Votetracker

SORT VOTES BY: Name | District | Party | Vote House approval
April 25, 2006 (SF2734)

After 5 hours of often cantankerous debate, the House approved the bill on a 78-to-55 vote. Committee members will need to compromise on a central point in order to put the bill’s constitutional amendment before the voters: The Senate’s version would raise the sales and use tax rate by three-eighths of 1 percent to provide the dedicated funding; the amended House version would dedicate three-sixteenths of 1 percent of the existing sales and use tax. Other differences: the Senate bill, passed April 3, would dedicate the funding beginning in 2007 and sunset in 2032; the House bill’s dedication would begin in 2009, with no sunset. In addition, the Senate version provides for the creation of a Heritage Enhancement Council and a Clean Water Council. The House version does not, but it does include a prohibition against increasing taxes or fees or imposing new taxes for seven years.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Jim Abeler	Republican	48B	FOR
Ron Abrams	Republican	43B	AGAINST
Bruce Anderson	Republican	19A	AGAINST
Irv Anderson	DFL	03A	FOR
Joe Atkins	DFL	39B	FOR
Michael Beard	Republican	35A	AGAINST
Connie Bernardy	DFL	51B	FOR
Greg Blaine	Republican	12B	FOR
Fran Bradley	Republican	29B	AGAINST
Laura Brod	Republican	25A	FOR
Mark Buesgens	Republican	35B	AGAINST
Lyndon Carlson	DFL	45B	AGAINST
Mike Charron	Republican	56A	FOR
Karen Clark	DFL	61A	AGAINST
Tony Cornish	Republican	24B	FOR
Ray Cox	Republican	25B	FOR
Lloyd Cybart	Republican	37A	FOR
Gregory M. Davids	Republican	31B	FOR
Jim Davnie	DFL	62A	AGAINST
Chris DeLaForest	Republican	49A	FOR
Matt Dean	Republican	52B	FOR
Randy Demmer	Republican	29A	AGAINST
Jerry Dempsey	Republican	28A	FOR
David Dill	DFL	06A	FOR
Denise Dittrich	DFL	47A	FOR
Dan Dorman	Republican	27A	AGAINST
John Dorn	DFL	23B	FOR
Rob Eastlund	Republican	17A	FOR
Kent Eken	DFL	02A	FOR
Keith Ellison	DFL	58B	AGAINST
Tom Emmer	Republican	19B	AGAINST
Matt Entenza	DFL	64A	FOR
Ron Erhardt	Republican	41A	FOR
Sondra Erickson	Republican	16A	AGAINST
Brad Finstad	Republican	21B	AGAINST
Patti Fritz	DFL	26B	AGAINST
Pat Garofalo	Republican	36B	FOR
Paul Gazelka	Republican	12A	FOR
Barbara Goodwin	DFL	50A	AGAINST
Mindy Greiling	DFL	54A	AGAINST
Bob Gunther	Republican	24A	FOR
Tom Hackbarth	Republican	48A	FOR
Rod Hamilton	Republican	22B	FOR
Rick Hansen	DFL	39A	FOR
Alice Hausman	DFL	66B	AGAINST
Larry Haws	DFL	15B	FOR
Bud Heidgerken	Republican	13A	FOR
Debra Hilstrom	DFL	46B	FOR
Bill Hilty	DFL	08A	AGAINST
Mary Liz Holberg	Republican	36A	FOR
Joe Hoppe	Republican	34B	FOR
Frank Hornstein	DFL	60B	AGAINST
Melissa Hortman	DFL	47B	FOR
Larry Hosch	DFL	14B	FOR
Larry Howes	Republican	04B	FOR
Thomas Huntley	DFL	07A	AGAINST
Mike Jaros	DFL	07B	AGAINST
Jeff Johnson	Republican	43A	FOR
Ruth Johnson	DFL	23A	FOR
Sheldon Johnson	DFL	67B	AGAINST
Al Juhnke	DFL	13B	FOR
Phyllis Kahn	DFL	59B	AGAINST
Margaret Anderson Kelliher	DFL	60A	FOR
Karen Klinzing	Republican	56B	AGAINST
Jim Knoblach	Republican	15A	AGAINST
Lyle Koenen	DFL	20B	FOR
Paul Kohls	Republican	34A	FOR
Philip Krinkie	Republican	53A	FOR
Morrie Lanning	Republican	09A	FOR
Dan Larson	DFL	63B	AGAINST
Ron Latz	DFL	44B	AGAINST
Ann Lenczewski	DFL	40B	AGAINST
John Lesch	DFL	66A	AGAINST
Tina Liebling	DFL	30A	AGAINST
Bernard Lieder	DFL	01B	FOR
Leon Lillie	DFL	55A	AGAINST
Diane Loeffler	DFL	59A	AGAINST
Doug Magnus	Republican	22A	AGAINST
Tim Mahoney	DFL	67A	AGAINST
Paul Marquart	DFL	09B	FOR
Denny McNamara	Republican	57B	FOR
Doug Meslow	Republican	53B	FOR
Frank Moe	DFL	04A	FOR
Joe Mullery	DFL	58A	AGAINST
Mary Murphy	DFL	06B	AGAINST
Michael Nelson	DFL	46A	AGAINST
Peter Nelson	Republican	17B	FOR
Scott Newman	Republican	18A	AGAINST
Bud Nornes	Republican	10A	FOR
Mark Olson	Republican	16B	AGAINST
Mary Ellen Otremba	DFL	11B	FOR
Dennis Ozment	Republican	37B	FOR
Erik Paulsen	Republican	42B	FOR
Michael Paymar	DFL	64B	AGAINST
Gene Pelowski, Jr.	DFL	31A	FOR
Maxine Penas	Republican	01A	FOR
Joyce Peppin	Republican	32A	FOR
Aaron Peterson	DFL	20A	AGAINST
Neil W. Peterson	Republican	41B	AGAINST
Sandra Peterson	DFL	45A	AGAINST
Jeanne Poppe	DFL	27B	FOR
Duke Powell	Republican	40A	FOR
Tom Rukavina	DFL	05A	AGAINST
Connie Ruth	Republican	26A	FOR
Maria Ruud	DFL	42A	FOR
Brita Sailer	DFL	02B	FOR
Char Samuelson	Republican	50B	FOR
Bev Scalze	DFL	54B	FOR
Marty Seifert	Republican	21A	AGAINST
Anthony Sertich	DFL	05B	AGAINST
Dan Severson	Republican	14A	FOR
Katie Sieben	DFL	57A	FOR
Steve Simon	DFL	44A	AGAINST
Dean Simpson	Republican	10B	FOR
Nora Slawik	DFL	55B	AGAINST
Steve Smith	Republican	33A	FOR
Judy Soderstrom	Republican	08B	FOR
Loren Solberg	DFL	03B	FOR
Steve Sviggum	Republican	28B	FOR
Barb Sykora	Republican	33B	FOR
Cy Thao	DFL	65A	AGAINST
Paul Thissen	DFL	63A	AGAINST
Kathy Tingelstad	Republican	49B	FOR
Dean Urdahl	Republican	18B	FOR
Ray Vandeveer	Republican	52A	AGAINST
Jean Wagenius	DFL	62B	FOR
Neva Walker	DFL	61B	AGAINST
Lynn Wardlow	Republican	38B	FOR
Andy Welti	DFL	30B	AGAINST
Andrew Westerberg	Republican	51A	FOR
Torrey Westrom	Republican	11A	FOR
Tim Wilkin	Republican	38A	AGAINST
Kurt Zellers	Republican	32B	FOR

