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Legislative Survey for
Representative Kurt Bills (R) 37B


Dear Neighbors,

The 2010 Legislative Session begins on February 4. Like last session it promises to be challenging. As before, I need your input to help me make the best decisions for Apple Valley, Rosemount and Minnesota.

The highest unemployment rates in three decades and a steep drop in wages have created another wide gap in the state budget. Restoring long-term fiscal stability to our state budget will require deep cuts, true reforms on spending and revenue, greater support for small business development that includes research and development incentives, and innovative solutions that will save money and improve government service delivery.

Like you, I know there are limits in which state government can respond to our challenges, but I also know targeted efforts to create jobs in the last year have worked. Federal stimulus dollars coordinated with the state’s strategic bonding efforts prevented this recession from becoming a depression by creating thousands of jobs since last February. A number of economic estimates project that another jobs-focused bonding bill this year could put between 10,000 and 20,000 more Minnesotans back to work. While it won’t provide every out-of-work individual a job, connecting Minnesotans with employment will get people spending again, give Minnesota businesses a boost, and help push our economy back in the right direction.

Difficult budget decisions will dominate the upcoming session. My highest priority as your legislator will be restoring our state’s financial stability responsibly and putting people back to work.

Feel free to contact me at my office to share your concerns or if I may be of assistance to you or your family.

Warm regards,
Phil

Phillip Sterner
State Representative
District 37B

1. What should the Legislature’s top priorities be in the 2010 Legislative Session? (Rank 1-7)
Balancing the state budget
Passing a job creation package, including a bonding bill
E-12 education and Higher Education funding
Property tax relief
Health care reform
Public safety & consumer protection
Other (Please Specify):  

2. Have you experienced any of the following within the past year?
Loss of a job
Loss of a home
Loss of health insurance
Wage cut or freeze
Hours cut

3. As an appointee to the bipartisan Jobs Task Force, I’ve been meeting with business leaders and economic experts to discuss solutions to speed the state’s economic recovery. Rank the options you support to grow new Minnesota jobs?
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
Decrease the corporate tax rate
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. As a Small Business Caucus member, I’m working with small business owners to define the challenges and opportunities facing Minnesota’s small businesses. Rank the options you support to help create a more competitive business climate.
Do a better job connecting small business owners with existing state resources
Help provide low-interest loans for small business expansion and entrepreneurs
Develop a statewide small business health insurance pool to lower costly premiums
Reduce and/or revise state business regulations
Cut property taxes on small businesses
Provide small business tax credits for long-term investment
Improve workforce training efforts and continue our investment in higher education
Other (Please Specify):  

Do you own a small business?
Yes
No

5. The recession has contributed to another budget deficit of $1.2 billion this year and a projected $5.4 billion shortfall in the next biennium. How should the Legislature balance the budget?
Cut programs
Raise taxes
Decrease administrative and management overhead
Combination of budget cuts and tax increases
Streamline government operations and/or eliminate state agencies
Allow the Governor to unallot
Other (Please Specify):  

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

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

If you selected yes, please indicate what revenue sources you would be willing to support to pay for it.
Expansion of gambling
Increase in sales and/or income tax
Enact a user fee or surcharge on tickets
Other (please specify):  

7. What options do you support to help Minnesota move toward energy independence?
Allow for higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel
Require utilities to generate more renewable electricity through wind, biomass and solar
Lift the moratorium on construction of new nuclear power facilities
Utilize tax credits to encourage customers to install wind turbines or solar panel
Other (please specify):  

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