While Dale is also an animal lover and supports the fair and ethical treatment of dogs and cats - now is not the time to be focusing on such legislation.

           Our citizens are concerned with
   
           tax relief
           limiting the expansion of government
           creating more jobs
           health care reform
           retirement, protecting seniors
           improving our education system
           improving our infrastructure
           developing viable transportation options
           defending our freedoms
 
           Of the three bills our representative authored last session House File 253 was second in his list of priorities. This sends a clear message to the citizens of District 51B. That message is our representative is currently “out of touch” with the needs of the people.

           If elected, Dale will remain sincerely committed to the citizens of 51B, their needs and concerns, and will ensure that their voice is heard in our state legislature.

          Yet despite having a democratically controlled house and senate in 2009 our state legislature could not deliver a balanced budget.  In the end, the House passed $34 billion in spending but had only $31 billion in estimated revenue.  This left a $3 billion dollar budget gap.

          Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Minneapolis, 60A) led the effort to pass tax bill after tax bill, only to have her $1.5 billion in tax increases vetoed by the Governor.  Even if this 1.5 billion dollar tax increase had passed there would have been a $1.5 billion dollar budget hole.

          We now know that our state is facing at least a 4.6 billion dollar deficit for 2010 and 2011.  The deficit for 2012 and 2013 by financial experts is expected to be much greater.

          Action must be taken now to reinstate fiscal responsibility within our state government.  Our politicians must be held accountable for their mismanagement, failed leadership, and tax and spend policies.

          Our current representative is one of the politicians who must be held accountable.  Our representative is on the Taxes Committee, Ways & Means Committee, Property and Local Sales Tax Division Committee, and the K-12 Education Finance Division Committee.

          Our representative has direct ownership in our legislature’s failure to deliver a balanced budget, address our current and impending deficit, and develop a realistic economic plan for the state of Minnesota.

          Dale sees fiscal responsibility as one of the key priorities our next representative must have.  Dale is committed to working hard on your behalf to ensure that District 51B, Minnesota, and our citizens receive an economic plan which protects our values and provides for our future.

          Our largest employers are now the State of Minnesota, public university systems, and the federal government.  Dale understands that government does not provide wealth and economic growth - our private sector does. 

          One of Dale’s top concerns is the need for more jobs in Minnesota.  Currently, due to rising taxes, increased mandates, and unnecessary regulation the entrepreneurial spirit in our great state has been driven into the dirt.

          Minnesota’s taxes are too high on job creators and individuals, thus pushing capital and job formation to other states and countries.  Minnesotans pay an individual tax rate which is 6th in the nation. 

          It is important to note that in ten years our state budget has grown by 60%.  The average Minnesota family now pays $8,400 in state taxes, excluding property and local taxes. 

          With this type of growth in spending, it’s time for the legislature to give Minnesota families a tax break not a tax increase.

          What about the corporate tax rate in Minnesota?  Minnesota corporations pay the 3rd highest corporate taxes in the world!

          There is a need for a comprehensive restructuring of taxes, regulations, permits, licenses, and bureaucracy to create more jobs and attract more employers into the state of Minnesota.

          Dale understands that the time for real leadership is now.  We need reform to reach every corner of our state, into every industry, and for every business large or small so we can achieve the goal of a technological, industrial, and agricultural business renaissance in Minnesota.

– he wants to raise your taxes!

          You might be asking yourself why our representative would want to raise taxes at a time when people are losing their jobs, homes, retirement nest eggs, savings, and are still dealing with rising costs in everything else.

          I have an answer for you.  He along with other legislators have mismanaged our tax dollars through a “Tax and Spend” strategy which was destined to fail.  Let’s examine our representative’s last two terms in office and see where the state budget was during both terms.

Our representative: Tom Tillberry is just coming into office:

Tillberry’s 1st Term   
Minnesota had a 2.2 Billion dollar surplus: on November 29th, 2006
Minnesota forecasted a 373 Million dollar deficit: on November 2007
Tom voted to increase spending and raise taxes

Tom Tillberry runs for 2nd Term: 2008 Election
Claims he and his party delivered a balanced budget on time
Remember the state deficit was growing at this time

Tillberry’s 2nd Term
Minnesota forecasts a 1 billion dollar deficit: February 27th, 2008
Minnesota has at least a budget deficit of 4.6 Billion going into 2010
Deficit would have been 1.8 billion more without Federal Stimulus Money
Tom voted to increase spending and raise taxes again

Some 2008 Highlights for Taxes

          Just days before the 1 Billion dollar deficit is announced February 27th, 2008 the democratically controlled house and senate passed a 6.6 billion dollar transportation bill which included gasoline and sales tax increases.

