Dear Friends,
I wanted to provide you an update on where things are at in budget negotiations. It seems all the Senate and the Governor want to talk about is increasing the gas tax.
Last week, Republicans and Democrats voted unanimously voted 132-0 to reject a gas tax amendment similar to Governor Dayton's plan.
It's frankly unacceptable that the Senate is holding up budget negotiations over their demands for an increase in the gas tax. A higher gas tax is harmful to low and middle income families, seniors on fixed incomes, and folks in Greater Minnesota who drive longer distances.
It's time for the Senate to actually listen to the majority of Minnesotans who oppose what even Governor Dayton has described as an "unfair and regressive" gas tax increase and come to the table to negotiate a budget that focuses on priorities Minnesotans care about.
{C}
Last week, I ran a survey to see how folks in the district felt about an increase in the gas tax. My email list is quite large and it also reaches to all corners of the state.
There was only one question on the survey. Do you support a gas tax increase?
In one day I received 283 replies! 94% of the replies were "NO" to any new gas tax.
Minnesota is speaking and I am listening! We will continue to fight for Minnesota families and stop a gas tax increase.
God's peace,
Jim