MN House Republicans to run ads assailing Democrats for gas tax hike

04/28/2008

By MIKE KASZUBA,
Star Tribune
April 28, 2008


Sensing a political opening on a key pocketbook issue, House Republicans will be launch an ad campaign that targets DFLers for helping drive the increase in gas prices in Minnesota.

The 15-second ads will begin running Tuesday, mostly in the Twin Cities metro area, and will feature the theme: "Minnesota Democrats: You pay, they pump." House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said the ads were meant to blame DFLers for the increase for authorizing the first state gas tax hike in 20 years as part of a $6.6 billion transportation package that was approved over a veto by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

"It just affects your everyday life," Siefert said of the rising gas prices. "It costs you more at the grocery store. It costs you more to go visit Grandma."

Seifert acknowledged the campaign suffered a setback because Holiday, one of the major gas station companies in Minnesota, had nixed a Republican plan to feature the ads on TV monitors now found atop many gas pumps. Seifert said the ad campaign was still awaiting a decision by SuperAmerica, another leading gas station corporation.