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State Representative Pat Garofalo

247 State Office BuildingState Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1069

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Posted: 2006-05-11 00:00:00
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NEWS COLUMN

Rep. Pat Garofalo’s Capitol Report - 2006 Legislative Survey Results: CONSITUENTS SUPPORT EMINENT DOMAIN LIMITS AND PHOTO I.D. AT THE POLLS

Rep. Pat Garofalo’s Capitol Report - 2006 Legislative Survey Results
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CONSITUENTS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT EMINENT DOMAIN LIMITS AND PHOTO I.D. AT THE POLLS
More Closely Divided on Transportation Issues

By Pat Garofalo
State Representative, District 36B, Farmington

I want to thank the nearly 900 neighbors and friends who completed and returned my 2006 Legislative Survey. While such an informal survey is not a scientific poll by any means, the results do give a snapshot of local opinion on some issues being debated at the Legislature this year. Please note that percentages may not total 100 percent because of missing or multiple answers. Thanks again to those who participated!

Participants overwhelmingly chose one response over the other in six of the eight questions asked:

• Nearly 90 percent said they support laws that would limit eminent domain, the power of state and local governments to seize private property for public or other private use. Eight percent opposed limits.

• Eighty-one percent responded that they favored laws requiring Minnesotans to provide photo identification before voting, while 16 percent opposed photo identification requirements.

• More than 70 percent of respondents said they would support a freeze on property taxes. Twenty-two percent said they did not support a freeze.

• A majority of constituents favor a legislative act to propose a Constitutional amendment stating that marriage is a pact between a woman and a man, 70 percent to 27 percent.

• More than three-quarters responded that they supported legislation requiring that school districts target 70 percent of their funding to the classroom, with 16 percent opposed to such requirements.

• Sixty-two percent responded that they would be in favor of a new stadium for the Twins in which the cost would be paid by a sales tax increase in Hennepin County only and no state funds are involved. Thirty-three percent opposed a stadium under these circumstances.

The responses were more closely divided for transportation issues. When asked to identify the biggest issue related to transportation respondents and their families face, 32 percent said a need for more roads, 28 percent said more transit (such as buses and rails) were needed, and 26 percent said both were needed. Finally, respondents were evenly spilt when asked if they would support raising the state gas tax if 100 percent of the increase is dedicated to road and bridge funding, with 47 percent saying they would support an increase and 47 percent saying they would not.

Thanks again to the many who participated in my legislative survey. The results are incredibly helpful in determining where the constituents of District 36B stand on the various issues.

Rep. Garofalo represents constituents in Dakota and Goodhue Counties in House District 36B, which includes Farmington, a portion of Lakeville and Northfield, Miesville, Coates, Vermillion, Hampton, New Trier, Randolph, and Dennison. Rep. Garofalo’s legislative address is 429 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155. His phone number is 651-296-1069 or toll-free at 888-667-3337. His e-mail address is rep.pat.garofalo@house.mn.

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