More from MPR:
Polinaut:: Environment, culture, and arts, oh my! (04/25/2006)

House approves referendum for outdoor resources (04/25/2006)

House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee restores bill to original form
April 20, 2006 (HF1909/SF2734)

Although introduced in 2005 as a "game and fish" bill by Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar), it has been amended repeatedly. On April 18, the bill, as approved by the same committee, would have dedicated three-eighths of 1 percent of current sales and use tax receipts to four areas: fish and wildlife; parks, trails and zoos; cleaning up the state’s waters; and arts, humanities, museums and public broadcasting. The committee voted 22-1 to return it to its original intent.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Ron Abrams	Republican	43B	AGAINST
Bruce Anderson	Republican	19A	FOR
Connie Bernardy	DFL	51B	FOR
Lyndon Carlson	DFL	45B	FOR
Joe Hoppe	Republican	34B	FOR
Larry Hosch	DFL	14B	FOR
Jeff Johnson	Republican	43A	FOR
Al Juhnke	DFL	13B	FOR
Margaret Anderson Kelliher	DFL	60A	FOR
Paul Kohls	Republican	34A	FOR
Diane Loeffler	DFL	59A	FOR
Doug Magnus	Republican	22A	FOR
Frank Moe	DFL	04A	FOR
Dennis Ozment	Republican	37B	FOR
Erik Paulsen	Republican	42B	FOR
Jeanne Poppe	DFL	27B	FOR
Brita Sailer	DFL	02B	FOR
Char Samuelson	Republican	50B	FOR
Marty Seifert	Republican	21A	FOR
Anthony Sertich	DFL	05B	FOR
Steve Smith	Republican	33A	FOR
Steve Sviggum	Republican	28B	FOR
Kathy Tingelstad	Republican	49B	FOR

More from MPR:
On Earth Day's eve, House deals blow to conservation bill (04/21/2006)

