRIPTIONS(HJ = House Journal Page HF = House File)

1) BILLION DOLLAR DEBT INCREASE (HJ 7795) – Despite a billion dollar budget deficit,the legislature’s first action was to increase the state’s debt by $1.2B. The taxpayerfriendly vote was to oppose it. (HF 2700 passed 92-37.)

2) MORE MONEY FOR HEALTH CARE (HJ 7865) – This bill added spending to an out ofcontrol general assistance medical care program in dire need of reform. A vote againstthe bill is scored as a plus. (HF 2680 passed 125-9, but was vetoed by the governor.)

3) BILLION DOLLAR DEBT INCREASE TAKE TWO (HJ 8664) After a threatened veto of thebillion dollar bonding bill by the governor, the legislative conference committee nickedthe bloated debt increase legislation from $1.2 billion down to $1.1 billion. (HF 2700passed 85-46. The governor did veto $319 million from the bill.)

4) COMMON SENSE BUDGETING (HJ 9180) – This was a vote to adopt zero based budget-ing for the state’s programs. A system of zero based budgeting would require the legis-lature to closely examine all agency spending. The taxpayer friendly vote was a votefor the amendment. (Amendment to HF 1671 was adopted on a vote of 71-63.)

5) REDUCE THE CORPORATE TAX RATE (HJ 9733) – The vote was to reduce the corporatetax rate .5% a year for 10 years starting in 2012. Minnesota has the third highest cor-porate tax rate in the world! The taxpayer friendly vote was a vote in favor. (HF 2695failed 52-80.)

6) THEY CALLED IT A “JOBS BILL” (HJ 9761) – This bill had nothing to do with creatingjobs, what it did was pick winners and losers. The bill provided a tax credit to “angelinvestors” but no incentive for current employers to create jobs. Opposing the bill wasthe taxpayer friendly vote. (HF 2695 passed 112-20.)

7) CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ON STATE SPENDING (HJ 11149) –This was a proposedConstitutional Amendment to limit spending in the current biennium to the amount ofrevenue collected during the previous two years. The taxpayer friendly vote wasagainst laying on the table. (Motion was not to vote on the Minority Report, passed 85-48.)

8) HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HJ 11338) – The bill raised taxes on corporationswhich totaled more than $150 million over 3 years to pay for expanded health careservices. A vote against is scored as a plus. (HF 2614 passed 79-54. The governorvetoed the bill.)

9) INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT PLANS (HJ 11929) – This amendment would have providedportability and investment choice for state employees’ pensions, and saved the taxpay-ers money by establishing individual accounts for retirement. A vote for is scored as aplus. (The amendment failed 33-91.)

10) JUST ANOTHER TAX INCREASE (HJ 12091) – Once again the DFL controlled legislatureproposal was to add a new fourth tier to income tax rates. The increase in revenuewas estimated at more than $400 million a year. (HF 2037 passed 71-63, vetoed bythe governor.)

11) ADDITIONAL TAXATION WITHOUT A VOTE (HJ 12470) – The omnibus K-12 educationbill contained a landfill of policy changes but the most dangerous proposal was toallow school boards to extend property tax levies without a popular vote. (HF 3833passed 86-47, died in Senate Committee.)

12) WASTEFUL SPENDING OF LEGACY MONEY (HJ 12688) - $26 million of dedicated artsand heritage funding was parceled out to special interest groups for worthless endeav-ors like $1.8 million for landowners to protect rocks. The taxpayer friendly vote was‘no’. (HF 2624 was passed 95-36.)

13) RESTRICTING GOVERNOR’S UNALLOTMENT AUTHORITY (HJ 13005) – Because the DFLcontrolled legislature disapproved of the governor’s budget balancing moves in 2009,they attempted to restrict the budget cutting power of the governor. Voting against it isscored as a plus. (HF 2866 passed 87-43.)

14) MORE TAXES (HJ 13325) – The bill represents a potpourri of tax changes includingthe authorization of higher food, beverage, and lodging taxes for select cities as well as$34 million additional debt for the Met Council. The taxpayer friendly vote was against.(HF 3729 passed 78-53.)

