How Am I Different From Rep. Joe Atkins?

Al Tate recently asked me the following question on Patch:

“Mark, can you give us some strategies and ideas on what you propose as solutions in IGH? Instead of pointing fingers at Atkins and doing the typical Republican "blame the democrat or other person" game, can we see some concrete examples and strategies that clearly shows how you suggest things be fixed? Thank you”

I realize that this response is very long, so I am providing all cap headings for those who want to jump to a certain section. This is just a sample of the differences between the two of us, and you might be surprised to see a couple of agreements!

ENERGY
Rep. Atkins voted against lifting a moratorium on nuclear power plants in Minnesota because it does not help to subsidize other renewable energies. (HF 9/ SF 4). Atkins also voted against HF 72, which would have allowed for additional exploration of coal-powered power plants in the state. A 'no' vote from Atkins and Gov. Mark Dayton eliminated the possibility of private industry being able to provide a service to the state, employ people who shop at our local stores and generate tax revenue.

EDUCATION
Rep. Atkins voted against HF 381, which would eliminate the deadline for teacher contract resolutions. In short, school districts get fined $25 per pupil if they do not have their labor union negotiated teacher contracts approved by a January 15 deadline. The way the current law works, schools are penalized and then need to ask the state for even more additional funds if a labor union negotiated contract does not gain enough support between the union and the school district. This is not healthy for the educational system in our local community our state or for the state overall budget.

Let me be clear though, while we have exceptional differences on our stances such as abortion, raising/lowering taxes, and many more single item issues, we both genuinely want what we believe is best for the residents of Inver Grove Heights and the state of Minnesota.

Rep. Atkins voted against the alternative teacher license HF 63 (passed into law by Governor Dayton) which will allow persons with expertise in a certain field to receive a two-year probationary teaching license before conducting any of the 200 hours of necessary classroom training. As a teacher myself, I understand how vital and important teacher education is. While I understand that on the job experience can play a vital role in the knowledge base and expertise area of a certain subject, as I too have worked in the private sector before becoming a teacher, I find it hard to believe that school districts are having a hard time finding qualified teachers to fill most of their vacancies, especially when hundreds of highly qualified and highly educated unemployed teacher are applying for minimum vacancies throughout the state.

LEGISLATIVE PAY AND PER DIEM
To show you that I am not in complete disagreement with Rep. Atkins, I would like to take this time to applaud him for stating that he would not accept pay during a government shutdown. In full transparency, he was not declining his entire House paycheck. He was not accepting payment only for the three weeks the government was shutdown. A Legislator makes $31,140 a year. That equates to $85.32 a day. Ultimately, Rep Atkins did not collect approximately $1,700 during the shutdown. In the event of a state shutdown (hopefully we will not see another one for a LONG time), I propose that no legislator receive their pay. It should not be an option for legislators to not collect a paycheck.

He also stated he would not accept his per diem. That sounds very good on the surface, but again, sounds better than it really is. Legislators do not receive per diem until they are in session. So, Rep. Atkins was not losing per diem pay during the shut down, because he was not eligible to receive it. During the two day special session, Rep. Atkins turned down the $130.

Legislators receive $77 each day they are in session, above and beyond their salary. This per diem is designed to help legislators offset the cost of daily food, travel and lodging if necessary. Per diem may be a necessity for outstate legislators, but it does not need to be the routine for all legislators. I would propose a major shift in how per diem functions in the state. First, there should be a per diem scale based on how far you have to travel to St. Paul. There is no reason for a St. Paul legislator or a Inver Grove Heights legislator to have to pay for a hotel room and many other amenities during the session. The bigger change to the per diem structure would be to require receipts for all per diem related activity. This would help to ensure accountability and demonstrate to constituents that our elected officials are being responsible with our money.

In the event of a state shutdown (hopefully we will not see another one for a LONG time), I propose that no legislator receive their pay. It should not be an option for legislators to not collect a paycheck.

STADIUMS
Representative Atkins has been steadfast in his support of publicly funded sports stadiums. While I understand the importance of sports at all levels (little league to professional) we should not be lining the pockets of millionaires and billionaires by providing them with brand new stadiums. The latest proposal from the state sports commission, Governor Dayton, DFL leaders and the Vikings was to approve more than $350 million from the state, and additional $300 million from Ramsey County and only roughly $150 million from the Minnesota Vikings. Residents of St. Paul, Little Canada and many other cities in the county would need to essentially pay more than two-thirds of the cost of a stadium that does not have a direct effect on them.