Senate approval
April 3, 2006 (SF 2734)

S.F. 2734, sponsored by Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples), proposes the constitutional amendment and provides the implementing language. If approved, the sales tax will increase by three-eighths of one percent for 25 years. The additional revenue will be allocated 34 percent to improvement, enhancement, and protection of the state's fish, wildlife, habitat, and fish and wildlife tourism; 22 percent to parks, trails, and zoos; 22 percent to protection and restoration of lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and groundwater; and 22 percent to the arts, humanities, museums and public broadcasting. The proposed amendment prohibits the Legislature from using the new revenue to supplant existing funding for the recipients, the new dollars are to supplement current general fund spending. S.F. 2734 was granted final passage, 42-22.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Ellen R. Anderson	DFL	66	FOR
Michele M. Bachmann	Republican	52	AGAINST
Thomas M. Bakk	DFL	06	AGAINST
William V. Belanger	Republican	40	FOR
Linda Berglin	DFL	61	FOR
Don Betzold	DFL	51	FOR
Terri Bonoff	DFL	43	FOR
Satveer Chaudhary	DFL	50	FOR
Tarryl Clark	DFL	15	FOR
Richard J. Cohen	DFL	64	FOR
Dick Day	Republican	26	AGAINST
D. Scott Dibble	DFL	60	FOR
Steve Dille	Republican	18	AGAINST
Michelle L. Fischbach	Republican	14	AGAINST
Leo T. Foley	DFL	47	FOR
Dennis R. Frederickson	Republican	21	FOR
Chris Gerlach	Republican	37	AGAINST
David Hann	Republican	42	AGAINST
Linda Higgins	DFL	58	AGAINST
John C. Hottinger	DFL	23	AGAINST
Dean E. Johnson	DFL	13	FOR
Michael J. Jungbauer	Republican	48	AGAINST
Steve Kelley	DFL	44	FOR
Bob Kierlin	Republican	31	AGAINST
Sheila M. Kiscaden	DFL	30	FOR
Amy Koch	Republican	19	AGAINST
Paul E. Koering	Republican	12	FOR
Gary W. Kubly	DFL	20	FOR
Keith Langseth	DFL	09	FOR
Cal Larson	Republican	10	AGAINST
Brian LeClair	Republican	56	AGAINST
Warren Limmer	Republican	32	AGAINST
Becky Lourey	DFL	08	FOR
Sharon Marko	DFL	57	AGAINST
John Marty	DFL	54	FOR
Mike McGinn	Republican	38	AGAINST
James P. Metzen	DFL	39	FOR
Geoff Michel	Republican	41	FOR
Steve Murphy	DFL	28	FOR
Thomas M. Neuville	Republican	25	AGAINST
Sean R. Nienow	Republican	17	FOR
Gen Olson	Republican	33	FOR
Julianne E. Ortman	Republican	34	AGAINST
Sandra L. Pappas	DFL	65	FOR
Pat Pariseau	Republican	36	AGAINST
Lawrence J. Pogemiller	DFL	59	FOR
Yvonne Prettner Solon	DFL	07	FOR
Jane B. Ranum	DFL	63	FOR
Mady Reiter	Republican	53	AGAINST
Ann H. Rest	DFL	45	FOR
Claire A. Robling	Republican	35	AGAINST
Julie A. Rosen	Republican	24	AGAINST
Carrie L. Ruud	Republican	04	FOR
Dallas C. Sams	DFL	11	FOR
Tom Saxhaug	DFL	03	FOR
Linda Scheid	DFL	46	FOR
David H. Senjem	Republican	29	FOR
Rod Skoe	DFL	02	FOR
Dan Sparks	DFL	27	FOR
LeRoy A. Stumpf	DFL	01	FOR
David J. Tomassoni	DFL	05	FOR
Jim Vickerman	DFL	22	FOR
Betsy L. Wergin	Republican	16	FOR
Charles W. Wiger	DFL	55	FOR

More from MPR:
Senate approves dedicated state money for outdoors, arts (04/03/2006)

Senate Taxes Committee approval
March 27, 2006 (SF 2734)

H.F. 2734, sponsored by Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples), creates several funds to disburse the dollars according to a formula set forth in the bill. The bill creates a heritage enhancement fund and specifies that 34 percent of the receipts be deposited in the fund for improvements and protection of the state's fish, wildlife, habitat and fish and wildlife tourism. Further, the bill specifies that 22 percent of the receipts be deposited in the parks and trails fund for parks, trails and zoos, 22 percent of the receipts be deposited in the clean water fund and be used for protection and restoration of the state's lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and groundwater, and 22 percent be deposited in an arts, humanities, museum and public broadcasting fund to be spent on arts, humanities, history, museums and public broadcasting. The measure also specifies that the dedicated money from the sales tax supplements, but does not replace, traditional sources of funding. It advanced to the Rules Committee on a 7-4 vote

