1. What should the Legislature’s top priorities be in the 2010 Legislative Session? (Rank 1-7)
Balancing the budget
Passing a job creation package, including a bonding bill
K-12 education and/or Higher Education
Property tax relief
Health care reform
Public safety & consumer protection
Local government funding (to keep property taxes down)
Other: (please specify)  

2. Over the last year, have you experienced any of the following? (Check all that apply)
Loss of a job
Loss of a home
Loss of health insurance
Wage cut or freeze
Hours cut
About the same
Better off than last year

3. Over the last year, have you experienced any of the following? (Check all that apply)
Make targeted capital investments in the state’s aging infrastructure
Provide tax incentives for businesses that hire and retain workers
Invest in renewable energy industries to bring green jobs to Minnesota
Support research and development at colleges and universities
Enact new tax breaks for corporations
Nothing – let the market take its course
Other: (please specify)  

4. Due to the economy, the state is facing a $1.2 billion budget deficit this session and a projected $5.4 billion revenue shortfall in the next biennium. What should the Legislature do to balance the budget?
Cut programs
Raise taxes
Combination of budget cuts and tax increases
Operate government differently
Allow the Governor to unallot
Other: (please specify)  

5. If you selected cutting programs or raising taxes, please specify which taxes you would increase or which programs you would cut.

6. Currently low- and middle-income earners in Minnesota pay a much higher percentage (12 percent) of their income in state and local taxes than the state's highest income earners (8.8 percent). Some have suggested adjustments towards tax fairness and increasing state revenue as part of the solution to the state deficit. Do you support a moderate income tax increase on Minnesota’s wealthiest individuals to protect hospitals, schools, local units of government and nursing homes from additional budget cuts?
Yes
No
Not Sure

7. Last session General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) was eliminated, cutting hospital funding more than $380 million and eliminating medical care for 30,000 of the poorest and sickest Minnesotans. This cut alone eliminated more than $23 million in funding at Rochester area hospitals. Do you support reinstating the GAMC program?
Yes
No
Not Sure

8. Do you support providing state funding to build a new Vikings Stadium?
Yes
No
Not Sure

9. If so, how should the state pay for it?
General Fund Revenue
Local sales tax increase in Minneapolis
Expansion of gambling
Ticket tax on Vikings games
Statewide sales tax increase
Other: (please specify)  

10. Do your support lifting the state’s moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants?
Yes
No
Not Sure

11. Please add any additional comments: