Political Notebook

Mailer targets Nelson for backing cigarette tax hike

A conservative advocacy group is targeting Rochester GOP Sen. Carla Nelson for supporting a hike in the state's cigarette tax.

Americans for Prosperity sent out a direct mail piece this week the states "Carla Nelson wants to raise our taxes... even more than Mark Dayton!" It goes on to state that "Not even Mark Dayton supports such a massive tax hike" and urges people to call her to tell her to "stop raising sales taxes on Minnesotans." Nowhere on the mailer does it use the term "cigarette taxes." A footnote in small print cites a bill she introduced that would increase taxes on cigarettes by $1.29 a pack to the same tax level in Wisconsin and use that money to help reduce the statewide business property tax.

Nelson said the ad is totally unfair and fails to recognize that her bill is revenue neutral  raising the cigarette tax in order to lower business taxes.

"I don't believe they have gained any traction," she said. "But it is rather mind boggling, quite frankly, that they would take on someone who has a record of being pro-business, pro-jobs."

Nelson is one of three state lawmakers who support various tax increases being targeted by the group, which was founded by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch. The others are both Democrats from Edina — Rep. Ron Erhardt and Sen. Paul Rosenthal. The group's Communications Director Chris Van Guilder stood by the mailer. He said that Nelson's proposed cigarette tax is more than the 94-cent-a-pack tax increase proposed by DFL Gov. Mark Dayton. Even though Nelson's bill would cut business taxes, he said it would end up hurting middle-class consumers and businesses in border communities.

"We want lower taxes for businesses, consumers, middle class families and what her bill does is it raises those taxes and we oppose it," he said. 

Van Guilder declined to say how much is being spent on the mailers but said it is "significant." He said the group is also planning to use social media to urge their supporters to speak out against these tax proposals.

As for Nelson, she said she has already sent out an email to those asking about mailer and supporters who likely received it.In it, she calls the piece "absurd" and said she backs raising the cigarette tax to help reduce smoking — especially among children.

She wrote, "You know me — I am a strong proponent of lower taxes and less spending. I strongly oppose the multitude of anti-growth and anti-jobs tax hikes proposed in the Governor's budget. My bill would actually lower job-killing taxes in Minnesota and help keep teens from picking up a deadly addiction."

Nelson goes after 'little cigars,' backs cigarette tax hike

A Rochester lawmaker is helping lead the charge at the Capitol to raise taxes on cigarettes and go after so-called “little cigars.”

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, introduced two tobacco-related bills on Monday. One would boost taxes on cigarettes by $1.29 a pack so they are taxed at the same rate as they are in Wisconsin. The money raised by the tax hike would be used to reduce the statewide business property tax. The other bill seeks to get rid of a tax loophole that would require little cigars to be taxed as cigarettes. These products, which come in candy and fruit flavors, are taxed at a much lower rate than cigarettes because they have some tobacco in their wrapping paper. As a result, a pack of little cigars costs $1.50 versus more than $5.00 for a pack of cigarettes.

“Our bill simply says this is a cigarette and the research shows that if someone does not pick up smoking before the age of 20, they are much less likely to be addicted for life,” she said.

Both bills have bipartisan support. Nelson introduced them last year but they failed to pass the GOP-led Legislature. Supporters are optimistic that these bills have a chance of passing this year noting that DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's budget calls for a 94-cent increase on a pack of cigarette tax.

Drazkowski elected to leadership post

Mazeppa Republican Rep. Steve Drazkowski has been elected an assistant minority leader. He initially ran for the top post of House minority leader, but lost to Rep. Kurt Daudt of Crown.

Drazkowski is one of five assistant minority leaders. The others are Rep. Tara Mack of Apple Valley, Rep. Joe Schomacker of Luverne, Rep. Peggy Scott of Andover and Rep. Kelby Woodard of Belle Plaine. Rep. Tim Sanders of Blaine was elected minority caucus whip.

Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, was previously named an assistant minority leader in the Senate. Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, has said she hopes to be elected an assistant majority leader by her caucus.

Nelson declines Moen's request for additional debates

Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, has declined her DFL opponents request for a series of additional debates. In a written statement, the Rochester Republican said there are already plenty of debates scheduled. Here is the entire statement:

"This senate district has a rich history of providing many opportunities to debate the issues.

