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Taxpayers  League  of  Minnesota  Announces    Best  Friend,  Friends  of  the  Taxpayer  Awards    

   

  Contact:  Ted  Lillie  September  15,  2015    Ph:  (651)  789-­‐0092    ST.  PAUL  –  The  Taxpayers  League  of  Minnesota  is  today  releasing  its  19th  annual  Legislative  Scorecard.      The  2015  Legislative  Scorecard  rates  legislators  on  their  votes  for  the  prosperity  of  Minnesota  families  and  businesses,  to  reduce  government  spending,  promote  government  efficiency,  less  onerous  regulation  and  free  markets.      The  scorecard  features  on  its  front  cover  one  legislator  who  was  awarded  “Best  Friend  of  the  Taxpayer”  by  scoring  100%  by  voting  against  wasteful  spending  and  government  growth  which  lead  to  increased  spending  and  taxes  during  the  2015  legislative  session,  and  signing  the  Taxpayer  Protection  Pledge,  which  promises  to  their  constituents  that  they  “will  oppose  any  and  all  efforts  to  increase  taxes.”      The  2015  scorecard  is  available  online  at  taxpayersleague.org/scorecard  along  with  links  to  past  scorecards.    It  is  being  sent  to  all  of  the  League’s  members  across  Minnesota  this  week.      “Best  Friend  of  the  Taxpayer”    Senator  Dave  Osmek  R-­‐Mound  33      100%  Scores    Senator  Roger  Chamberlain  R-­‐Lino  Lakes  38  Senator  Dan  Hall  R-­‐Burnsville  56  Senator  Dave  Thompson  R-­‐Lakeville  58  

     

 The  scorecard  also  contains  a  brief  summary  of  the  2015  legislative  session.    Notable  is  the  absence  of  House  members  on  the  cover  of  this  year’s  scorecard.    “I  think  this  year  was  a  test  for  the  new  leadership  in  the  House.”  said  Ted  Lillie,  President  of  the  Taxpayers  League  of  Minnesota.    Like  previous  Republican  Legislative  leadership,  of  which  I  was  a  part  back  in  2011-­‐12,  they  met  a  wall  of  intransigence  known  as  Governor  Dayton  who  thinks  that  Minnesota  should  be  a  state  with  high  taxes  across  the  board  and  a  high  cost  of  doing  business.”  Lillie  continued    “But  what  they  chose  to  do  in  response  to  the  Governor’s  position  led  to  a  sense  of  frustration  and  disappointment  among  grassroots  activists  as  well  as  ordinary  Minnesotans  who  are  struggling  in  this  sluggish  economy  and  who  are  worried  about  the  future.”    Inside  the  scorecard  six  Representatives  are  featured  as  getting  an  “honorable  mention”  for  achieving  passing  grades:    These  are  Rep.  Eric  Lucero  R-­‐Dayton  (75),  Rep.  Pat  Garofalo  R-­‐Farmington  (68),  Rep.  Jerry  Hertaus  R-­‐  (68)  Rep.  Jim  Newberger  R-­‐Becker  (68)  Rep.  Jim  Nash  R-­‐Waconia  and  Rep.  Cindy  Pugh  R-­‐Chanhassen  (68).    “We  

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do  want  to  highlight  their  effort  and  encourage  them  and  all  members  of  the  House  and  Senate  to  focus  more  on  changing  the  unsustainable  budget  trajectory  we  are  on  next  session,”  said  Lillie.    The  scorecard  also  includes  a  copy  of  the  Taxpayer  Protection  Pledge  that  asks  legislators  to  promise  not  to  increase  taxes  and  a  second  pledge  is  also  included  asking  legislators  to  promise  not  to  increase  the  Gas  Tax,  an  issue  that  came  up  last  year  and  will  probably  come  up  again  next  session.    “We  recognize  that  some  legislators  may  want  to  go  on  the  record  to  specifically  reject  that  possibility  and  focus  instead  on  reprioritizing  transportation  needs.  We  are  affording  them  an  opportunity  to  do  so  with  this  pledge”  concluded  Lillie.      The  Taxpayers  League  has  been  standing  up  for  Minnesota  taxpayers  by  championing  lower  taxes,  limited  government,  local  control,  and  free  enterprise  through  nonpartisan  grassroots  advocacy  since  1996.  

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