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RELEASE: Area farmer joins Gruenhagen as State of the State guest

Friday, April 10, 2015
ST. PAUL, MN—Area farmer Donald Albrecht joined Representative Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, as his guest for Governor Dayton's fifth State of the State address which took place Thursday evening in the House chamber at the State Capitol in Saint Paul. Albrecht is also the son of former State Representative Raymond Albrecht, who represented McLeod and Sibley County in the Minnesota House from 1975-1980.
 
Gruenhagen said he invited Albrecht to show his appreciation for the agriculture community.

"Donald and farmers all across Minnesota play a huge role in helping to feed Minnesota families, put fuel in their cars, and provide thousands of agriculture jobs," Gruenhagen said. "Farmers deserve recognition for their efforts to help keep our state running strong, and I'm grateful that Donald was able to join me this evening for the State of the State address."
 
Albrecht said he had hoped the Governor would announce changes to his controversial buffer strip proposal, and ways to ease the tax burden on Minnesota families.
 
"Governor Dayton's buffer proposal has caused a great deal of concern for farmers in our community and across the state," Albrecht said. "I'm disappointed that the Governor has not yet discussed substantial changes to his one-size-fits-all plan, and worked to heed the advice of the hundreds of farmers who have attended his meetings on the topic. Furthermore, it was disappointing that the Governor did not mention any plans to help ease the tax burden on Minnesota families. We're tired of hearing that government always wants to tax more and spend more."
 
Gruenhagen echoed Albrecht's disappointment with the Governor's speech.
 
"Governor Dayton's State of the State address indicates he is simply not listening to what Minnesotans are saying," Gruenhagen said. "Governor Dayton supports a buffer plan that nearly all farmers I talk to oppose. Governor Dayton supports an extremely unpopular gas tax that would hurt seniors and low income families, and would make goods and services more expensive. Governor Dayton supports spending every penny of the budget surplus without any meaningful tax relief for families. We cannot spend our way to prosperity in Minnesota. Runaway spending will eventually result in sky-high budget deficits or more tax increases."
 
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