Issue Position: Persell's Issues

Issue Position

When I went to St Paul last January, I was ready to find solutions to the problems facing Minnesota families. With a healthy budget surplus in 2015, we had the chance to provide needed investments for Minnesotans across the state. But with a Republican-controlled House, we didn't make much progress.

The Republican-controlled house turned its back on greater Minnesota.

No funding for a long-term transportation fix. Because the GOP was unwilling to compromise -- they would not even agree to a one cent gas tax increase -- there was no tax bill and no transportation bill.

No tax bill meant that there was no property tax relief to farmers and no increase in local government aid for our cities and towns.

Rural schools lost out. The Education finance bill that passed at the end of the session actually INCREASED the disparity between rural Minnesota and Minneapolis/St. Paul in per pupil funding by $28 per pupil.

Public universities and colleges did not get a tuition freeze. Instead they were hit with a "tuition tax" increase when the state did not make needed investments in higher education.

Rural businesses lost out. The Republicans did not want to invest anything in broadband, which is the lifeblood of business. In the end, we were only able to provide $10 million for broadband assistance.

This year, I want to make sure that we finish the people's work in St. Paul.

Close the funding gap between rural and metro school districts
Make historic investments in education and freeze college tuition
Increase aid and eliminate sales taxes for cities and counties
Support hospital and nursing home workers
Provide property tax relief for Minnesota homeowners, renters and farmers
Put working folks, children and elders first, making sure everyone pays their fair share
Fully fund broadband needs for all of rural Minnesota

I am honored to represent greater Minnesota communities in St. Paul, working on your behalf to support working folks, children, elders and Minnesota farmers.

We have a lot of work to do to make sure that greater Minnesota is not left behind and I'm once again asking for your help. Your contribution of $25, $50 or even $100 will help me continue the work to build our state.

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