2011 Heroes of The Taxpayer2011 Heroes of The Taxpayer2011 Heroes of The Taxpayer

15 t h A n n u a l15 t h A n n u a l

LegislativeScorecard 2011

2011 Best Friends of the Taxpayer

RepresentativeBruce AndersonBruce Anderson

R-BuffaloTownship (19A)

11th award

RepresentativeKathy LohmerKathy Lohmer

R-Lake Elmo(56A)

1st award

RepresentativeDuane QuamDuane Quam

R-Byron(29A)

1st award

Representative Steve DrazkowskiSteve Drazkowski

R-Wabasha(28B)

1st award

RepresentativeLinda RunbeckLinda RunbeckR-Circle Pines

(53A)3rd award

The legislators pictured below committed to vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. They also received a score of 92% on our 2011 Legislative Scorecard. They deserve special recognition for their efforts to balance the state budget without a tax increase.

SenatorGretchen HoffmanGretchen Hoffman

R-Vergas(10)

1st award

2011 VOTE DESCRIPTIONSSTATE 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 13

6 DFL Bakk Thomas M. - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1849 R Benson Michelle R. + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8561 DFL Berglin Linda - - - - - - - - - - - * - 0 743 DFL Bonoff Terri E. - - - - - + - - + + - + - 31 2316 R Brown David M. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 774 R Carlson John + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7753 R Chamberlain Roger C. + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8564 DFL Cohen Richard J. - - - - - - - - + - - + - 15 1021 R Dahms Gary H. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7738 R Daley Theodore J. "Ted" + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8525 R DeKruif Al + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8560 DFL Dibble Scott - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 914 R Fischbach, Michelle L. + + - + - + - - + + + + + 69 7212 R Gazelka, Paul E. + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8537 R Gerlach Chris + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8713 R Gimse Joe + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 5850 DFL Goodwin Barb - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 840 R Hall, Dan D. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7742 R Hann David W. + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 9167 DFL Harrington John M. - - - - - + - - - - - + - 15 1558 DFL Higgins Linda - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 810 R Hoffman Gretchen M. + + + + + + * + + + + + + 92 9228 R Howe John Sterling + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7711 R Ingebrigtsen Bill + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7148 R Jungbauer Michael J. - + - + - + - + + + + + + 69 7963 DFL Kelash Kenneth S. - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 219 R Koch Amy T. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8547 R Kruse Benjamin A. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7720 DFL Kubly Gary W. * * * * * * - - - - - + - 8 229 DFL Langseth Keith - - - - - - - - + - - + - 15 1344 DFL Latz Ron - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 1556 R Lillie Ted H. + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8532 R Limmer Warren + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 918 DFL Lourey Tony - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 522 R Magnus Doug + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7754 DFL Marty John - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1866 DFL McGuire Mary Jo - - - - - - - - - - - + * 8 1439 DFL Metzen James P. - - - - - - * - - - - - * 0 1241 R Michel Geoff + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7831 R Miller Jeremy R. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7730 R Nelson Carla J. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7718 R Newman Scott J. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7717 R Nienow Sean R. + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 7833 R Olson Gen + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7534 R Ortman Julianne E. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8865 DFL Pappas Sandra L. - - - - - - - - - + - + - 15 626 R Parry Mike + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8315 R Pederson John C. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7759 DFL Pogemiller Lawrence J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 77 DFL Reinert Roger J. - - - - - - - - - + - + - 15 1545 DFL Rest Ann H. - - - - - + - - + + - + - 31 2635 R Robling Claire A. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7624 R Rosen Julie A. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 603 DFL Saxhaug Tom - - - - - - - - + - - + - 15 1146 DFL Scheid Linda * * * * * * * * * * * * - 0 1229 R Senjem David H. + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 6923 DFL Sheran Kathy - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 857 DFL Sieben Katie * * * * * * * * * * * * - 0 122 DFL Skoe Rod - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 2027 DFL Sparks Dan - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 171 DFL Stumpf LeRoy A. - - - - - - - - + - + + - 23 1536 R Thompson Dave + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 925 DFL Tomassoni David J. - - - - - - - - - + - - * 8 1462 DFL Torres Ray Patricia - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 352 R Vandeveer Ray + + + + + + - - + + + + + 85 8655 DFL Wiger Charles W. - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 2151 R Wolf Pam + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 77