15) ADDITIONAL TAXATION WITHOUT A VOTE, TAKE TWO (HJ 13664) – This second attemptto allow school boards to extend property tax levies without a popular vote had similarlanguage to the previous omnibus K-12 bill. A vote against is scored as a plus. (HF2072 was passed 77-53.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Party/Dist, Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

48B R Jim Abeler - - + + + - + - - + - - + * * 40 5219A R Bruce Anderson + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 9613A R Paul Anderson - - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 80 7343A R Sarah Anderson + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 8103A D Tom Anzelc - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 239B D Joe Atkins - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - 7 935A R Michael Beard + - + + + - + + + + + + * + + 80 7743B D John Benson - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - 7 957A D Karla Bigham - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 025B D David Bly - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - 7 425A R Laura Brod + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 8227A D Robin Brown - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - 7 623B D Kathy Brynaert - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 235B R Mark Buesgens + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 9556A D Julie Bunn - - - + + - - + - + + - - - + 40 2545B D Lyndon Carlson, Sr. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 2058B D Bobby Joe Champion - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - 7 361A D Karen Clark - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - 7 1124B R Tony Cornish * - + + + + + + - + - - + + + 67 6731B R Greg Davids - - + + + + + + * + + + * + + 73 7762A D Jim Davnie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1152B R Matt Dean + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 8629A R Randy Demmer + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 7752A R Bob Dettmer + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + 93 8706A D David Dill - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - 0 1047A D Denise Dittrich - - - + - - - + - + - - - - - 20 2233B R Connie Doepke + - + + + - + + - + + - + + + 73 6712B D Al Doty - - - - - + - - - - + - - - + 20 941A R Keith Downey + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 7328B R Steve Drazkowski + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 100 9017A R Rob Eastlund + - * + + - + + + + + + + + + 80 8102A D Kent Eken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 7 2119B R Tom Emmer + + + + + + + + * + * + + + + 87 9120A D Andrew Falk - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - 7 308B D Tim Faust - - - + - - - - - - - - - + - 13 826B D Patti Fritz - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - 7 953A D Paul Gardner - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - 7 836B R Pat Garofalo + - + + + - + + + + - + + + + 80 7315A R Steve Gottwalt + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 7754A D Mindy Greiling - - - - - + - - - - - - - + - 13 1924A R Bob Gunther + - + + + - + + - + + - + + + 73 6848A R Tom Hackbarth * + + + + + + + * + + + + + + 87 7822B R Rod Hamilton + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + 93 6639A D Rick Hansen - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - 7 966B D Alice Hausman - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - 7 1115B D Larry Haws - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - 7 861B D Jeff Hayden - - - - - + - - * - - - - - - 7 346B D Debra Hilstrom - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1608A D Bill Hilty - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - 7 1636A R Mary Liz Holberg * + + + + + + + + + + + * + + 87 8834B R Joe Hoppe + - * + + - + + + + + + + + + 80 8460B D Frank Hornstein - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1047B D Melissa Hortman - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1014B D Larry Hosch - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1404B R Larry Howes - - - + + - + * * + - - + + - 40 5707A D Thomas Huntley - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1316A D Gail Kulick Jackson - - - - - - - - - + + - - - + 20 1367B D Sheldon Johnson - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1213B D Al Juhnke - - + - - - - - - - - - - + - 13 1859B D Phyllis Kahn - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1117B D Jeremy Kalin - - - + - - - - - - - - - - + 13 426A D Kory Kath + - + + - - - - - + - - - + + 40 3360A D Margaret Anderson Kelliher - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1028A R Tim Kelly + - + + + - + + + + + - + * * 67 7716B R Mary Kiffmeyer + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 9050B D Kate Knuth - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - 0 020B D Lyle Koenen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 12