Opponents will argue that hotel revenue will increase, but remember, the Vikings play eight regular season home games and two preseason home games, so hotel-generated funding may increase 10 times a year. Opponents will also argue that if a stadium is not built, neighborhoods around the stadium would suffer from a loss of business. This is a diluted way to think of it. As State Senator Dave Thompson stated in his opinion piece in the Star Tribune on April 29,  “Undoubtedly, certain businesses will benefit from construction of a new Vikings stadium. But other businesses will suffer. Why? Because money spent on a Vikings game is not being spent elsewhere. A dollar not spent on a Vikings ticket might instead be spent on a Gophers football ticket or a Minnesota Wild jersey. A dollar not spent at a bar or restaurant near a stadium in Minneapolis might be spent at a neighborhood bar or restaurant in Stillwater or Crookston or Owatonna.” (http://www.startribune.com/opinion/120821054.html)

VOTER ID
Rep Atkins voted against HF 209, a bill requiring all persons who vote in the state of Minnesota. This is not a bill to suppress democratic turnout or disenfranchise the populations in Minnesota that are underprivileged, it is about ensuring accountability in our most important civic duty. The state requires that a person show ID to purchase alcohol or tobacco. We also require that if you drive a car, you must have a valid license. Many stores require ID when using a credit card or writing a check. Opponents argue that it will be difficult for the elderly to get an ID card. Rep. Rena Moran (DFL-St. Paul) likened it to a poll tax similar to those used to prevent black Americans from voting in the late 19th century, which is a gross misrepresentation of historical context .On the contrary, it would be very easy. Any person who does not currently have a state issued ID card could apply for a free card. I am not saying that voter fraud is running crazy in the state. However, this would help eliminate cases of college students and other residents from voting in one district and also in a second district. Our election system should be held to a higher standard than purchasing liquor.

TAXES & BUDGET
Raising taxes on the wealthiest top 2 percent in Minnesota will have minimal effect on balancing a budget. Governor Dayton conceded this during the government shutdown. Having a restructured tax policy that is closer to, if not, a flat tax across the board is what needs to be done in Minnesota, in addition to not spending more money that they state projects it can take in. Representative Atkins voted to increase the tax on the Top 2 percent.

ACCOUNTABILITY
Rep. Atkins does not provide openness and transparency to his constituents. He not only cancelled his only Town Hall meeting, but he provides inaccurate and/or false statements on his website and in his emails. His current main story in his website states, “In order to try to keep up with Joe’s opponent, whose supporters have already been holding fundraisers hosted by high-powered members of the U.S. Congress, we’re asking you to please consider making a donation” While it is true that the HD39B Republicans hosted Pig Roast in the Park with Congressman John Kline, he has been the only member of U.S. Congress to promote the local Republican Party. Also, HD39B does not have an endorsed candidate for 2012. This type of misrepresentation is what Rep. Atkins does best in order to pull the wool over the eyes of his constituents in Inver Grove Heights.

FROM JOE ATKINS EMAILS
Rep Atkins stated that a special session is not all that special after all (email to constituents on May 24). He points out that a special session has been called 14 times (now 15) in the past 20 years. This NEEDS to change! The state can not afford to continue to shut down private businesses because of the inability for legislators (on both sides of the isle) to work within the limits of the state constitution. Rep. Atkins has been in the House of Representatives for nearly half of those 20 years (Rep. Atkins is in his ninth year, or fifth term)!

On June 29, Rep. Atkins stated in an email “If I was all that smart, I would have figured out a solution to the state budget impasse by now, right?” Then, on July 14, Rep. Atkins stated that he didn’t like the deal the Governor and Republicans were striking. He said “The alternative I have proposed to each side, which I believe both could find acceptable, looks to non-tax revenue sources to plug the gap between the two sides.”

When asked what these alternatives were, Joe’s response to several constituents was the same; “Mark, though I wouldn't really call it my budget proposal, as it's really just a bunch of ideas I have run by a lot of Republican legislators to try to plug the gap” He then provided four examples, none of which were his own! All four proposals raised taxes instead of limiting spending. He claimed in multiple emails that he had 15 more solutions, but refused to elaborate on any of them.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Rep. Atkins has a belief that in order to maintain a civil society, we need to raise taxes and create more government bureaucracy. I on the other hand believe that it is time to live within our means and become fiscally responsible with the money that is spent at the state capitol. I am in favor of having sunset clauses on most bills, which will allow for an open and transparent debate when organizations and agencies come back to the capitol to justify why they need the funding they receive. Unlike Rep. Atkins, I believe the state government should not be picking winners and losers by providing gambling to two businesses and then forcing them to close and throw 1,700 private sector workers because a few gaming officials are temporarily laid off because of a government shutdown. Furthermore, I do not believe that the state should be involved in additional gambling, in particular, state-run casinos.

Representative Atkins has a 18 percent lifetime rating from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce!

Representative Atkins has a zero percent rating from Minnesota Citizens Concerns for Life.

Representative Atkins voted to raise taxes on 14 out of 15 votes during the 2010 legislative session.

As you can tell, there are a lot of differences and many ways to change the status quo.

I also welcome you to come to our next monthly meeting, to be held at Drkula’s on Thursday, September 15 and I welcome your comments, questions and concerns.

Mark J. Westpfahl
Chair HD39B Republicans
www.hd39b.com
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