2011

LIFE

RATING(HF=House File / SF=Senate FIle)

1) ACCOUNTABILITY IN EDUCATION The K-12 funding bill will require school districts toearn grant funds through student reading test scores and holds public employeesaccountable by requiring districts to develop and implement a performance-based sys-tem for evaluating school principals. The taxpayer friendly vote was to vote for this bill.(HF26 / SF11)

2) HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ON THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY The HHS bill pavesthe way for reform of our public health care programs in Minnesota. The legislationcreates significant reforms; including the phase out of the provider tax and adds pro-tections against fraud by strengthening welfare eligibility requirements and placinggreater restrictions on the use of EBT cards. The taxpayer friendly vote was to supportthis bill. (HF25 / SF10)

3) MINNESOTA DOESNT NEED MORE DEBT In the final budget agreement Gov. Daytoninsisted on a bonding bill that required the state to borrow half a billion dollars forconstruction projects. The bill is a potpourri of wasteful spending. Adding to the statesdebt was unnecessary and contributed to more wasteful spending. The taxpayerfriendly vote was to oppose this legislation. (HF23 / SF9)

4) NO TAX INCREASE! The original tax bill passed by the legislature contained severaltax reductions but Gov. Dayton vetoed the bill. However; the final tax bill did providedirect tax relief to homeowners, farms and small businesses and tax incentives for jobcreation. The taxpayer friendly vote was yes. (HF20 / SF8)

5) PENSIONS CREATE TAXPAYER TENSION For decades, city leaders in Minneapolis haveescalated pension promises without resources to fund the plans. Now, state taxpayershave been asked to come to the rescue. The omnibus pension bill puts the state tax-payers on the hook for Minneapoliss pension problem. The taxpayer friendly vote wasto oppose this bill. (HF14 / SF7)

6) GOVERNMENT FINANCE BILL STREAMLINES SERVICES The reforms contained in theomnibus state government finance bill lay the foundation for long-term costs savingsand start to change how state government operates. Reforms include: a pay-for-per-formance pilot project, required performance reviews and a cost-saving reward pro-gram. A vote for this legislation would help reduce the size of government.(HF27 / SF12)

7) ARTS AND OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT PORK This bill allocated $449.8 million to porkprojects lobbied for by special interests. The Legacy bill included $35.2 million in tax-payer funding for the arts, including funding to overcome barriers to accessing artsand subsidies for attendance fees for youth to visit art museums. It also includeddozens of other pork laden programs. A vote to oppose this bill was the taxpayerfriendly vote. (HF6 / SF6)

8) HIGHER EDUCATION BILL EARNS PASSING GRADE The Higher Education bill containsdouble-digit percentage reductions for the states public institutions of higher learning.The legislation includes reforms that will require the U of M and State Colleges andUniversities to meet performance benchmarks before they can receive a portion oftheir funding. A vote in favor of the bill was the taxpayer friendly vote. (HF4 / SF5)

9) A SMART WAY TO SPEND ON NATURAL RESOURCES The Environment Finance billmade a 16% reduction in forecasted growth without any fee increases. It addressescritical issues including aquatic invasive species and chronic wasting disease, as well asproviding budget flexibility to maintain Minnesotas strong tradition of outdoor her-itage. A vote for this bill was the taxpayer friendly vote. (HF5 / SF3)

