Almanac: At the Capitol

KELLIHER NOT FOOLING ANYONE WITH MANKATO MAKEOVER

"Margaret Anderson Kelliher's rural makeover in Mankato isn't fooling anyone.  As an out of touch Minneapolis liberal, Kelliher has voted to raise the gas tax, the metro wide sales tax and income taxes.  People in Greater Minnesota and the suburbs need to be aware of this tax and spend wolf in sheep's clothing." 

-Tony Sutton, Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman

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THE FACTS ABOUT MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER

Kelliher Has Failed To Lead:

Kelliher Failed To Pass A Credible Balanced Budget After Nearly Five Months.  "Gov. Tim Pawlenty began Tuesday looking for $2.7 billion in budget cuts, a chore left undone by the DFL-led Legislature when it adjourned late Monday night. ... Pawlenty pledged last week that there would be no special session and no government shutdown, that he would fix the budget himself if no agreement was reached. He said he would veto a last-minute tax bill that would raise $1 billion mostly from new taxes on people making $300,000 or more. Doing so would mean his tools to balance the budget are line-item vetoes of spending bills and unallotment of authorized spending."  (Brad Swenson, "Pawlenty Will Finish Legislature's Work," The Bemidji Pioneer, May 20, 2009)

Liberal Think Tank Ripped Kelliher's Lack Of Leadership.  "There's no real drama remaining at the State Capitol so let's stop kidding ourselves. Our side lost, ignominiously, from a self-inflicted wound. ...  Since Pawlenty's Thursday powerstroke revelation, the State Legislative leadership has been desperately offering exactly what they've been offering the Governor all session only with the now absolutely certainty that their proposals will be rejected. These final few days are, quite entirely, an object lesson in futility."  (John Van Hecke, "The Legislature's Self-Inflicted Wound," Minnesota 2020 Website, May 17, 2009)

Kelliher Broke Promise Of Fiscal Moderation:

Kelliher: "Increasing Taxes Is Not The Top Priority." "'Minnesotans voted today really for the heart and soul of Minnesota, and what came out on top is education, health care and attacking those rising property taxes. I think what that means is that we will also be a fiscally moderate caucus,' Kelliher predicted. ... But DFL House Majority Leader Margaret Anderson Kelliher says increasing taxes is not the top priority." (Tom Scheck, "Minnesota Legislature Swings To DFL," Minnesota Public Radio, November 8, 2006)

Kelliher: "There Will Be Fiscal Moderation In The House." "'The message out of the election is about balance and working on issues people care about, no matter whether they live east or west or north or south,' Kelliher said, adding that DFLers will be wary of pushing legislation that may be viewed as too liberal or excessively expensive. 'We'll be very focused on core issues,' she said. 'There will be fiscal moderation in the House.'" (Dane Smith, "Election 2006: Which Way Now: Cooperation Or Gridlock?" Star Tribune, November 12, 2006)

Kelliher: DFLers Don't Plan Any "Major Tax Increases." "Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, who is expected to be the new House Speaker, said the Democratic caucus is fiscally conservative and does not plan any major tax increases. 'We know that taxes are an important component of attracting and keeping businesses, so we will be looking at those issues very closely,' she said. 'I don't foresee any major changes in our taxing structure as it relates to business.'" (John Vomhof Jr., "DFL House Win Shifts Ground For Business," Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, November 13, 2006)

Kelliher: We're "Fiscally Moderate." "The new DFL-controlled House has the most limited agenda, making it perhaps the most achievable. ...Add to those three a fourth element that may surprise some: fiscal responsibility. 'We're a fiscally moderate caucus,' [Speaker Margaret Anderson] Kelliher said of the sprawling 85-member majority that now includes significant numbers of moderates from the suburbs, exurbs and rural areas." (Dane Smith; Patricia Lopez, "Pawlenty, DFL Leaders Share Many Goals For '07," Star Tribune, January 7, 2006)

Kelliher: House DFL Caucus To Work With "Fiscal Moderation." "Lawmakers will also have some extra money to work with this session. The state budget surplus is projected at $2 billion for the biennium. But Kelliher wants the House DFL caucus to approach its work with 'fiscal moderation.' 'It does not mean that we're backing away at all from these core values,' Kelliher said. 'But that we will do it within the constraints of the budget, the reported surplus, as well as making sure the long-term commitments that we make are balanced going forward.'" (Tim Pugmire, "Legislature Begins Session With DFL In Control," Minnesota Public Radio, January 3, 2007)

Democrats Are "Generally Not Interested In Talking About Tax Increases." "Generally, they're not interested in talking about tax increases, [Margaret Anderson Kelliher] said. I think most of our members would say they'd look at all options available," she said. "We feel in transportation all mechanisms of funding transportation are on the table,' she said. 'Obviously, most members of our caucus supported a tax increase two years ago,' she said." (T.W. Budig, "Minnesota Legislators Provide A Snapshot Of What They Expect In 2007 Session," ECM Publishers, December 27, 2006)

