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State Representative Pat Garofalo
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1069
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS COLUMN
Rep. Pat Garofalo’s Capitol Report - 2005 Legislative Survey Results ---------- CONSTITUENTS SAY ‘YES’ TO SMOKING BAN, NORTHSTAR AND RACINO
By Pat Garofalo
State Representative, District 36B, Farmington
This past week, I tabulated my 2005 Legislative Survey which I had mailed to constituents earlier in the year. I want to thank the more than 1,500 neighbors and friends who completed and returned the questionnaire. 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 to those who participated!
Constituents were generally supportive of smoking ban. Asked if they support a statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, 56 percent said they would support a ban; 41 percent were opposed. A smoking ban bill was defeated in a House Committee but remains alive in the Senate, even as individual counties enact their own bans. What’s interesting, only 9 percent pf respondents in my survey identified themselves as smokers.
A large majority of respondents – 68 percent – said they were opposed to the creation of toll roads in Minnesota; 28 percent were for it.
And when asked if they would vote for an amendment to Minnesota’s Constitution limiting legally recognized marriage in our state to a union between one man and one woman, 66 percent of respondents said “yes” while 31 percent said “no.” A Defense of Marriage (DOMA) resolution was passed by the House recently, but no companion bill has passed the Senate.
Respondents also seemed to support transit projects such as the Northstar commuter rail. Some 51 percent said the state should invest in Northstar; 41 percent were opposed. A bonding bill agreed to by House and Senate leaders contains $37 million for the commuter project, and locally, $10 million for the Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transit project.
And a majority of respondents – 56 percent – said they support the creation of a state operated racino at Canterbury Park; 39 percent were opposed. At this writing, the racino project and a casino partnership project with northern tribes were headed for a third committee hearing in the Minnesota House.
Other survey results:
• K-12 Funding. Some 44 percent of respondents said current K-12 funding is sufficient but more accountability is needed; 33 percent said more funding and accountability is necessary; 15 percent more funding is needed but current accountability measures are fine; and 5 percent said current funding and accountability are okay.
• Priorities. Asked to rank which issues were important to them, a plurality -- 34 percent -- identified health care. Others: 26 percent, jobs & economic development; 25 percent, taxes; 21 percent, education; 16 percent, abortion; and, 9 percent, transportation.
Thanks again to the many who participated in my legislative survey. The results will be useful in helping to guide my votes this session.
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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