Posted: 10/31/06
Here are the three canddates for Minnesota Senate District 31
Minnesota Senate District 31 has three candidates: Brenda Johnson, I-R; Kevin Kelleher, Independent; Sharon Ropes, DFL. Incumbent Bob Kierlin did not file.
Here is a profile on Ropes.
1. Name/age/occupation? Sharon Erickson Ropes, age 52, Registered Nurse, small business owner.
2. Why are you running for this position?
Iím running because Minnesotaís top two crisis are healthcare and education. Healthcare and education are my top two strengths. As a registered nurse, I understand firsthand how sky-rocketing healthcare costs are hurting families and small businesses. Hubert Humphrey said, ìThe test of a moral government is how it treats people at the dawn of life ñ the children, the twilight of life ñ the aging, and in the shadow of life ñ the sick, the needy and the disabled.î Healthcare is a moral issue. I believe everyone deserves a healthy body, a healthy mind and healthy teeth. As a registered nurse, I have the professional perspective and real life experience to fight for sensible, positive solutions that will work for Minnesota. Iíve worked as a nursing home RN, the head nurse of a psychiatric unit, a school nurse, a top-rated Navy Nurse and a Red Cross Disaster Relief nurse in Louisiana with hurricane survivors. Iím endorsed by Minnesota Nurses Association, Care Providers of Minnesota (nursing homes, assisted living, independent living, adult day care organizations, etc) and other healthcare advocates.
My second area of expertise is education. As a twice-elected school board chair for the Winona school board, I have worked with $30 million budgets and large employee groups. As your next Senator, I will bring 18 years of rock-solid experience in standing up for kids and schools. Since I was educated in both public and private schools, I see the value of both systems and am grateful that our area has such wonderful choices for families. Currently, I serve as the state president of the largest child advocacy organization in Minnesota ñ Minnesota PTA. As a leading state expert in education, I sit on many state education boards and alliances. Every month, I meet with the top leadership of the state principals association, the state school board association, the state teachers association, and all Minnesota education organizations. We track all bills dealing with children and schools. Iíve testified before Senate committees, House panels and travel back and forth to St. Paul weekly, as a volunteer, working for improved education funding, school wellness, improved nutrition, transportation equity, etc. I also serve on a national education board, and Iíve been out to Washington DC several times working to secure more federal funding for PELL grants at universities, federal assistance for No Child Left Behind requirements and more capitol investments for our aging public school buildings. I am endorsed by Education Minnesota. Iíd love to go back to the Minnesota Senate with a vote for education and healthcare, and I ask for your support.
3. Do you support the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage? Why or why not?
Minnesota has a current law, and previous court decisions to uphold this law, which states marriage is between a man and a woman. This issue has been in the news quite often during the past few years. In that time, not a single challenge to our stateís law has arisen, which reaffirms the fact that our current laws are strong and sufficient. I like to think of it this way: Minnesota law already says our speed limit on state highways is 55 mph. Do we need to pass another law to make sure our speed limit is 55 mph? Any attempt to do this would be seen as a waste of time, because a law already exists. I prefer to keep focused on issues that really need attention -- education funding, transportation, health care and job creation.
4. Do you support a one-payer health care system? Why or why not?
Minnesota is in a healthcare crisis. As a registered nurse, I am the only Senate candidate with the professional experience and real-life understanding to work on a sensible, comprehensive healthcare solution. I believe that everyone deserves a healthy body and healthy teeth. The Minnesota Nurses Association endorses universal healthcare via a single-payer system, patient rights and constitutional guarantees. I strongly agree that healthcare is a moral value, not a commodity. Reasonable profit is necessary for a quality system to flourish, but out-of-control profits for insurance CEOs and drug companies are shameful at a time when Minnesotans are priced out of basic care. I am deeply concerned about families, workers, seniors and small businesses because I have seen firsthand how sky-rocketing healthcare costs hurt people. As your next Senator, I will work to move Minnesota to affordable healthcare for all by opening a statewide insurance pool to reduce premiums, spread risk and save billions in drug costs. I believe that patients should be able to choose their own private doctors, hospitals and clinics. These are all features of a single-payer system. The tremendous benefits of single-payer intrigue me. Keep in mind as critics try to frighten you with twisted statistics, that nurses are committed to high quality, cost-effective, fair and comprehensive healthcare improvements. I believe that it is high time for a serious discussion with many stakeholders as we work on Minnesotaís healthcare crisis together for positive solutions. Federal and state Republicans vote to protect big drug companies and giant insurance companies. I will put people first, not out-of-control profits. When everyone can get affordable healthcare, lives will improve, workers will be healthier, the economy will boom, and employers will be able to stay competitive in the world market.
