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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2007
Contact: Phil Krinkie
(651) 294-3590 ext 202
Taxpayers League Releases 2007 Legislative Scorecard
Eleven legislators earn “Best Friend of the Taxpayer” award
ST. PAUL – The Taxpayers League of Minnesota today released their annual Legislative Scorecard for the 2007 state legislative session; a release which marks the 11th year in a row that the Taxpayers League has ranked Minnesota legislators based on their votes on issues related to taxes, spending and economic freedom.
The Taxpayers League’s annual Legislative Scorecard is Minnesota’s most authoritative ranking of state legislators based on fiscal issues and not only provides a substantial accounting of each year’s legislative record, but also a lifetime score for legislators that have served multiple terms.
The primary focus of the 2007 Scorecard was transportation spending and legislators’ votes on bills that would have raised taxes on nearly every facet of automobile ownership; gas tax, wheelage tax, sales tax and license tab fee increases. Also included in the Scorecard were votes on income tax increases, raising the minimum wage and hundreds of millions in pork-barrel spending.
“The Taxpayers League Legislative Scorecard is the best device Minnesotans have to determine who’s after their paycheck and what lawmakers intend to do with it once they’ve got it, said Phil Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota and himself a recipient of a “Lifetime Best Friend of the Taxpayer” award from the League (with a lifetime score of 95%). Krinkie added, “politicians are famous for promising one thing during a campaign and then voting another way during the legislative session. Our Scorecard aims to bring some accountability to the process.”
To be named a “Best Friend of the Taxpayer” during a legislative session, a Representative or Senator must score a perfect 100% on the votes selected by the Taxpayers League. The 2007 “Best Friends” were Rep. Bruce Anderson [R-Buffalo Township], Rep. Mark Buesgens [R-Jordan], Rep. Chris DeLaForest [R-Andover], Rep. Tom Emmer [R-Delano], Rep. Mary Liz Holberg [R-Lakeville], Rep. Paul Kohls [R-Victoria], Rep. Mark Olson [R-Big Lake], Rep. Ron Shimanski [R-Silver Lake], Rep. Kurt Zellers [R-Maple Grove], Sen. David Hann [R-Eden Prairie] and Sen. Pat Pariseau [R-Farmington].
Print and PDF copies of the 2007 Legislative Scorecard (as well as previous editions) may be obtained by clicking here or by emailing Mark Giga at markg [at] taxpayersleague [dot] org.
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