2010

LIFE

RATINGParty/Dist, Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

34A R Paul Kohls * + + + * * + + * + + + + + + 73 8850A D Carolyn Laine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 009A R Morrie Lanning - - - + * * + + - + + + + - + 53 6040B D Ann Lenczewski - - - + - - - + - - + - - - + 27 3866A D John Lesch - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - 0 1530A D Tina Liebling - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - 7 1901B D Bernard Lieder - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1155A D Leon Lillie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 959A D Diane Loeffler - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 942B R Jenifer Loon + - + + + - + + + + + - + + + 80 7337A R Tara Mack + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 7722A R Doug Magnus + - + + + - * + + + + * * * * 53 6967A D Tim Mahoney - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1565B D Carlos Mariani - - - - - + - - * - - - - - - 7 809B D Paul Marquart - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 2738A D Sandra Masin - - - + - - - - - + - - - + + 27 1153B R Carol McFarlane + - + + + - + + - + + - + + + 73 6057B R Denny McNamara + - + + + - + + - + + - + + + 73 6340A D Will Morgan - - - + - - - - - + - - - - - 13 923A D Terry Morrow - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 258A D Joe Mullery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1710B R Mark Murdock + - + + + - + + - + + + + - + 73 7064A D Erin Murphy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 006B D Mary Murphy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1346A D Michael V. Nelson - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1149B D Jerry Newton - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - 7 310A R Bud Nornes - - + + + - + - + + - - + - + 53 6929B D Kim Norton - - - + - - - - - + - - - - - 13 1938B D Mike Obermueller - - - + + - - - - + - - - + - 27 2301A D Dave Olin - - - + + - - - - - - - - - - 13 611B D Mary Ellen Otremba - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - 7 2964B D Michael Paymar - - - - - - - + - - - - - + - 13 1631A D Gene Pelowski Jr. - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - 7 2832A R Joyce Peppin + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + 93 9204A D John Persell - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 045A D Sandra Peterson - - - + - - - + - - - - - - - 13 1627B D Jeanne Poppe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1207B D Roger Reinert - - - - - - - - - - + - - + + 20 1041B D Paul Rosenthal - - - + + - + + - + - - - - - 33 2705A D Tom Rukavina - - - - - - - - * - - - - - + 7 1842A D Maria Ruud - - - + - - - + - + - - - - - 20 2502B D Brita Sailer - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - 7 1851A R Tim Sanders + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 8754B D Bev Scalze - - - + - - - + - + - - - - - 20 1849A R Peggy Scott + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 9021A R Marty Seifert + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + 93 8505B D Anthony "Tony" Sertich - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1114A R Dan Severson + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + 93 7718A R Ron Shimanski + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + 93 9244A D Steve Simon - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 955B D Nora Slawik - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - 7 1963B D Linda Slocum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 7 233A R Steve Smith + - + + + - + + - + + + + + + 80 7703B D Loren Solberg - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1237B D Phillip Sterner - - - + + - + + - + - - - + - 40 3056B D Marsha Swails - - - + + - - - - + - - - - - 20 1565A D Cy Thao - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 463A D Paul Thissen - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - 0 1251B D Tom Tillberry - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 021B R Paul Torkelson + - + + + - + + + + + + + + - 80 8018B R Dean Urdahl + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 6262B D Jean Wagenius - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 912A D John Ward - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 030B D Andy Welti - - - + - - - - - + - - - - - 13 2111A R Torrey Westrom * - + + + - + + + + + + + - + 73 7444B D Ryan Winkler - - - - - + - - - - - - - - * 7 632B R Kurt Zellers + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + 87 89

2010

LIFE

RATING

2010 Friends of the TaxpayerLegislators who earned a score of 90% or better

Thank you Governor PawlentyThank you Governor PawlentyThank you Governor Pawlentys Governor Pawlenty completes hissecond term, he leaves a record as oneof the most fiscally conservative gover-nors in the history of Minnesota. The

Taxpayers League of Minnesota would like totake the opportunity to reflect on the accom-plishments and express gratitude for the governor’s commitment to not raising taxes andprotecting Minnesotans’ economic liberty.

The taxpayers of Minnesota owe GovernorPawlenty an enormous thank you for keeping hispledge not to raise taxes, and making his budgetdecisions based on that premise. During hiseight years as Governor, he has balanced thestate’s budget, reduced wasteful spending,reformed health care and improved the state’seducation system without raising taxes.

