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Nornes: Survey results are revealing
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Nearly 1,000 area residents responded to a recent legislative survey I conducted and the results paint a clear picture of what is important to folks in District 10A: holding the line on taxes, freedom and choice, and protection of citizenship rights.
Here’s a summary:
Taxes and state budget: A whopping 95 percent of respondents say they do not support a constitutional amendment that dedicates a portion of the sales tax to conservation, arts and culture. In addition, 68 percent of respondents say they prefer to cut spending instead of raising taxes to balance the state budget. That’s especially relevant as we face a projected $1 billion deficit in the current two-year cycle adopted just last year.
As for property taxes, 73 percent of the people in 10A support using the price established during the sale of a property to determine a basis for tax valuation. Property sold for less than the estimated tax value should require a recalculation of the property tax.
Meantime, 62 percent feel the state should allow school districts to conduct levies in order to maintain and repair school facilities in emergency situations.
Health care: Two-thirds of you like the idea of selecting insurance needs cafeteria-style by allowing for-profit companies to conduct business in Minnesota. We’ve proposed a plan that provides freedom and choice, privacy and security, and no government takeover.
Transportation: Passage of the Transportation Bill received many headlines recently and the survey shows citizens of 10A and I agree: Sources other than increases to the gas tax or license tab fees were preferred to fund our transportation system. Only 31 percent said raising the gas tax is a good idea and a slim 13 percent wanted an increase in tab fees. Unfortunately, at a time when many Minnesotans are already under financial stress, some members of the Legislature ignored popular opinion and enacted a monumental tax hike.
That’s not to say roads and bridges should be under-funded, as 58 percent of respondents make it their No. 1 priority for infrastructure support. Finishing in second place is higher education buildings and classrooms (28 percent), followed by environmental protection (19 percent).
Residency requirements: The most one-sided response on the survey (96 percent) supports measures to create residency and stricter work requirements for anyone seeking Minnesota welfare benefits. Meantime, 79 percent feel Minnesotans should be required to provide photo ID when voting.
The input provided to me through this annual survey is invaluable as I continue to serve as your state Rep. Please continue to let me know how I can help.
Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls) respresents District 10A in the Minnesota Leislature.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by FergusFamily (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
With education being a #1 concern in our community, how can you not even ask constituents about it? Or were the results not something you want to share with us? The funding formula is not working. Are you making it a priority to address and fix this?
Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you write something that isn't in line with Buds thinking, in the comment portion, his office doesn't send you surveys anymore. That's what happened to me!
Posted by Elizabeth (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now let's be fair. Those same 95% of residents probably would be opposed to any kind of tax increase, regardless of what it is for.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just got my tax bill, I don't want to hear any more about raising taxes for anything.
Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Elizabeth, I see what you mean.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is it so easy for these liberals to spend other peoples money? Oh yeah, it's FUN! Cut the spending before more people leave the great state of Minnesota. (You can't tax yourself into prosperity)
Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Mel, the reason your property taxes are going up is because of all the state cuts!!!!!
Posted by realitychk (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There was almost nothing on the survey regarding education. It certainly seems like the #1 subject of concern in outstate MN. On the other hand, if you consider the aging demographics of this area that seems to go kicking and screaming into the future, it should be no surprise that education is not a priority to Mr. Nornes' constituents. The time has come for drastic reform for education funding. I am looking forward to a competent challenger for our representative.
Posted by pilsnerurquel (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Republicans are obsessed with TAXES.
Posted by Commycrat (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Democrats are obsessed with spending. At least drunken sailers go back to their ship when they are broke. Not the democrats in this state they scream for more and want the rest of us to live with less. When are we going to start asking them to deal with less, or how about leading by example.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can anyone remember Reagan? He gave us a real nice tax cut. At the time we had Gov.'Goofy' Rudy P. He carried on until he took every penny I would have not been taxed by the Feds. (needed the money) Same excuse, it was because the Feds lowered the aid to the state. NOT, not a cut was made.
I can't figure out why the liberals would pay everything they have in taxes, do they think the gov't is their Mama?
Posted by pilsnerurquel (anonymous) on March 28, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Commycat you HAVE to be joking!!!!! GWB has spent this country into a 94 TRILLION dollar fed. deficit. Unpredcedented!!!! Do some research and you'll see that the Federal Deficit skyrockets with every Republican President since Gerald Ford. Cutting taxes + billion dollar military spending = HUGE DEFICITS. That is a fact.
Posted by Elizabeth (anonymous) on March 28, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone remember the terrible recession caused by those Reagan tax cuts?
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on March 28, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Elizabeth,, No but I remember the terrible recession caused by Carters embargo.
sametoyou,, I need to admit that you are right about the cut in state aid to schools causing my tax to go up. But why should we spend so much on schools in this state. I wish we could listen to the Jason Lewis talk show in this part of the state. He takes on the waste in education topic often.
Posted by REM (anonymous) on March 28, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes and remember which party controlled the legislature then (Libs)??
Reagon's "Trickle Down" turned into a river of prosperity during the Clinton years in spite of Democratic overspending, remember that???
Posted by realitychk (anonymous) on March 28, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard Jason Lewis, but what applies in his twin cities market on schools is very, very different from outstate schools. Our schools outstate are not lavish or luxurious like the metro schools. Jason Lewis has some good points, but outstate education is not one of them!
Posted by Elizabeth (anonymous) on March 28, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So the highest unemployment rate since the Depression in 1982, inflation at about 14% per year, 17,000 businesses failing, the federal reserve drastically raising interest rates... none of that rings any bells? Or was that the fault of some other, not-in-office administration?
Posted by Commycrat (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 2:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pilsnerurquel are your eyes shut. Who has control of the house and senate. Please don't tell me you need a education too. The drunken sailers are out of control open your eyes!!!
Posted by pilsnerurquel (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Uh, no. GWB did not have Democratic Congress & House until 2006, WAY after his ridiculous spending was pushed through without one single veto.
Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mel, you can either spend it on education now, or spend on prisons, in the very near future!
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sametoyou, There is NO connection
Posted by realitychk (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mel, no connection my foot.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK, so the moral education you got at home and church, most likely, would help keep you on a fairly straight and narrow path. There is no connection that the more you spend on schools the less crime you'll have.
Posted by Elizabeth (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mel, you can say there's no connection all you want, but all credible evidence says otherwise. I suggest actually researching rather than hypothesizing.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 11:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Prager ,(if I remember right), on the radio just blew away the notion that lack of formal education has a link to higher crime.
Posted by Elizabeth (anonymous) on April 2, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, I believe FACTS, not a conservative talk radio host.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on April 2, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FACTS?, lets hear them. Be the best you can be, home school.
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