5. Do you support the proposed constitutional amendment dedicating the motor vehicle sales tax to transportation. Why or why not?
I believe the state needs new investments in transportation -- the poor quality of our rural roads and bridges speaks for itself. However, the proposed Constitutional amendment says ìat leastî 40 percent of funds will be dedicated to transit and ìno more thanî 60 percent will go to roads. To me, that sounds like our Greater Minnesota needs could fall short up against metro-area transit funding. In addition, automatically dedicating a portion of our budget to transportation without providing any additional revenue will mean a $300 million hole in our stateís budget. What does that mean for education, health care, economic development and other areas competing for our limited budget dollars? Do they get short-changed?
I believe a better solution to improved transportation funding is available. Three-quarters of all fatal accidents in Minnesota occur on rural roads. Beside being an economic issue, improving our roads and large number of deteriorating bridges must be a legislative priority. While our gas tax has not been increased in 20 years, it is also something I cannot commit to without more information on the proposal. Increasing costs during a time of high gas prices is nothing to take lightly. Commuting costs are cutting deeply into family budgets. Rather than constitutionally dedicating transportation funds, I believe the legislature should make it a priority to work together in 2007 to find a more responsible way to commit stable funding to our transportation needs.
6. The state is currently running a surplus. Where should the extra dollars be spent?
Iím not certain that I believe there is a real surplus ñ show me the money. We must be careful not to quickly spend any surplus that may be available after the November forecast is released. As we learned the last time the state was operating with a cushion in the late 1990ís, a surplus can very quickly turn into a deficit. To dig us out of the ongoing budget deficits of the past several years, Republican lawmakers cut millions of dollars from important areas such as education, health care, transportation and economic development. Now weíre seeing the effects of those slash-and-burn budget techniques. Our property taxes have skyrocketed $1 billion statewide, our schools are suffering, our roads are deteriorating and thousands have lost health care coverage.
If there is a surplus, our primary goal must be to put money back into the worthwhile programs we stole from during the past four years: stabilized money for education (pre-school through university), property tax reductions for home and business owners, or significant investment for transportation upgrades are just a few options. The most important task will be carefully choosing where to put extra money and to take time to make responsible financial decisions that will benefit our state in the long run.
7. What have you learned about yourself during this election campaign?
Iíve learned that my upbringing in a small Minnesota town and those values are still with me in a very powerful way every day ñ especially when we talk about leadership and decision-making. I grew up in Two Harbors, a blue-collar railroad town with no money, no power and no status. I learned the value of hard work, the value of a dollar and the fact that the ìbossesî and big decision-makers rarely listen to they guys doing the job. My parents were both union members. Dad drove truck, plowed roads, worked in the paint department and retired from the county. I admire Dad and Mom so much, and Iíve seen them overlooked and not listened to in the workplace. Early on, I determined that if I ever was in a position to be the ìbossî or make decisions, Iíd ask the people doing the job and working in the trenches.
As the school board chair, I worked with janitors scrubbing toilets and building shelves. I worked side-by-side with the WSHS lunch ladies in the dish room and peanut buttering thousands of sandwiches. Iíve done crossing guard duty in the rain, worked as an aide in the classroom and nearly every job in the school systemÖ.except superintendent. Knowing the people who keep the system running everyday and working their jobs ñ even for a few days ñ helps me make better decisions. And I know who to go ask for real life advice before I make policy decisions.
Whether I am in Winona or Little Miami, I have learned so much and met so many wonderful people in SE MN. Iíve learned that my childhood values of inclusive decision-making are alive and well today. As your next state Senator, I expect youíll see me out in your towns ñ waiting tables or cleaning cow yards or riding in police cars or working a factory line ñ getting to know you and your job so I can make better decisions in St. Paul.