After being elected governor in 2002,Governor Pawlenty kept his campaign promise not to raise taxes yetwas able to balance the budget every year and even managed to cut statetaxes by nearly $800 million.

In his eight years as Governor, Pawlenty skillfully moved state spend-ing downward every year at an average of 2 percent per year. During hisadministration Governor Pawlenty has brought increased accountabilityto state government and improved outcomes in numerous state pro-grams.

During his tenure in office, Governor Pawlentyhas faced some of the most difficult budget chal-lenges the state has had in the last 50 years.Despite these budget woes Governor Pawlenty'saccomplishments include; enacting a property taxcap, reforming teacher’s compensation, and insti-tuting free-market health care reforms.

Governor Tim Pawlenty was a champion for thetaxpayers again in the 2010 legislative session.When the legislature passed a $1.1 billion packageof construction projects despite his objections, thegovernor line-item vetoed $319 million of projectsfrom the bill.

The governor also fought for key educationreform this year. Because the legislature failed topass the governor’s reforms, the state lost out onmillions in funding to reward school innovation.

At the end of the budget negotiation Governor Pawlenty's commit-ment to not raise taxes was tested yet again. Just days before finaladjournment the House and Senate resorted to balancing the budget byadding a new income tax tier on Minnesota’s job creators. Once morethe governor was forced to veto their tax bill. In the end the governorwas able to persuade the legislature to pass a balanced budget withoutraising taxes. We are delighted to say “thank you” to GovernorPawlenty on behalf of the Minnesota taxpayer.

Rep. Bob DettmerR-Forest Lake (52A)

Rep. Rod HamiltonR-Mountain Lake (22B)

To learn how your legislator voted onany bill visit billsandvotes.com

Rep. Joyce PeppinR-Rogers (32A)

Rep. Marty SeifertR-Marshall (21A)

Rep. Ron ShimanskiR-Silver Lake (18A)

Sen. Debbie JohnsonR-Ham Lake (49)

Sen. Mike JungbauerR-East Bethel (48)

Sen. Warren LimmerR-Maple Grove (32)

Rep. Dan SeversonR-Sauk Rapids (14A)

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Our MissionOur MissionOur Mission

The 2010 Sessionhis year the Taxpayers Leaguehas compiled its 14th MinnesotaLegislative scorecard. Its purpose

is to give citizens an overview of the leg-islative session by selecting what webelieve are key votes on fiscal and budgetissues. The main objective is to give citi-zens a resource by which to hold theirelected representatives accountable.

Each year taxpayers fund state govern-ment with billions of their hard earnedwages. The major responsibility of thelegislature is to spend these resources forthe maximum benefit of the public. It ismy hope that you will find this legislativescorecard beneficial in your endeavors tomeasure the effectiveness of our electedofficials.

or over a decade theTaxpayers League ofMinnesota has asked

for a simple commitmentfrom all candidates for stateoffice, a pledge to not raisetaxes. The wording is straightforward: I pledge to the taxpayers of the state ofMinnesota that I will opposeand vote against any and allefforts to increase taxes.

The message is clear. Hardworking Minnesotans already

pay enough in taxes, and thestate budget problems arecaused by excessive spendingnot a lack of revenue. The com-mitment is simple. Pledge to thecitizens of the state that youwill not place any additional

tax burden on their shouldersto operate the necessary functions of state government.We encourage you to ask anyand all candidates for office tomake this simple and straightforward commitment to the

citizens of Minnesota.

We provide a complete list of allcandidates who have signed theTaxpayers Protection Pledge on ourwebsite: www.taxpayersleague.orgor you can can request theinformation from our office at 651-294-3590.

Thank you for your commit-ment to individual liberty andto the economic prosperity ofour state.

T

Phil KrinkieTaxpayers League ofMinnesota President

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If you believe in reducing the tax burden of working Minnesotans

Become a Taxpayers Patriot Todayvisit www.taxpayersleague.org/patriot

or call 651-294-3590