YES vote is a good vote

10/26/2006

Dear Editor,

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