8. Any other comments?
As a registered nurse, a former Navy officer, an education leader, a small business owner and you neighbor, Iíd be honored to work with you in St. Paul as your next senator. I respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 7th.
Minnesota Senate District 31 has three candidates: Brenda Johnson, I-R; Kevin Kelleher, Independent; Sharon Ropes, DFL. Incumbent Bob Kierlin did not file.
Here is a profile on Kelleher.
1. Name/age/occupation? Kevin Kelleher - 57 - Farmer/County Commissioner.
2. Why are you running for this position?
I am running for state senate because I believe deeply in serving my country, my state and my community. Our democracy demands citizen involvement and I am passionate about making our democracy work.
3. Do you support the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage? Why or why not?
Current Minnesota law does not allow for same sex marriage. I support existing law. There is no need for this constitutional amendment. I donít believe in the current fad of putting everything in the constitution. Florida has on the ballot this November a constitutional amendment guaranteeing pregnant pigs a certain amount of pen space. See where this fad will take us?
4. Do you support a one-payer health care system? Why or why not?
There is nothing simple about the health care issue and no simple solution. The USA spends approximately 16% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on health care while the average for other industrialized nations is 9.5%.
I envision a private/public partnership which would expand the current small insurance pools to at least a state wide pool that would look similar to the way we buy car insurance. The single payer in the single payer system is the government and I donít believe that more government is the most efficient way to improve our already inefficient health care system.
State government should lead in reducing health care mandates, frivolous lawsuits and paper work requirements that has nurses doing more paperwork than patient care.
5. Do you support the proposed constitutional amendment dedicating the motor vehicle sales tax to transportation. Why or why not?
I do not support any constitutional amendments. Someone once said ìthe clearest evidence of a governmentís failure comes when voters are asked to raise money via constitutional amendment, thus assuming a function that elected officials lack the insight or courage to perform themselves.î 100% dedication would create a $300 million dollar hole in the general fund which could easily result in our local schools, cities, and counties getting significant cuts in aid from the state.
6. The state is currently running a surplus. Where should the extra dollars be spent?
I donít believe there is a surplus. Accounting gimmicks and cost shifts to balance past budgets are coming due. If there were a surplus, I would put any extra in the rainy day fund as I believe the economy is not as robust as the federal government would have us believe.
7. What have you learned about yourself during this election campaign?
First of all I have learned that I still have the passion to serve my country, state and community after 16 years as county commissioner. A friend just told me that in politics friends come and go but enemies accumulate. Secondly I learned I can multi-task. Running a campaign for state senate, maintaining my family life, keeping the farm going and fulfilling my obligations as county commissioner have really pushed me to a level I have not been at before.
8. Any other comments?
Both the republican and democratic candidates for this office have taken thousands of dollars from special interests and political action committees. Many promises and pledges were made unbeknownst to the public to access that money. Most politicians become slaves to the people who have given them money and support. They then cannot effectively work in a bipartisan manner. The money needs to be taken out of the political system before it destroys state government much the same way we see it destroying our federal government. This yearís bonding bill saw for the first time two ìearmarksî. These are pork projects given to specific legislators not using the normal funding formula. I have taken no political action committee or party money. All levels of government must now more than ever return to serving the people, not the special interests and the party power brokers. My only special interest group will be the people of SE Minnesota.
Minnesota Senate District 31 has three candidates: Brenda Johnson, I-R; Kevin Kelleher, Independent; Sharon Ropes, DFL. Incumbent Bob Kierlin did not file.
Here is a profile on Johnson.
1. Name/age/occupation? Brenda Johnson, age 45. Occupation: teacher, economics and business, RCTC and Saint Maryís University
2. Why are you running for this position?
As your candidate for the State Senate seat currently held by Bob Kierlin, I am not the usual politician. Instead of only offering a wish list, I offer a way to get results and fair funding for our communities.
My supporters are people like you who want a Senator who listens, learns, and leads. They know Iím a local elected official, a teacher, and economist, who helps communities and legislators work together across party lines.