We have already had a candidate forum which has since been broadcast on cable TV.  The Rochester Area Builders will be holding our Candidate Forum on Sept. 25, 2012.  The League of Women Voters, Chamber or Commerce and the Rochester Post Bulletin have scheduled debates for Senate District 26 on October 22, 2012.   Many more debates or forums are in the process of being scheduled.  I recall forums for seniors, townships, NAMI, the Tea Party and the LTC initiative just to name a few.  The Post Bulletin will be publishing candidate profiles following our interviews with the PB editorial staff.  In addition KSMQ traditionally provides a televised 30 minute forum that is rebroadcast multiple times for each legislative race in our area.  I will be participating in each of these in addition to the “Candidates and Issues” campaign sponsored by KTTC.   I do not see any reason for addition debates beyond the many opportunities already provided in this district. 

I look forward to being on the dais with Mr. Moen to discuss our views about the challenges and opportunities for Minnesota citizens and their government.   I am confident that the public will have ample opportunity to distinguish the differences between the views held by Mr. Moen and me.  In addition to the debates, my record of driving government effectiveness and efficiency and  balancing the budget to live within our means speaks for itself."

Moen challenges Nelson to more debates

Senate District 26 DFL candidate Ken Moen is challenging his GOP rival to a series of debates.

Moen sent out a news release calling on Sen. Carla Nelson to agree to several additional debates. The two are set to square-off at an evening debate on Oct. 22in Rochester sponsored by the Minnesota League of Women Voters. But the Moen campaign argues that one 45-minute debate is not enough time to address the concerns of voters.

The Democrat's campaign said it has sent a letter to Nelson's home and Senate email address about the debate request and wants a response within 10 days. Moen's campaign suggests that the debates be facilitated by a neutral party and cover a range of  topics. Both of the candidates would have the chance to suggest topics for the debate. The Moen campaign also wants the debates to be free and open to the public.

It says that a letter was being sent to Nelson's home and her Senate email address asking her to respond to his request within 10 days.

Nelson calls for transparency in DEED grant decision

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with Sen. Carla Nelson and she said she did not mean to come across as blasting the governor. She said her concern has been to make sure the process is transparent and that members of the public know that there is a set list of criteria that must be used to determine which projects should get funded.

"I just know that as a citizen sitting in southeast Minnesota and reading not just what the governor said and the media around this in general, I was left with the impression this could be a gubernatorial decision, she said." 

Below is what I initially posted based on the senator's press release. Click here to Download Nelson press release

 

Rochester Sen. Carla Nelson blasted DFL Gov. Mark Dayton today for saying he will make the final decision on which projects should be awarded some of the $47.5 million in economic development grant money.

In a news release, the Republican senator said she was "taken aback" by media reports last week that the governor said he would decide how that money should be divvied out.

"It is essential that lawmakers and the public be assured that the removal of legislative earmarks not be replaced by mere gubernatorial earmarks or political pandering," she said.

There's plenty at stake for the city of Rochester in the grant process. The city has requested $25 million from the Department of Employment and Economic Development grant to expand the Mayo Civic Center. That project was among several others that failed to make it into the final $496 million bonding bill. Instead of deciding which projects should get the $47.5 million, lawmakers created the grant program. Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem has said that was a way to get rid of earmarks. Critics accuse lawmakers of abdicating their responsibility to determine how these dollars are spent.

Nelson said she contacted DEED's commissioner on Friday to urge that the grant process be as transparent as possible.

"I want to publicly thank and congratulate DEED Commissioner Mark Phillips for committing to me that once the final selections have been made, all documentation and the rating sheet for each project application will be made publically available," she said.

Nelson, a member of the Senate Capital Investment Committee, has said she played a key role in helping crafting the 11 criteria that are to be used in ranking the projects. They incude number of jobs created, the projected increase to the local tax base and the capacity of the project to attract revenue from out of state.

"The legislative language clearly states that project selection must be based on the highest return in public benefits for the public cost incurred," she said.

