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Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Legislative Update 2007

Volume 12, Issue 7, March 15, 2007

The Update is available by fax or by e-mail, or can be viewed at www.mncn.org/legupdate.htm

MARCH 21 IS “INVEST IN MINNESOTA” DAY

A one-day phone-in to members of the state legislature.

Call your legislators on March 21 and ask them to raise taxes in a fair way to restore Minnesota’s commitment to meet its needs.

WHY THE “INVEST IN MINNESOTA” PHONE-IN DAY?

For too many years now, Minnesotans have paid a heavy price for the cuts in the state budget.  Traffic congestion keeps getting worse. Schools are shortchanged, causing larger classroom sizes and little progress on expanding pre-school education.  Cities are hard pressed to provide police and fire protection.  Access to childcare and health care is out of reach for too many.  Tuition has skyrocketed.  No new state taxes have meant much higher local property taxes.  These problems will continue unless Minnesota fixes the way it raises revenues.

Right now the revenues Minnesota is expected to receive will only pay to keep things as they are—inadequate for the job at hand.  What is billed as a “surplus” is actually limited to the dollars required to continue existing services. Unless the legislature acts, Minnesota will not have the new dollars needed to fix our problems. 

Minnesota needs to restore its revenue system to one that meets our needs, rebuilds the economy and improves the future for our children.  The legislature can fix our system this year. It can fix our state highways and unclog our freeways. It can get kids into early education when they can benefit the most.  It can enable schools to once again focus on improving education.  It can ensure families have the means to prevent health problems before they start.  The state can tackle these and its other jobs if the legislature makes good choices. 

WHAT SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE DO?

• Commit itself this year to improving Minnesota

• Raise the needed new revenue in a fair way to improve our education, health care, transportation and other public services.

PHONE-IN ACTION

This session of the Minnesota Legislature sets the budget for the next two years. Polls have long shown Minnesotans value the state’s public services and support fair ways to raise new revenues to meet the state’s needs. Legislators value hearing the views of their constituents. On March 21, organizations throughout Minnesota, including nonprofits, faith and labor organizations, are conducting a one-day phone-in to tell legislators they need to raise taxes in a fair way this year to restore Minnesota’s commitment to improving the state. Each caller will identify why restoring state revenues are important to his or her organization and to the caller.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR

Call between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2007

TELL THEM: 

My name is _________. I am a constituent. I am calling to urge Rep. ________

Or Sen.________ to raise taxes fairly so Minnesota can meet its needs. Because of years of budget cuts, Minnesota is not keeping up with its priorities. The legislature needs to recommit itself to meeting our needs and preparing for our children’s future. And it needs to raise taxes in a fair way to accomplish this.

I am particularly interested in adequate revenues to pay for________________.

CALLERS: If you can, personalize your reasons for asking your legislator to raise taxes.

Tell them, from your experience, what problems could be avoided or what good accomplished through a renewed state commitment to adequate revenues.

Only nine weeks are left in this legislative session. Tell your legislators they will have your support should they take the actions you request to restore Minnesota’s future.

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR:

1. Go to http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html
2. Put your address in the fields provided. You will then be given the name of your state senator and state representative.
3. Follow the “Member info” link to find their phone number.
4. Give them a call.