Rep. Paul Thissen - 2012 Legislative Survey

1. What should the Legislature’s top priorities be in the 2012 Legislative Session?
(Rank top 3 choices)

What should the Legislature’s top priorities be in the 2012 Legislative Session? (Rank top 3 choices) Jobs and the Economy

K-12 education

Property tax relief

Health care

Environmental protection

Public safety & consumer protection

Other (please specify)

2. Over the last year, have you experienced any of the following? (Check all that apply)

Over the last year, have you experienced any of the following? (Check all that apply) Loss of a job

Loss of a home

Loss of health insurance

Wage cut or freeze

Hours cut

Increase in property taxes

Increase in college tuition

Higher health care costs

3. What concerns do you have about our current economic climate? What gives you optimism?

What concerns do you have about our current economic climate? What gives you optimism?

4. Which of the following options do you support to grow new jobs in Minnesota? (Check all that apply)

Which of the following options do you support to grow new jobs in Minnesota? (Check all that apply) Make targeted investments in the state’s aging infrastructure like roads, bridges, and schools

Provide tax incentive for businesses that hire and retrain workers

Provide educational grants to workers to get retrained in emerging careers

Implement “Buy Minnesota” policies to promote local job creation

Support greater research and development at colleges and universities

Enact new tax breaks for corporations

Nothing—let the market take its course

Other (please specify)

5. Our latest economic forecast showed an $876 million short-term surplus. However, due to the budget passed after the state shutdown, the state still has more than $4 billion in long-term debt. Would you consider our state budget problems solved?

Our latest economic forecast showed an $876 million short-term surplus. However, due to the budget passed after the state shutdown, the state still has more than $4 billion in long-term debt. Would you consider our state budget problems solved? Yes

Not Sure

6. Last year Republicans borrowed over $2 billion from our schools to balance our state’s books with no plan to pay back the shift. Should we put a plan in place to pay back Minnesota schools?

Last year Republicans borrowed over $2 billion from our schools to balance our state’s books with no plan to pay back the shift. Should we put a plan in place to pay back Minnesota schools? Yes

Not Sure

7. What should the Legislature make its top priorities in the 2012 session? (Rank on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being the top priority)

	1	2	3	4	5
Working to create jobs and strengthen Minnesota’s economy	*What should the Legislature make its top priorities in the 2012 session? (Rank on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being the top priority) Working to create jobs and strengthen Minnesota’s economy 1	Working to create jobs and strengthen Minnesota’s economy 2	Working to create jobs and strengthen Minnesota’s economy 3	Working to create jobs and strengthen Minnesota’s economy 4	Working to create jobs and strengthen Minnesota’s economy 5
Passing constitutional amendments on social issues	Passing constitutional amendments on social issues 1	Passing constitutional amendments on social issues 2	Passing constitutional amendments on social issues 3	Passing constitutional amendments on social issues 4	Passing constitutional amendments on social issues 5
Streamlining and reforming government	Streamlining and reforming government 1	Streamlining and reforming government 2	Streamlining and reforming government 3	Streamlining and reforming government 4	Streamlining and reforming government 5
Balancing our long term budget deficit	Balancing our long term budget deficit 1	Balancing our long term budget deficit 2	Balancing our long term budget deficit 3	Balancing our long term budget deficit 4	Balancing our long term budget deficit 5
Making our tax system more fair/reduce property taxes	Making our tax system more fair/reduce property taxes 1	Making our tax system more fair/reduce property taxes 2	Making our tax system more fair/reduce property taxes 3	Making our tax system more fair/reduce property taxes 4	Making our tax system more fair/reduce property taxes 5

8. Would you support closing tax loopholes for corporations that shelter earnings overseas?

Would you support closing tax loopholes for corporations that shelter earnings overseas? Yes

Maybe

9. How would you prefer the Legislature solve our long term budget deficit?

How would you prefer the Legislature solve our long term budget deficit? Raise taxes

Cut services and programs

Mix of budget cuts and tax increases

Rep. Paul Thissen - 2012 Legislative SurveyExit this survey

1. What should the Legislature’s top priorities be in the 2012 Legislative Session? (Rank top 3 choices)