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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Carrie Lucking 651-296-4169
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REFORM 2.0: A BAD SEQUEL TO THE REPUBLICAN ORIGINAL Statement from DFL Minority Leader Paul Thissen and Representative Ryan Winkler
DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen and State Government Operations Committee Member Ryan Winkler issued the following joint statement in response to today’s House Republican announcement of "Reform 2.0."
Minority Leader Thissen said, "What was ‘Reform 1.0’? A Republican beg, borrow, and steal budget that simply dug our state into a larger deficit hole."
Winkler added, "Are Minnesotans better off today because of Republican reform 1.0? Most Minnesotans would answer no.
"Instead of focusing on reforms that make government more effective, Republicans sought a laundry list of controversial policies such as criminalizing stem cell research and Wisconsin-style elimination of public employee bargaining rights. Many GOP reforms were off-the-wall (even by Tea Party standards), including creating a separate Minnesota currency, harvesting Walnut trees in state parks, and prohibiting state officials from following federal law. What's next with Republican reform--returning to the Articles of Confederation? Actually, they have already proposed that in HF1563."
Thissen concluded, "Minnesota state government is one of the most efficient governments in the nation. But we can never rest on our laurels. We will succeed if we recognize no party has the corner on good reform ideas.
"I am hopeful about enacting smart reform in 2012 if there is a commitment to work across party lines and to make sure that the voice that is heard the loudest in St. Paul is the voice of the people. I fear today’s Republican proposals are simply more of the same giveaways corporate special interests."
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News Items
- Speaker Thissen to Establish Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs - (Posted: May 29 2013 1:15PM)
- Minnesota House Finishes 2013 Session with Balanced Budget, Historic Investments in Education, Job Creation, Property Tax Relief - (Posted: May 21 2013 12:44AM)
- Governor Mark Dayton & DFL Legislators Hold Invest in Education “Pep Rally” with Minnesota teachers, parents and students - (Posted: Apr 21 2013 4:21PM)
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