For eight years Iíve been active in the nonpartisan, grassroots Southeast Minnesota League that now covers eight counties in southeast Minnesota. Shortly after I was first elected, I met with the regional league and thought it could do much more. I proposed getting our legislators to work together on issues for our communities. The response: ìGreat idea! Youíre our new president!î
Volunteering many hours and driving countless miles, this nonpartisan idea and organization grew from a three-county area to eight counties during my presidency. It continues still, and now legislators all along the I-90 corridor are interested in working together. Itís a new thing for our part of the state, but we are not the first. The Iron Range and Metro areas have been organized for years and gained from it. Itís our turn.
A vote for Brenda Johnson for State Senate is a vote to give our communities better results at the Capitol. Iíve listened and learned how important this is for us, and as your Senator I will be the leader to put our district at the heart of this new I-90 group. Compared to other parts of the state, we have had the short end of the stick for too long. Think about our roads, our schools, our needs. I ask for your vote this November.
3. Do you support the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage? Why or why not?
Of the three candidates for this senate seat, I am the only pro-life candidate and I am the only one who will let you vote on the definition of marriage for our state constitution. My opponents will not let you vote, but I will. Throughout the district people have made it clear they want to have a voice on this and a vote.
4. Do you support a one-payer health care system? Why or why not?
I have an 18-point plan for reducing the cost of health care, and a six-point plan for reducing the cost of health insurance. Instead of creating a single-payer health insurance system with the government in control, we need real cost reductions. The single-payer plan is not as wonderful as it is promoted to be. It cuts spending on health care by creating long waiting lines for tests and procedures, and it denies care to some, especially the elderly and those needing costly care. Costs in Canada have risen at basically the same rate as here in the US. We need real cost reductions, not another government bureaucracy.
Hereís a sample of six of the eighteen ideas I have for ways Minnesota can reduce the cost of health care for families and seniors immediately:
1) Mandate repeals ñ Repeal ineffective government mandates on health care plans (there are over 60 of them!) and create a moratorium on new mandates. Pilot a mandate-free health insurance program to see if mandates are a substantial driver of health insurance costs.
2) Medical Malpractice reform ñ Provide medical malpractice reform by limiting non-economic damages to $300,000 and limit excessive attorney fees.
3) More Competition - Open Minnesota to more ìfor profitî health plans or allow Minnesotans to use plans administered in other states. The more competition we have, the lower the cost, since the firms will need to attract enrollees.
4) HSAs ñ Continue to support Health Savings Accounts and pay for performance methods that allow a market-based, consumer driven system. Premiums decreased in 2005 after the enactment of HSAs, and we need to let the market continue to push premium rates down.
HSAs can create rewards and incentives for healthy activities and disease management allow contributions up to the high deductible health planís maximum out-of-pocket exposure make sure contributions go to health care allow HSA dollars to be used for health insurance premiums allow employers to make greater HSA contributions to lower-income employees.
5) ìRight to knowî ñ Consumers have a right to know the cost and quality of having various medical procedures performed at available health care providers. Consumers need transparency of costs.
6) ìSick Taxî ñ Reduce or eliminate the provider tax, which goes to the Health Care Access Fund that has a projected surplus of over $160 million.
Our state already has the highest percentage of covered residents in the nation. By implementing real cost reductions, our public programs will be able to cover even more people. Businesses and families throughout the state will benefit from these cost reductions, not just some segments.
The single-payer plan others propose will create cost increases, as has occurred in Canada and other countries with socialized health care, and the proponents have not said how they will pay for it or who will pay. Hang on to your wallets and vote for real cost reductions as I have in my plan. We cannot afford the single-payer plan, nor should we put up with the rationing it has caused in all the other countries where it has been tried.
5. Do you support the proposed constitutional amendment dedicating the motor vehicle sales tax to transportation. Why or why not?
The proposed constitutional amendment for the dedication of the motor vehicle sales tax (MVST) puts us between a rock and a hard place. The language is not what I would like. It reads that ìup to 60%î of the dedicated funding would be for roads and bridges, and the rest for transit. Critics quickly suggest that the language could allow more than 60% to go to transit, possibly even all of it. If it was so likely, then why hasnít the metro area already done it? If they have the ability to take it all, they would already have taken it.