 

 

Olmsted Republicans pick Valeriano over Sullivan

Olmsted County Republicans last night picked nurse Melissa Valeriano over Realtor Max Sullivan to run against DFL Rep. Kim Norton at their endorsing convention on Thursday night.
Republican Party of Olmsted County Chairman Bruce Kaskubar said Valeriano won endorsement for the House District 25B seat on the first ballot. Sullivan said Friday morning he plans to abide by the endorsement. Also winning endorsement was Rochester School Board member Breanna Bly for the House District 26A seat. She will take on DFL Rep. Tina Liebling in the fall.
All four local incumbents were endorsed and none of them faced a challenge from within the party. Winning endorsement were Rep. Mike Benson of Rochester, Rep. Duane Quam of Byron, Sen. Carla Nelson of Rochester and Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem of Rochester.
The Olmsted County DFL endorsed its candidates back in March. Below is a list of the candidate match-ups.
House District 25A: John Vossen, DFL-Kasson, vs. incumbent Duane Quam, R-Byron
House District 25B: Incumbent Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, vs. Melissa Valeriano, R-Rochester
Senate District 25: Judy Ohly, DFL-Rochester vs. incumbent Dave Senjem, R-Rochester
House District 26A: Breanna Bly, R-Rochester, vs. incumbent Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester
House District 26B: Incumbent Mike Benson, R-Rochester, vs. Pat Stallman, DFL-Rochester

Senate District 26: Ken Moen, DFL-Rochester vs. incumbent Carla Nelson, R-Rochester

Olmsted County GOP gathers today for endorsing conventions

While local Republican lawmakers are working at the state Capitol, Republicans back in Olmsted County will be gathering at Byron Middle School to endorse candidates.

Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, Sen. Carla Nelson, Rep. Mike Benson and Rep. Duane Quam will likely miss tonight's convention. The Senate is slated to vote on the bonding bill put together by Senjem, which now no longer includes $32 million for the Mayo Civic Center expansion. Senjem faced fierce criticism from Tea Party members opposed to bonding for the center.

There will be at least one endorsing battle for the House District 25B seat, which is currently held by DFL Rep. Kim Norton. Rochester Realtor Max Sullivan and nurse Melissa Valeriano are expected to face-off. Rochester School Board member Breanna Bly will be seeking the endorsement for the House District 26A seat with hopes of taking on DFL Rep. Tina Liebling in November.

How's the session going? Republicans, DFLers to offer their takes

Local lawmakers are taking advantage of their week-long break to meet with constituents and the media. It's a chance for legislators on both sides of the aisle to try to get their message out about how the 2012 session is going.

Rochester's two Republican senators — Dave Senjem and Carla Nelson — are scheduled to meet with the media to discuss the legislative session tomorrow morning. They will then head to Winona for another press event, where they will be joined by Republican Sen. Jeremy Miller of Winona. Senjem and Republican Rep. Duane Quam held a media availability on Monday.

Democrats announced today they will hold events across the state this week as a "'last call' to avoid a do-nothing session." DFLers Kim Norton and Tina Liebling will participate in such an event from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday in the Rochester Public Library Auditorium.

Senjem introduces bills to fund Mayo Civic Center, veterans museum

With Senate Republicans slated to release their bonding proposal tomorrow, Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem has recently introduced a bill to fund the $35 million expansion of Rochester's Mayo Civic Center.

It's hard to know whether that is good news for the project when it comes to the Senate bonding bill or not. Senjem, who chairs the Senate Capital Investment Committee, declined to introduce the civic center bill last year. He has said whether the civic center makes it into the Senate Republicans' bonding bill depends on how much his fellow Republicans are willing to borrow this year for construction projects. He has also said if the Mayo Civic Center project is included then other civic center projects for St. Cloud and Mankato would also likely have to be part of the deal to get the necessary votes.

House Republicans put forward a scaled-back, $280 million bonding proposal. Funding for the Mayo Civic Center is not included in that proposal. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's $775 million bonding proposal includes funding for the Mayo Civic Center project.

Rochester hospitality industry representatives have been  hard to get the civic center expansion in the bonding bill, arguing it will provide a much-needed boost to the city. Meanwhile, the Rochester Tea Party Patriots have been vocal in their opposition to the project raising concerns about its costs.

The Mayo Civic Center project has had trouble winning over Republicans in the House. DFL Rep. Tina Liebling is sponsoring the civic center bill in the House and DFL Rochester Rep. Kim Norton is the only co-sponsor.

Senjem also introduced a bill seeking $15 million in state bonding money to build a new veterans and emergency services museum in Rochester. Fellow Rochester Republican Sen. Carla Nelson is a co-sponsor of both of the bills.