The Two Sides of the Issue: YES vote is a good vote

10/29/2006

And for added information, I went to the League of MN Cities Regional
meeting in St. Peter on Wednesday. If it hadn’t been for Pawlenty’s veto of
the transportation package because it contained an increase in the gas tax,
this amendment would NOT have created the $300 milllion dollar general fund
budget hole.

Since I’m looking at this as a state senate candidate, I would much rather
do the job right the first time rather than set the legislature up for a
feeding frenzy on who gets what and who’s budgets are going to get slashed.

With a new governor and new crop of DFL legislators we can get this right
AND get it passed.

Margie A. Hoyt
Watonwan Co. A/C

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: vivian votava
Date: Oct 26, 2006 7:22 PM
Subject: [dfl-state-central] Re: YES vote is a good vote
To: dfl-state-central@yahoogroups.com

I feel a yes vote for the transportation referendum is a bad vote. Right
now the general fund, where the transportation money is going is helping
fund our schools, so a yes vote takes money away from our schools. You
should be doing your jobs and figuring out how to allocate money, not
abdicating your responsibilities along with all flexibility in budgeting by
“allocation by referendum”

Vivian Votava
Alternate SD58

*"Rep. Alice Hausman - Rep. Al Juhnke “ *wrote:

Dear Vivian,

*A message from Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) and Rep. Al Juhnke
(DFL-Willmar)*

This election offers some exciting opportunities for Democrats. When you go
to the polls to cast your vote for DFL legislative candidates and help us
regain a majority in the Minnesota House, remember to also *VOTE YES on
Minnesota’s Transportation Amendment!*

For too long, debates about metro versus rural or transit versus roads have
gotten in the way of significant transportation investments. In 2005,
legislators from every part of the state came together and said it was time
to get something done - Minnesota’s Transportation Amendment is the result.
And, it’s a good amendment.

It establishes the first-ever dedicated source of funding for transit (roads
already have two dedicated sources), which is key to accessing federal
matching dollars and will generate tens of millions of dollars more for
rural counties and roads.

As veteran DFL legislators, we have always been strong supporters of
investments in education, health care, local government aid and social
services and *can still confidently encourage a YES vote on the
transportation amendment.* Taking a reasonable step toward improving
transportation in the state is just one aspect of how we bring together all
of the priorities in the budget to maintain our quality of life and economic
strength.

The amendment will be phased in over five years to allow us to protect other
state programs. And, it will draw from NEW revenue not the existing budget.

Over the last five years, state revenue has grown by and average of $660
million each year. The amendment will put $60 million each year over the
next five years to transportation. It’s a dime out of every dollar in new
money to transportation - the remaining 90 cents is still available for
education, health care and other priorities.

You just need to look at the DFL leaders supporting this amendment to know
that this amendment won’t conflict with the DFL values we all so proudly
hold - Mike Hatch, Congressman Oberstar, Mayors Rybak and Coleman and many
of our DFL legislative colleagues, including Rep. Margaret Anderson
Kelliher, Sen. Ann Rest, Sen. Steve Murphy, Sen. Scott Dibble, Sen. Ellen
Anderson, Sen. Mee Moua, Rep. Mindy Greiling and Rep. Jim Davnie.

VOTE YES on November 7th. It’s a good vote.

Rep. Alice Hausman
District 66B - St. Paul
9th term

Rep. Al Juhnke
District 13B - Willmar
5th term