Minnesota State Senator Tom Neuville

My Legislative Survey is now available on this Website. You can Open up a link on the left side of this page.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the software to allow for on-line responding. So, you will have to print out the survey and mail it to my Senate Office.

I do welcome your thoughts on these, and all other issues.

There is plenty of time left in the Legislative Session for your comments to matter. So please take some time to respond. Thank you.

On February 14, I have been appointed to the Legislative Audit Commission, the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy and the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct.

I am excited to begin work on these committees. These appointments will allow me to better serve my constituents and the State of Minnesota. I look forward to the good work we will be able to accomplish and as always I request comments and input from my constituents on the important matters I will be working on at the Capitol.

The Legislative Audit Commission is a bipartisan, bicameral commission, consisting of six members from both the House and Senate, each equally represented by both the majority and minority caucuses. The commission selects topics for the Legislative Auditor to review, and periodically holds hearings to review the reports from the Auditor.

The Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy is also equally divided between members of the House and Senate, and provides the Legislature with in-depth analysis of projected state revenues and tax expenditures.

The Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct is a bipartisan committee consisting of four members of the Senate who review the ethical conduct within the Senate.

Well, the Legislature is back in Session and legislators are being flooded with letters from constituents, lobbyists, special interest groups and state agencies, all advocating in favor of their project or issue.

It’s a time of factual absorption for legislators like me. One of the reports which I always find interesting is the one I receive from the Minnesota State Lottery. This year, the Lottery boasts that citizens in Senate District 25 spend $5,092,497 gambling from July, 2005 thru June, 2006. This includes about $3 million for instant “Scratch” tickets and $2.1 million for “On-line” lottery games.

There are 66 retailers who sell lottery tickets in my district, who earned about $312,000 in commissions for selling the tickets. Across the State, sales in 2006 were a record $450 million, which was a 10% increase over the previous year.

I suppose that we can look at these numbers differently. On the one hand, people had enough disposable income, that they were able to spend more on the “entertainment” of gambling. So, the economy must be good! On the other hand, it’s a sad reflection on the priorities we have. Others might point to the $32 million which all of this gambling put into the Environmental Trust Fund, or the $68 million of revenue generated for the State general fund.

I’ve always thought there should be a better way to raise money for the State than gambling. But, we aren’t about to change things now.

Many years ago, I wanted to “teach” my own kids a lesson about gambling. At a church dinner, I purchased 10 pull-tabs, and expected to lose on all of them. I told my kids to watch how quickly I was going to lose $10. Unfortunately, (?), I won $50 on one of the pull-tabs and my kids were delighted as I bought them ice cream with part of the winnings. The lesson I had hoped for was lost.

Over the years, however, I never missed an opportunity to counsel my own children that fortune would be made by hard work, talent, savings, and persistence. I’m not morally opposed to gambling. But, I have seen too many people become addicted to the “Thrill” of a quick win at the casino or lottery ticket.

So, the State is earning about $100 million on lottery sales, but why am I not pleased?

Yesterday was not a good day for Republicans in Minnesota. My Republican Senate caucus lost a net of 6 seats, including two senior Senators who everyone thought would be easily re-elected.

Governor Pawlenty’s win was a stroke of luck, probably due to  miscues by AG Hatch in the last week of the campaign. And so, we will have divided government again, much like my first 4 years in the Senate, when Arne Carlson was Governor.

Some recall that Governor Carlson holds the record for number of vetoes in Minnesota. Given the huge majorities for Democrats in both the House and Senate, the veto threat will likely come into play much more during the next two years. Governor Pawlenty will have to change his leadership style significantly. Compromise will be expected on most issues.

I am grateful for my own victory ( 52% to 48%) over Jessica Peterson. I have the rural, western part of my district to thank for their support. Northfield produced a huge wave of voters for the Democrats this year. I have never lost Northfield by more than 1000. But, this year, Jessica Peterson won Northfield by about 2400. Republicans just couldn’t get their base out, and the DFL was highly motivated to cast an anti-George Bush vote. There is no doubt that national issues affected state legislative races this year. Sometimes there is nothing a candidate can do, once he puts on a partisan label.

Thanks to all of the voters who supported me, especially those in Scott, Sibley and LeSueur counties. I will keep my promise to work hard, serve honestly and respectfully, and remain accessible.

Congratulations to David Bly for his victory. We will likely differ on many issues. But, I will extend a hand to work with David, especially on local issues.

A special tribute to Rep. Ray Cox, who lost by only 57 votes, pending a re-count. It has been my honor and privilege to work with Ray for 4 years. He has worked so hard for the people in District 25B. Much of his hard work is never known or appreciated by the average citizen. His wife Ellen and family are kind and gracious people, who have sacrificed much for Ray’s public service. Thank you Ray and Ellen. Don’t stay on the sideline very long.

Finally, I want to thank Jessica Peterson for running a campaign which was largely free of unfair negative or personal attack ads. One only appreciates how hard and time-consuming a campaign can be, when you become a candidate. Jessica and I also disagree on many  issues, but we kept our disagreements civil. I think voters found that refreshing. Congratulations Jessica for running a very good campaign.  

