Yesterday, Governor Dayton released his budget proposal; New Ulm Journal reporter Josh Moniz interviewed the three endorsed candidates in the Minnesota House 19A special election for their reactions.
In 19A candidates respond to tax plan, Moniz reports that as one might expect, Allen Quist was not impressed:
Republican candidate Allen Quist objected to the proposal. He joked that because several Democrats objected to the proposal he may find DFL legislators actually willing agree with him on legislation if he is elected. He considers the proposal "dead in the water." He opposes reducing the sale tax rates while broadening it because the rate has a history of creeping back up, leading to a net tax increase.
Readers may recall that Quist engaged in a tax policy squabble during the Republican primary with Mike Parry during the Republican primary last summer. Mark Fischenish summed it up in Quist, Parry engage in tax spat at the Mankato Free Press.
As for DFL legislators siding with Allen Quist, Bluestem suggests checking out the AP story via CBS Minnesota, Dayton Must Sell Sales Tax Change To Fellow DFLers.
The Journal article next moved on to DFL-endorsed candidate Clark Johnson's views:
DFL candidate Clark Johnson said he is completely open to Dayton's proposal, though he wants a more polished proposal with data about what the tax will impact by the time the legislation is brought to a vote. He is only interested in any kind of tax increase that will create long-term sustainability to the state budget.
Clark Johnson seems to have taken Dayton's notion that the "first word isn't the last word" to heart.
Finally, IP candidate Tim Gieseke is lukewarm:
Independence Party candidate Tim Gieseke said he was also open to Dayton's proposal. However, he was skeptical on several items. He thinks a sales tax on clothing for only above a certain amount is impractical given that people and businesses will find a way around it. He might support it as part of an overall tax plan, but he would want to first thoroughly hear the business community's viewpoint.
He was also skeptical about raising spending, though he would support it for paying back the state's school funding shift
February 5 Forum Update
The St. Peter Herald has more information about the Tuesday, February 5, 2013 candidate forum at the Nicollet County Historical Society’s Treaty Site in St. Peter in Minnesota House District 19A candidate forum:
Following the primary is a candidate forum planned for Tuesday, Feb. 5. The forum will be held at the Nicollet County Historical Society’s Treaty Site at 7:30 p.m. The Saint Peter Chamber of Commerce, Greater Mankato Growth and the Saint Peter League of Women Voters are co-sponsoring the event.
The public is invited to submit issue-related questions for the forum by Jan. 30, preferably by email, to the Saint Peter Chamber of Commerce — [email protected] — and there will also be an opportunity to submit questions in writing at the forum.
All questions will be screened by co-moderators from the Chamber, Greater Mankato Growth and the League of Women Voters.
Greater Mankato Growth will invite the final slate of candidates to complete an online questionnaire, with their responses appearing on the webpage exactly as they are submitted by the candidates.
The questionnaire includes biographic, as well as profile questions generated from a list of characteristics that Greater Mankato Growth’s Public Affairs Steering Committee agreed will represent the area well in areas impacting business and the overall vitality of the marketplace. Candidate responses to the questionnaire will be available at greatermankatoelections.com.
None of the completed questionnaires are posted as of yet.
Clark Johnson's primary challenge
Before the February 12 special election, Clark Johnson has to win the January 29 primary, which was triggered by the DFL convening to endorse after the deadline for candidates to withdraw. Four DFLers' names remain on the primary ballot, although the three candidates who did not receive the party's nod have suspended their campaigns.
Nonetheless, a few threads of support are slipping through the cracks, including a letter the editor in the Mankato Free Press from a supporter of Karl Johnson, the longtime DFL activist and pork producer who Clark Johnson defeated on the fourth ballot.
Photos: Clark Johnson supporters (above); Clark Johnson (below).
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