RESULTS OF LIEBLING LEGISLATIVE SURVEY AS OF APRIL 21, 2006.

04/22/2006

by Rep. Tina Liebling
April 22, 2006

1. The 2006 Session will be a short session focusing on bonding (long-term borrowing) to improve the state’s infrastructure.  (Answers in order by respondent ranking, with most important at the top.)

1. Health Care (2.66)
2. Public Schools (3.18)
3. Energy Conservation/Energy Independence (3.37)
4. Other (3.82)
5. Environment and Natural Resources (4.04)
6. None (4.357)
7. Higher Education (4.468)
8. Highway and Transit (4.475)
9. Prisons/Public Safety (6.26)

2. The state ended 2005 fiscal year with a $317 million surplus, with an additional surplus of $88 million projected for the fiscal year 2007.  (Answers in order by respondent ranking, with most important at the top.)

1. Health care (3.85)
2. K-12 or early childhood education (4.05)
3. Invest in energy conservation/energy independence (4.33)
4. Clean up polluted lakes and rivers (5.36)
5. Fix roads and bridges/transit (5.73)
6. U of M Rochester expansion (5.84)
7. Property tax refunds (5.91)
8. Higher education/tuition assistance (6.11)
9. Childcare assistance (6.24)
10. Other (6.4)
11. Save it (7.14)
12. Emergency preparedness (7.68)
13. Heating assistance (7.71)
14. Stadiums (10.87)

3. I have introduced legislation that requires automakers to meet California emissions standards (for greenhouse gases and other pollutants) for new passenger cards sold in Minnesota after 2010.  Do you support this legislation?

76.6% yes/ 14.7% no/ 8.5% not sure

4. Do you support a state constitutional amendment to make health care a right in Minnesota?

47.2% yes/ 31.6% no/ 21.1% not sure

5. The University of Minnesota is asking the state for $7.4 million per year over 25 years for a new football stadium on the U of M campus.  Sixty percent of the funding would come from private donors and contracts.  Do you support this legislation?

24.0% yes/ 57.6% no/ 18.3% not sure

(Please note that this legislation changed before reaching the House floor.  The bill that passed the House this week commits the state to $9.4 million per year over 25 years, with 50% from other sources.)

6. Hennepin County and the Minnesota Twins have proposed building a new baseball stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.  The team owner would contribute $125 million; Hennepin County would contribute $319 million through the sale of bonds that the county would pay off with a 30-year, 0.15% countywide sales tax.  Over 30 years, the proposal would cost more than $1 billion in sales tax but no state taxes would be used.

State law requires a countywide vote (referendum) before the county can impose or raise a sales tax.  The legislature may be asked to excuse Hennepin County from this requirement as part of the stadium deal.  Do you support imposing the tax without a referendum?

20.5% yes/ 62.3% no/ 17.0% not sure

7. Would you support a 0.25% increase in the state sales tax (25 cents for every $100 of taxable goods) dedicated to our state’s waters, fish, wildlife, fish and wildlife tourism, parks and trails; and to the arts, humanities, history, museums, and public broadcasting?

62.7% yes/ 30.8% no/ 6.3% not sure