10) JOBS BILL ENDS EARMARKS This bill accomplished reform in the area of economicdevelopment with the creation of competitive grants rather than the bureaucraticprocess of pass-through grants (legislative earmarking). It also provides funds targetedtoward small businesses for start-up capital. A vote for this bill was the taxpayer friend-ly vote. (HF3 / SF2)

11) DRIVING RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT The transportation bill cut $41 million fromcurrent funding levels and put the brakes on light rail expansion. This bill requires tran-sit corridor development planners to provide the total cost of proposed transit systems,including both capital and long-term operating expenses. The taxpayer friendly votewas yes. (HF2 / SF4)

12) PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRES PRISONERS TO PAY The public safety bill made a 3%reduction from current level spending. It included reforms such as allowing judges toconsider a persons entire financial status and requiring appropriate payment for courtservices. It also required a co-pay for inmate initiated health care and prioritizing theuse of state funds on state cases over federal cases. The taxpayer friendly vote was tosupport this bill. (HF1 / SF1)

13) FIRST STEP TO A BALANCED BUDGET The phase one budget bill outlined difficult butnecessary measures to start bridging the states budget gap. It would have reducedstate spending by $76.9 million in the current fiscal year and approximately $824.3 mil-lion in 2012-2013. The budget bill passed the House and Senate, but was vetoed byGov. Dayton. The taxpayer friendly vote was to support this bill. (HF130 / SF60)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

48B R Abeler Jim + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 5438A R Anderson Diane + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7713A R Anderson Paul + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7443A R Anderson Sarah + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8019A R Anderson Bruce + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 9603A DFL Anzelc Tom - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 239B DFL Atkins Joe - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 815B R Banaian King + + - + - + - + + + + + - 69 6917B R Barrett Bob + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7735A R Beard Michael + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7743B DFL Benson John - + - - - + + - - - - - - 23 1230B R Benson Mike + - - + + + - + + + + + + 77 7737B R Bills Kurt + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8523B DFL Brynaert Kathy - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 235B R Buesgens Mark * * * * * * * * * * * * + 8 8845B DFL Carlson Sr. Lyndon - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 1958B DFL Champion Bobby Joe - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 561A DFL Clark Karen - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 1124B R Cornish Tony + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 6808B R Crawford Roger + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7717A R Daudt Kurt + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8531B R Davids Greg + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7762A DFL Davnie Jim - - - - - - + - - - - - * 8 1152B R Dean Matt + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8452A R Dettmer Bob + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8606A DFL Dill David - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 947A DFL Dittrich Denise - - - - - + - - - + - - - 15 2133B R Doepke Connie + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 7441A R Downey Keith + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 7928B R Drazkowski Steve + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 9102A DFL Eken Kent - - - - - + - - - - - - - 8 1916A R Erickson Sondra + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8601A R Fabian Dan + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7720A DFL Falk Andrew - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 211B R Franson Mary + + - + + + - + + + + + + 85 8526B DFL Fritz Patti - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 936B R Garofalo Pat + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7307B DFL Gauthier Kerry - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 015A R Gottwalt Steve + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7760A DFL Greene Marion - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 854A DFL Greiling Mindy - - - - - - + - - - - - * 8 1925A R Gruenhagen Glenn + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8524A R Gunther Bob + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 6948A R Hackbarth Tom + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 7822B R Hamilton Rod + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 6802B R Hancock David + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7739A DFL Hansen Rick - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 966B DFL Hausman Alice - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 961B DFL Hayden Jeff - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 546B DFL Hilstrom Debra - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1408A DFL Hilty Bill - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 1536A R Holberg Mary Liz + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8734B R Hoppe Joe + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8360B DFL Hornstein Frank - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 1047B DFL Hortman Melissa - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 914B DFL Hosch Larry - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1204B R Howes Larry + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 5807A DFL Huntley Thomas - - - - - - - - - * - - - 0 1267B DFL Johnson Sheldon * - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 1259B DFL Kahn Phyllis - - - - - + + - - - - - - 15 1126A DFL Kath Kory - - - - - + - - - + - - - 15 2828A R Kelly Tim + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7756B R Kieffer Andrea + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7701B R Kiel Debra + + - + - + - + + + + + - 69 6916B R Kiffmeyer Mary + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8650B DFL Knuth Kate - - - - - + + - - + - - - 23 520B DFL Koenen Lyle - - - - - + - - - - - - - 8 11