          These additional gas taxes came when regular was over $3.05 a gallon and rising.  People in Minnesota rightfully got mad at our legislature and called, wrote, and e-mailed to voice their opposition to these new taxes.

But their voice was not heard.

So here is what followed:

1:          Under the leadership of the Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Minneapolis 60A) The Democratically controlled house and senate voted to raise 1.5 billion dollars in new taxes.

2:          The same house and senate approved 34 billion dollars in government spending.  The estimated revenue for Minnesota was only 31 billion dollars.  This left a 3 billion dollar budget gap.  Even if the 1.5 billion dollar tax increases had taken effect (Governor Pawlenty vetoed it) there still would have been a 1.5 billion dollar budget gap.

3:          The Governor had to step in because the house and senate could not produce a balanced budget.  Minnesotans and the citizens of District 51B did not see 1.5 billion dollars in new taxes because the governor balanced the budget through an unallotment. 

Citizens of 51B

          Tom Tillberry is on the Taxes Committee, The Ways and Means Committee, Property and Local Sales Tax Division Committee, and the K-12 Finance Division Committee.

          Tom Tillberry is responsible for the mismanagement of your tax dollars and for the failed leadership of the house and senate to produce a balanced budget.

          Tom Tillberry took office with a 2.2 billion dollar surplus which was turned into a 4.6 billion dollar deficit on his watch.  If Federal Stimulus money had not been available this deficit would have been 1.8 billion dollars more (6.4 billion dollars).

          Tom Tillberry has a lifetime rating of zero with the Minnesota Taxpayers League.  Tom has shown through his two terms in the house that he is a classic tax and spender.  What he has not shown is fiscal responsibility, sound money management, and accountability to the taxpayer.

Do we need another Tillberry Tax?

          Minnesotans want their legislature to address how our state is going to secure affordable quality health care options.  

Dale will address the problem at its source.

Reform our Medical Malpractice System

Reform government provided health care to improve cost, delivery, quality

Allow for more providers to compete with better choices

Allow small business owners to pool their health care premiums

Promote a preventive health care program in our state

Promote personal health coverage which belongs to you not your employer

Prevent doctor’s income from being tied to procedures recommended

Prevent government from controlling the doctor patient relationship

Develop alternative sources and controls for the cost of prescription drugs

Develop a new patient centered system of consumer choice and real free-market competition

          Big government and expanding Medicaid is not reform.  Adding more people to a flawed system would only compound the problem.  The answer is to actually deal with the issue not to hide it.  

          Dale will work on real solutions which make Minnesota health care more affordable while maintaining the high standards of quality we are known for around the world.

          Dale grew up knowing the value of a good education.  Dale’s father was an educator teaching at the elementary, high school, and collegiate levels.  Dale’s mother was an experienced educator and child psychologist.
 
          Dale had the opportunity to see first hand the importance of a quality education system and some of the problems that can arise with bad policy.  As a father of two children currently within our districts school system Dale also shares the same concerns any parent would.

          Dale believes our next representative needs to establish the following priorities in addressing the future of our state education system. 

Cutting costly mandates on our schools
Advocate for more local control
Work for a more fair and equitable funding model for all schools
Keep Minnesota’s cutting edge history of reform in place
Better utilization of school funding to focus on academic instruction
Common sense school policy
Promote excellence rather than equal results in our schools
Advocate incentive teachers pay and funding for schools performing above the national average.

          Dale believes that education should always be an important issue in our district, our state, and in our nation.  In the global economy we live in our children are in competition with the world.

          Dale would be proud to bring these priorities to our state legislature. Dale is ready to fight to improve our education system, enable parents, teachers, school districts, and promote a system of fairness, reform, and excellence.

          Dale believes in our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation.  These are key historical documents which establish the design and framework of our republic.

          Dale believes that our three branches of government need to serve the people as intended while remaining faithful to the Constitution and your rights.  Dale does not support unconstitutional acts by any branch to revise, consolidate, or usurp power for profit or political gain.
   
          Dale believes in limited government which is meant to protect the rights of the citizen and provide for the common defense both foreign and domestic.  Dale feels that a strong state government is important to ensure the needs of its citizens are being addressed locally by those who understand the issues.

          Dale is committed to the issues, serving you, defending your freedom, and protecting your rights.  Dale is ready to humbly serve as your voice in the state legislature.  Dale is ready to make fiscal accountability, economic growth, and lower taxes a priority in 2010.

          Dale will fight for true health care reform by dealing with the problem rather than hiding it.  Dale will support quality education which promotes excellence and achievement in our schools. 

          Dale will protect our natural resources, pursue better, cleaner, and affordable sources of energy, promote common sense legislation, and serve the needs of our seniors and defend their rights.

          Dale is ready to go to work for District 51B, defend our Minnesota values, and through sincere action and servant leadership make a better tomorrow that all of us can be proud of.