Kelliher Is Tax & Spend Liberal: 

Kelliher Voted To Raise State Gas Tax, Metro Wide Sales Tax And License Tab Fees.  (H.F. 2800, February 25, 2008)

• "Minnesotans will see their first state gas tax increase in 20 years as part of an ambitious $6.6 billion transportation plan... The Senate vote was 47-20, the same as when the bill passed on Thursday.  The legislation would increase the state gas tax 5 1/2 cents by fall and then by up to another 3 cents; 3 1/2 cents of the 8 1/2 cents would be in place until bonds authorized under the plan are retired."  (Mike Kaszuba & Mark Brunswick, "House, Senate Override A Pawlenty Veto For The First Time," Star Tribune, February 25, 2008)
• "Under another provision, a quarter-cent sales tax increase would occur in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area without a referendum, with all proceeds going to transit projects." (Mike Kaszuba & Mark Brunswick, "House, Senate Override A Pawlenty Veto For The First Time," Star Tribune, February 25, 2008)
• "The sales tax would raise an estimated $1.1 billion over 10 years. In Hennepin County, the state's most populous, it would generate more than half of that amount, or $606 million." (Mike Kaszuba & Mark Brunswick, "House, Senate Override A Pawlenty Veto For The First Time," Star Tribune, February 25, 2008)
• "The legislation also will increase license tab fees on vehicles, particularly luxury cars..."  (Mike Kaszuba & Mark Brunswick, "House, Senate Override A Pawlenty Veto For The First Time," Star Tribune, February 25, 2008)

Kelliher Voted To Raise Alcohol Taxes And Income Taxes. (HF 885, SJ 4466, May 8, 2009)

• "The DFL bill would increase liquor taxes and income taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans and levy a surtax on credit card companies... The liquor tax increase would raise about $120 million a year. The nonpartisan House fiscal staff estimated the increase would be 4 cents per drink on beer and wine and 5 cents per glass for distilled spirits, but liquor lobbyists said the tax increases would much higher."  (Bill Salisbury, "DFLers Shrug Off Expected Veto To Pass $1B Tax Hike," Pioneer Press, May 8, 2009)
• "In a letter to legislators, Mark Stutrud, president of Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul, wrote that the bill would increase the state's excise taxes from $4.60 to $11.21 a barrel. That, he wrote, would wipe out the brewery's profits for the next three years, stop its expected growth and halt its plans to hire more workers."  (Bill Salisbury, "DFLers Shrug Off Expected Veto To Pass $1B Tax Hike," Pioneer Press, May 8, 2009)
• "The income tax increase would create a fourth tax bracket of 9 percent -- the fourth-highest top rate in the nation -- for married joint filers earning more than $250,000 a year and single filers making more than $141,250. That would raise about $258 million a year."  (Bill Salisbury, "DFLers Shrug Off Expected Veto To Pass $1B Tax Hike," Pioneer Press, May 8, 2009)

Kelliher Voted To Increase Income Taxes, Alcohol Taxes And Established New Surtax On Certain Interest Income. (HF 2323, May 18, 2009)

Kelliher Is Out Of Touch:

Kelliher Voted For The "Dream Act" Which Provides In State Tuition To Illegal Immigrants.  (SF1989, April 19, 2007)

Kelliher Called For Repeal Of State's Concealed Carry Law.  "Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday he supports changing Minnesota's new handgun law -- which goes into effect today -- to make it easier for churches and businesses to keep guns off their premises.  The change proposed by Republican leaders would mean private establishments would only have to post a no-gun sign or tell patrons of their no-gun policy if they want to keep guns out. The law passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Pawlenty last month requires both the posting and personal notification. ...  Critics of the law, however, may see this as an opportunity to press for more change in the law -- or even call for its outright repeal.  'The safest way to clean up the bill is to repeal it,' said Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL- Minneapolis."  (John Welsh, "Pawlenty Urges Quick Fix To Handgun Law," Pioneer Press, May 28, 2003) 

Noting The Lack Of Appeal Of Urban Liberals In "Much Of Minnesota," Liberal Columnist Slammed Kelliher's Election As Speaker.  "The DFL has proved again that it can't tolerate success.  Hours after holding statewide victory parties, DFLers in the House and Senate opted to become the party of Minneapolis. In a stunning disconnect from reality Thursday night, Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Larry Pogemiller were picked as the leaders of the House and Senate.  These two live blocks apart in Minneapolis. In much of Minnesota, including metro suburbs, they represent two of the scariest words in politics: 'Urban liberals.'"  (Doug Grow, "Leadership Picks Make DFL Tent Look Pretty Small," Star Tribune, November 12, 2006)