The newly formed Alliance for a Better Minnesota is questioning Governor Tim Pawlenty's record on education, health care and government spending ? and is asking Minnesotans to share their experiences at a special website.
Many union members are among the 500,000 people the Alliance represents. The group held its first news conference Monday (Feb. 13), but made waves even before that when WCCO Radio refused to air a commercial questioning Pawlenty's record on the governor's weekly show. The station later reneged and said it would air the commercial on the Feb. 17th show.
Dave Foster, director of Steelworkers District 11 and treasurer of the Alliance, said it would continue to air commercials and hold press conferences, rallies and other events to call attention to Pawlenty's record. He said the Alliance is an independent political action committee not affiliated with any party or candidate.
"Our major goal is to hold this governor accountable for what he promised Minnesotans," Foster said.
Pawlenty signed a "No New Taxes" pledge in June 2002. But according to state Senate research, Minnesotans have paid more than $900 million in higher fees for parks and campgrounds, vehicle titles, cigarettes and more over the past four years.
In addition, "property taxes have shot up all around the state," Foster said. "Minnesotans' tax burden has increased from $14.4 billion in 2002 to a projected $18.6 billion in 2007."
Three speakers at the news conference outlined how changes in state government under Pawlenty have affected them personally.
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| Minnesotans Darin Brigham, Arletha Blanks and Tamara Will spoke at a state Capitol news conference sponsored by the Alliance for a Better Minnesota. Photo by Jennifer Lovaasen |
At age 37, Darin Brigham is attending South Central College in Faribault so he can change careers and become a medical laboratory technician. He is working two, sometimes three jobs, but still must take out large student loans to pay for rising tuition and support his family.
"This is starting me on a dangerous cycle of debt," Brigham said. "As far as I'm concerned, Governor Pawlenty has not kept his promise" about funding higher education.
Too many Minnesotans don't have health care coverage ? and are turning to hospital emergency rooms as a last resort, said Arletha Blanks, a registered nurse in Minneapolis.
"Governor Pawlenty has failed to lead on the issue of health care," Blanks said. "We have more uninsured adults and children, higher health care costs and reduced access to health care. When people can't get the health care they need, it costs us all more in the long run."
Tamara Will and her husband moved from California to Mendota Heights six years ago because of Minnesota's good schools. But she is concerned the governor's cuts to early childhood education ? and underfunding of schools ? are eroding the entire system.
"The governor is not leading us forward on education," Will said.
The Alliance is inviting other Minnesotans to tell their stories at its website, www.allianceforabettermn.com
Members of the Alliance include United Steelworkers District 11, UNITE-HERE Minnesota, SEIU Minnesota State Council, AFSCME Council 5, Clean Water Action, Minnesota AFL-CIO, MAPE and the Laborers District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota.
For more information
Visit the Alliance website, www.allianceforabettermn.com
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The newly formed Alliance for a Better Minnesota is questioning Governor Tim Pawlenty’s record on education, health care and government spending ? and is asking Minnesotans to share their experiences at a special website.
Many union members are among the 500,000 people the Alliance represents. The group held its first news conference Monday (Feb. 13), but made waves even before that when WCCO Radio refused to air a commercial questioning Pawlenty’s record on the governor’s weekly show. The station later reneged and said it would air the commercial on the Feb. 17th show.
Dave Foster, director of Steelworkers District 11 and treasurer of the Alliance, said it would continue to air commercials and hold press conferences, rallies and other events to call attention to Pawlenty’s record. He said the Alliance is an independent political action committee not affiliated with any party or candidate.
“Our major goal is to hold this governor accountable for what he promised Minnesotans,” Foster said.
Pawlenty signed a “No New Taxes” pledge in June 2002. But according to state Senate research, Minnesotans have paid more than $900 million in higher fees for parks and campgrounds, vehicle titles, cigarettes and more over the past four years.
In addition, “property taxes have shot up all around the state,” Foster said. “Minnesotans’ tax burden has increased from $14.4 billion in 2002 to a projected $18.6 billion in 2007.”
Three speakers at the news conference outlined how changes in state government under Pawlenty have affected them personally.
|
| Minnesotans Darin Brigham, Arletha Blanks and Tamara Will spoke at a state Capitol news conference sponsored by the Alliance for a Better Minnesota.
Photo by Jennifer Lovaasen |
At age 37, Darin Brigham is attending South Central College in Faribault so he can change careers and become a medical laboratory technician. He is working two, sometimes three jobs, but still must take out large student loans to pay for rising tuition and support his family.
“This is starting me on a dangerous cycle of debt,” Brigham said. “As far as I’m concerned, Governor Pawlenty has not kept his promise” about funding higher education.
Too many Minnesotans don’t have health care coverage ? and are turning to hospital emergency rooms as a last resort, said Arletha Blanks, a registered nurse in Minneapolis.
“Governor Pawlenty has failed to lead on the issue of health care,” Blanks said. “We have more uninsured adults and children, higher health care costs and reduced access to health care. When people can’t get the health care they need, it costs us all more in the long run.”
Tamara Will and her husband moved from California to Mendota Heights six years ago because of Minnesota’s good schools. But she is concerned the governor’s cuts to early childhood education ? and underfunding of schools ? are eroding the entire system.
“The governor is not leading us forward on education,” Will said.
The Alliance is inviting other Minnesotans to tell their stories at its website, www.allianceforabettermn.com
Members of the Alliance include United Steelworkers District 11, UNITE-HERE Minnesota, SEIU Minnesota State Council, AFSCME Council 5, Clean Water Action, Minnesota AFL-CIO, MAPE and the Laborers District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota.
For more information
Visit the Alliance website, www.allianceforabettermn.com