2011

LIFE

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

57A R Kriesel John + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7750A DFL Laine Carolyn - - - - - - - - - - - - * 0 009A R Lanning Morrie + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 6234A R Leidiger Ernie + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8512B R LeMieur Mike + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7740B DFL Lenczewski Ann - - - - - + + - - - - + - 23 3766A DFL Lesch John * * * * * * * * * * * * - 0 1430A DFL Liebling Tina * * * * * * * * * * * * - 0 1755A DFL Lillie Leon - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 859A DFL Loeffler Diane - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 956A R Lohmer Kathy + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 9242B R Loon Jenifer + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7437A R Mack Tara + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7767A DFL Mahoney Tim * * * * - * * * * * * * - 0 1465B DFL Mariani Carlos - - - - * - + - - - - - - 8 809B DFL Marquart Paul - - - - - + - - - - - + - 15 2641B R Mazorol Pat + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7719B R McDonald Joe + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7703B R McElfatrick Carolyn + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7753B R McFarlane Carol + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 6357B R McNamara Denny + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 6505B DFL Melin Carly - - - - - - - - - - - - * 0 065A DFL Moran Rena - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 823A DFL Morrow Terry - - - - + - - - - - - - - 8 358A DFL Mullery Joe - - - - - - + - - * - - - 8 1610B R Murdock Mark + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7264A DFL Murphy Erin - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 206B DFL Murphy Mary - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1227A R Murray Rich + + - + - + - + + + + + - 69 6940A R Myhra Pam + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7746A DFL Nelson Michael V. - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 1110A R Nornes Bud + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7029B DFL Norton Kim - - - - - + - - - + - + - 23 2014A R O'Driscoll Tim + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7764B DFL Paymar Michael - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 1631A DFL Pelowski Jr. Gene - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 2632A R Peppin Joyce + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 9204A DFL Persell John - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 049B R Petersen Branden + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7745A DFL Peterson Sandra - - - - - - + - - + * + - 23 1727B DFL Poppe Jeanne - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1029A R Quam Duane + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 9205A DFL Rukavina Tom * + * * * * * * * * * * - 8 1753A R Runbeck Linda + + + + + + - + + + + + + 92 8451A R Sanders Tim + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8454B DFL Scalze Bev - - - - - - + - - - - + - 15 1822A R Schomacker Joe + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7749A R Scott Peggy + + + + - + - + + + + + + 85 8818A R Shimanski Ron + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 8944A DFL Simon Steve - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 955B DFL Slawik Nora - - - - - - - - - - - + - 8 1963B DFL Slocum Linda - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 333A R Smith Steve + + - + - + - + + + + + * 69 7742A R Stensrud Kirk + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7721A R Swedzinski Chris + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7763A DFL Thissen Paul - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 1151B DFL Tillberry Tom * * * * * * * * * * * * - 0 021B R Torkelson Paul + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7918B R Urdahl Dean + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 6413B R Vogel Bruce + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7762B DFL Wagenius Jean - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 912A DFL Ward John - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 038B R Wardlow Doug + + + + * + - + + + + + + 85 8511A R Westrom Torrey + + - + + + - + + + + + + 85 7544B DFL Winkler Ryan - - - - - - + - - - - - - 8 625B R Woodard Kelby + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 7732B R Zellers Kurt + + - + - + - + + + + + + 77 87

2011

LIFE

RATING

2011 Heroes of2011 Heroes ofThe TaxpayerThe Taxpayer

2011 Heroes ofThe Taxpayer

or six months the Republican House and Senate leadership opposed Governor Daytonsdemand to raise taxes on Minnesotas job creators. It was their commitment to fiscaldiscipline that led to a positive outcome of the 2011 legislative session. Because of the

determination of these four caucus leaders through the longest state shutdown in history a balanced budget agreement was reached that didnt raise taxes!