So, how are voters supposed to find out where a candidate stands on a particular issue. Many special interest and public interest groups have sent questionnaires to candidates during the past few months. Newspapers in District 25 have also surveyed us and will print our responses next week.

It’s easy to know my positions on issues because:

a. I have a voting record

b. I have more than 100 press releases still on my blog (website) going back at least 4 years.

I have always tried to be open and candid about my feelings on issues which might come before the Legislature.

This year, the Jordan Independent (Link here) . takes the prize for asking the most questions (19). If the paper actually prints all of our answers, voters will learn a lot about each candidate’s positions. I encourage readers to check this site next week.

There are two groups which have a reputation for being particularly fair and non-partisan.

One group is the Minnesota Prosperity Project (Link here) . where you can view my answers to their questions. The “Prosperity Project” is a coalition of business groups throughout Minnesota, including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

Another non-partisan group conducting issue surveys is Project Vote Smart (Link here) . This group surveyed candidates on a range of issues, and includes my voting record and endorsements from special interest groups. Jessica Peterson’s site is here , but she did not respond.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune voter survey is also posted on the Web (Link here). You can find my answers and Jessica Peterson’s, on this link.

The Star Tribune questionnaire is challenging to answer due to its vagueness. For example, it asks our position on whether legislators should “rule out tax increases next session”. Well, it depends on what tax you are talking about. I support a reasonable gas tax increase. But, I oppose other general tax increases. So, I have to respond by saying that I have “mixed feelings”. Voters don’t understand my true position on taxes from this type of question.

Other papers that have surveyed us include:

The New Prague Times: Link here

The Northfield News: Link here

Mankato Free Press: Link here

Le Sueur News Herald : Link here. I was happy to hear that the Le Center Leader and Le Sueur News-Herald have both endorsed my re-election this week.

You can check these papers next week and review how my opponent and I each answered the questions.

This week I was pleased to receive several new Endorsements from groups which I work closely with.

One is the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fund. This is the political arm of the Minnesota State Chamber of Commerce which is involved in many business and job creation issues. I think that this is the 6th consecutive endorsement which I have received from the Chamber.The Chamber is one of the groups, making up the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, which is supporting the Constitutional Amendment to dedicate the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax to Roads and Transit. There is a need provide more money for our State highways. In the Metro area, they want more money for transit. The proposed Constitutional Amendment spends at least 40% for transit, and up to 60% for roads and highways. I support this Amendment, even though it will shift money which now goes to the State General Fund.

Another Endorsement received this week was from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA). I have worked closely with Law Enforcement agencies for 16 years, including the Police Agencies, Sheriff’s Association, Department of Corrections, Probation Agents, Domestic Abuse Advocates, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.I also was given the endorsement by the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis.

It was a natural fit for me, since I was a State Public Defender for almost 20 years, and am very familiar with the entire Criminal Justice System. I have been the Ranking (lead) Republican Senator on the Crime Prevention Committee or the Senate Public Safety Budget Committee for about the past 10 years.

Last year, Senator Jane Ranum (DFL- Minneapolis) and I co-wrote the Senate Bill dealing with Sex Offenders. The Bill was in response to the Dru Sjodin/ Alfonso Rodriguez abduction case. It was a very tough bill, but also focused on the “worst of the worst” sex offenders.

Over the next 20 years, Minnesota will need to build about 1300 new prison beds as a result of the bill, but it’s worth the cost to remove the most dangerous sex offenders from our communities. And it’s better than trying to “civilly commit” these same offenders when they get out of prison. State Hospitals are not well suited to “treating” these offenders, and the cost is much higher than prison.

Welcome to my new Weblog. I just converted my Website to a Blog format. This is my first official “post”. I just had a quick tranining session on how to do the basics of blogging from the Blog Master, Griff Wigley of Northfield.

I intend to go pretty slow at first. Some of you are regular readers of Representive Ray Cox’s Blog. I don’t think that I’ll be able to match Ray’s record of keeping current on activities. But, I do intend to post every few days, and give people a flavor of the things that I do as the State Senator for District 25.

This is an election year. So, my days are full. I am still busy carrying a full load in my law office practice. In addition, even though legislators are in campaign mode, we still have lots of constitutent services to fulfill. For example, Representative Cox and I are working closely with the City of Belle Plaine concerning a key intersection with Hwy. 169.

Hopefully, as my Re-election Campaign goes into full swing in September and October, I’ll be posting more information on this Blog concerning issues and events. Right now, I am raising campaign funds, attending lots of fairs, parades, church dinners, community events and door knocking. I’m always looking for volunteers. So, if you want to get involved in “grassroots” politics, contact me.

I expect that this new way of communicating with constituents will be very helpful when the next Legislative Session starts in 2007!

Watch for weblog posts from Senator Tom Neuville, along with a revamped website, coming soon. - Griff Wigley, Wigley and Associates