While I do not like the wording, it would force legislators to have to hammer out the exact percentages and get our state past the gridlock on this. Thatís a good thing.
Critics say we should not constitutionally dedicate the funding because it restricts our use of the funds. Since we already have a section in the constitution on transportation funding, this is nothing new. When people pay a sales tax on their motor vehicles, they typically expect it to go to transportation, and most have assumed it all did. This puts it back where it belongs.
Critics say it will create a huge hole in the state budget and suggest we should be fearful of losing local government aid funding. Since the dedication of the remaining portion of the MVST will be gradually phased in over five years, our economy can handle that, even if only using the amount from typical inflation in the economy. Even when fully phased in, the ìholeî amounts to less than 1% of the state budget. Spread over five years that amounts to less than two tenths of a percent per year, meaning over 99.8% of the state budget is as before.
Critics say this will delude the public into thinking we have completely fixed all our transportation funding woes. I say we have to start fixing anyway. Whatever we do will not be a complete funding of all our transportation needs. There is no silver bullet out there. Letís just get started. Arenít you tired of waiting and waiting for better road funding? I am, too.
If we vote ënoí on the amendment, it will send the message that our part of the state does not think transportation funding is important. It will make it harder for legislators in this area to push for funding the road and bridge needs of our region. While I suspect the amendment will fail due to people choosing not to vote on it (skipping the question counts as a ënoí vote) and people thinking it will force a tax increase (it does not), we need to show road and bridge funding is a priority for our region by having a good show of ëyesí votes from here. While I am skeptical of the proposal passing, I will vote yes to force legislators to have to deal with this.
Either way, whether it passes or not, the legislators of southern Minnesota have to work together to get dollars coming here for our roads and bridges. If elected as your next senator, I see my work to be the same no matter which way the vote goes. Thatís why it is essential to have a senator with experience in working regionally for our needs, including our road and bridge funding. I have that experience and I ask for your vote.
6. The state is currently running a surplus. Where should the extra dollars be spent?
Tax revenues are on the rise in Minnesota, without raising tax rates, because Minnesotaís economy is growing at a double-digit pace. State tax revenues for the í06-í07 budget cycle are projected to be 10.2% over í04-í05. Tax revenues are growing even faster. The July 2006 Economic Update said tax collections are $447 million above projections. (Even House DFL leadership now has their eye on the budget surplus according to recent articles in the press, while my DFL opponents are saying there is no surplus.) By growing our state economy, we can afford to fund the top priorities in our state. As we see growth in the stateís economy, I support moving the increased tax revenues to K-12 school funding to reduce the gap in how much per student funding our schools get compared to metro schools, road and bridge funding for our area, and higher education funding targeted directly to students. I would especially like to see a reduction in property taxes as the economy improves and state revenues grow. Our families and seniors need property tax relief, not more taxes as my opponents are proposing. We can increase state funding by growing our economy and creating jobs. Our kids should have the opportunity to get good jobs right here so they can raise their families in this beautiful area we call home.
7. What have you learned about yourself during this election campaign?
This campaign has taught me that I have the most wonderful, supportive family that a person could want. My husband is absolutely the best. Our daughter gives me such joy and support, and she is enjoying the campaign, too.
I learned that the regional work I have done for the last eight years is more important to our district than I realized. Now that the I-90 area legislators are ready to work as a region in a nonpartisan way, those who have already worked with me in the Southeast League are eager to have me help them move the I-90 group forward. This is a pivotal time for our district and for southern Minnesota. Voters in our district understand how important this is and appreciate the need to make it happen. There is so much work to be done, and I have learned that my regional approach is more important than ever to get the needs of our district met for fair school funding, better road and bridge funding, stronger growth for our employers and jobs, and providing property tax relief.
The other thing I have learned is that in order to make real cost reductions to health care, we need someone with a business and economics background, and having over three years experience in an insurance field helps, too. We need real cost reductions and more consumer involvement, not another government takeover.
Caledonia Argus
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507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com