An architect by trade; Rep.Dean utilized his talents tohelp reform health care dur-ing the 2011 session.Serving in his 4th term,Representative Deans expe-rience earned him the posi-tion of House MajorityLeader. It was his commit-ment to fiscal restraint and asolution-oriented approachto health care reform thatled lawmakers to phase out

the 2 percent provider tax in the final budget agreement.

House Majority Leader Matt Dean R, Dellwood (52B)

Elected to the Senate in2005, Senator Koch hasrisen through the ranksquickly and was chosen asthe states first womanSenate Majority leader. In aprevious position she servedas a Russian linguist in theU. S. Air Force. Smart andoutgoing, Senator Kochprovided strong communi-cation skills for her caucus.Her aptitude for building

relationships through effective communication was a criti-cal element during budget negotiations with the governor.

Senate Majority LeaderAmy Koch R, Buffalo (19)

Entering his fifth term;Rep. Zellerss good-natureand down to earth attitudemade him the pick of hiscaucus peers to serve asSpeaker of the House. Hiscommon sense approachand cooperative demeanorwas just the right combina-tion to keep his caucus uni-fied during the state gov-ernment shutdown. Hisunflappable style was key

to reaching a budget agreement without a tax increase.

House Speaker Kurt Zellers R, Maple Grove (32B)

Spending years interpretingthe law as a corporate attor-ney; Sen. Michel brought aunique perspective on jobcreation to the capitol. Hehelped lawmakers betterunderstand the relationshipbetween business regulationand economic growth.With his third term camethe leadership position inthe Senate and a larger rolein policy development and

political strategy. Sen. Michels commitment to private sec-tor job creation brought focus to the Senate jobs bill.

Deputy Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel R, Edina (41)

F

uring the 2011 legislative session,no one was a greater threat tothe economic prosperity of

Minnesota and individual economic liber-ty than Gov. Mark Dayton. His proposed$3.6 billion tax increase was the largest instate history and would have destroyedour economic recovery.

When he failed to brow beatRepublicans into voting for his tax pro-posal he orchestrated a government shut-down that idled 22,000 workers, closedstate parks and discontinued many stateservices.

Thanks to Republican legislators whostood firm, Gov. Daytons tax increaseplan failed. But he has made it clear that

he will continue his effort to take moremoney from hard working Minnesotansto fuel runaway government spending.

I'm not going to give up on this,Gov. Mark Dayton said of his taxincrease proposal I'm going to come back, if not next year, the year following, he said. I'll advocate for it, campaign for it,press for it for as long as I'm drawing breath. Star Tribune, July 28th 2011

Taxpayers Win in 2011Taxpayers Win in 2011Taxpayers Win in 2011

2011 Foe of The Taxpayer

he tax-and-spend tug of war start-ed even before the first day of the2011 legislative session in

January. Newly elected Governor MarkDayton had campaigned rigorously onraising taxes in order to balance the statesprojected $6 billion budget shortfall.

But to the dismay of Democrats,Republicans had regained control of theMinnesota House and to everyones sur-prise captured the majority of seats in theSenate for the first time in 38 years. Whilethe Democrats had toiled to capture thegovernors office for the first time in twen-ty years; they lost control of both housesin the legislature. The election outcomewould result in a partisan divide that last-ed more than six months and led to thelongest shutdown of government servicesin state history.

Early signs of a protracted budget battlebegan to emerge when Gov. Dayton vetoedthe legislatures first attempt of a budgetreduction measure and insisted on a totalbudget package before he would sign anyof the budget bills.

By mid-April both houses of the legisla-ture had completed work on their finance

bills, hoping to start budget negotiationswith the governor, but Dayton resistedengaging in any meaningful negotiations.

After weeks of unsuccessful deliberationwith the governor on budget issues the leg-islature passed a balanced budget andadjourned on May 23rd. Their budgetincreased state spending by 12% over theprevious biennial budget without a taxincrease.

Upon receiving each of the budget bills,Gov. Dayton vetoed every one of them andthen refused to call a special session todeal with the budget.

Throughout the month of June,Republican leadership tried to work withthe governor to avoid a government shut-down and offered several budget compro-mises. Nothing, however could dissuadeGov. Dayton from his agenda to Tax theRich. He rejected every offer made by thelegislature and frequently reiterated hisdemand for a tax increase.

On July 1st, as state buildings went darkand 22,000 state workers were laid off;Dayton expressed little interest in contin-ued negotiations. He again refused to call

a special session to pass a temporary fund-ing bill in order to provide for a continua-tion of state services.

As the state government shutdowndragged on, Republican leaders continuedto press Gov. Dayton for a solution.Dayton however was stuck on his desirefor more tax revenue to close the budgetgap.

Two weeks into the shutdown; undermounting public pressure Gov. Daytonfinally conceded and accepted a budgetoutline without a tax increase thatLegislative leaders had offered prior toJuly 1st.

Three weeks after the state shutdownbegan; Gov. Dayton signed a balancedbudget agreement that didnt raise taxes.

After six long months the budgetimpasse ended without a tax increase.Minnesota taxpayers should thank all thelegislators who endeavored over manymonths to produce a fiscally responsiblebudget without an additional tax burdenon Minnesota families.

T

D

Our MissionOur MissionOur Missionhe Taxpayers League of Minnesota is a nonpartisan, nonprofit grassrootsadvocacy organization which fights for lower taxes and limited govern-ment.

We work to inform and activate citizens on the principles of a free market andindividual economic liberty.

As a 501 (C4) nonprofit The Taxpayers League relies solely on voluntary con-tributions from individuals who believe in reforming tax policy, reducing govern-ment waste and eliminating duplication in government.

Over the last 15 years we have been able to establish ourselves as the principlevoice of limited government in Minnesota. Since our founding we have been suc-

cessful in achieving tax reductions which have taken Minnesota out of the top ten in state taxes. We havealso been successful in preventing billions in additional taxes because of our No New Taxes pledge.

Thanks to thousands of supporters like you, we are ready to help conservative legislators defend thepocket books of hard working Minnesotans. With our conservative legislators; we stand ready to fight anytax increases in 2012.

Our success in the past has been based on involved taxpayers and with your help we will prevail in thefuture. Our experience and influence will defeat the tax-and-spend agenda, but we cant do it without yoursupport. Please join us in the fight to limit the growth in government and hold the line on taxes.

Phil KrinkieTaxpayers League ofMinnesota President

T

Join The Taxpayers League of Minnesota andHelp us Fight the Liberal Tax-and-Spend Agenda!Thank you to the thousands ofMinnesotans who have supportedus in the fight to lower taxes andlimit the growth of government.Your generous support has time andtime again helped us hold back theliberal tax-and-spend agenda.

As we prepare for the 2012 legisla-tive session please remember thatGovernor Dayton is deeply commit-ted to raising taxes in Minnesota.We need your continued support tostop him! Here is what you can dotoday to ensure Dayton doesnt gethis tax increase.

Taxpayers League of Minnesota1402 Concordia AvenueSt. Paul, MN 55104

www.taxpayersleague.org651-789-0092

Contribute today; $200,$100, $50 or even $25 A gift of anysize will help defeat a tax increase!

Get Involved; sign up atwww.taxpayersleague.org toreceive our weekly updates andlegislative alerts.