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Thomas M. Bakk	DFL	06	AGAINST
William V. Belanger	Republican	40	FOR
Don Betzold	DFL	51	FOR
Debbie J. Johnson	Republican	49	FOR
Warren Limmer	Republican	32	AGAINST
John Marty	DFL	54	FOR
Mike McGinn	Republican	38	AGAINST
Julianne E. Ortman	Republican	34	AGAINST
Lawrence J. Pogemiller	DFL	59	FOR
Rod Skoe	DFL	02	FOR
David J. Tomassoni	DFL	05	FOR

House Taxes Committee approval
March 22, 2006 (HF1909)

A bill that would ask voters to dedicate a portion of the sales tax to environmental projects has become so loaded down with other proposals that even the bill's sponsor says he doesn't recognize it. Supporters of the measure are upset with the changes. It may be a case of loving a bill to death. What started out as a proposal to dedicate one-eighth of 1 percent of the sales tax to the environment now raises the sales tax by three-eighths of a percent. The bill moving through the House now includes funding for the arts and public broadcasting; it lowers the amount of transit funding in another ballot measure; and it includes yet another constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.

Result: No Action

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Jim Abeler	Republican	48B	AGAINST
Ron Abrams	Republican	43B	AGAINST
Irv Anderson	DFL	03A	AGAINST
Joe Atkins	DFL	39B	FOR
Connie Bernardy	DFL	51B	FOR
Laura Brod	Republican	25A	FOR
Gregory M. Davids	Republican	31B	FOR
Jim Davnie	DFL	62A	ABSTAINED
Chris DeLaForest	Republican	49A	FOR
David Dill	DFL	06A	FOR
Dan Dorman	Republican	27A	FOR
Ron Erhardt	Republican	41A	ABSTAINED
Larry Howes	Republican	04B	FOR
Mike Jaros	DFL	07B	FOR
Jim Knoblach	Republican	15A	FOR
Lyle Koenen	DFL	20B	FOR
Paul Kohls	Republican	34A	FOR
Philip Krinkie	Republican	53A	FOR
Ann Lenczewski	DFL	40B	FOR
John Lesch	DFL	66A	AGAINST
Paul Marquart	DFL	09B	FOR
Joe Mullery	DFL	58A	AGAINST
Peter Nelson	Republican	17B	FOR
Tom Rukavina	DFL	05A	FOR
Katie Sieben	DFL	57A	AGAINST
Dean Simpson	Republican	10B	FOR
Ray Vandeveer	Republican	52A	FOR
Andrew Westerberg	Republican	51A	AGAINST
Kurt Zellers	Republican	32B	ABSTAINED

More from MPR:
It's a circus in there (03/22/2006)

Senate Finance Committee approval
March 22, 2006 (HF2734)

S.F. 2734 proposes a constitutional amendment for placement on the November 2006 general election ballot. If the amendment is approved by voters, the state sales tax will rise by three-eighths of one percent, from 6.5 cents to 6.875 cents per dollar. The additional revenue is dedicated to four funds, under the bill. A fund for fish, wildlife and habitat receives 34 percent of the revenue. The other three funds-for parks, trails and zoos; for clean water; and for arts, humanities, museums and public broadcasting-each receive 22 percent of the new revenue. Revenue estimates indicate that the first fund would receive $177.59 million for FY 08-09, while the other three funds would each receive $114.92 million for the biennium. Senators devoted a significant portion of their discussion to language in the proposed constitutional amendment requiring the additional revenue to be used to supplement traditional funding for the natural and cultural resources outlined in the bill. The proposed amendment prohibits the Legislature from using the additional revenue to supplant traditional funding for fish, wildlife, habitat, fish and wildlife tourism, parks, trails, zoos, protecting and restoring waters, and history. Discussion focused primarily on whether the Legislature could reduce funding for the areas when another significant downturn in the economy and state revenues strikes. The bill advances to the Senate Taxes Committee on a 20-2 vote.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Linda Berglin	DFL	61	FOR
Satveer Chaudhary	DFL	50	FOR
Richard J. Cohen	DFL	64	FOR
Steve Dille	Republican	18	FOR
Michelle L. Fischbach	Republican	14	FOR
Dennis R. Frederickson	Republican	21	FOR
Chris Gerlach	Republican	37	AGAINST
John C. Hottinger	DFL	23	FOR
Bob Kierlin	Republican	31	AGAINST
Sheila M. Kiscaden	DFL	30	FOR
Keith Langseth	DFL	09	FOR
Cal Larson	Republican	10	FOR
James P. Metzen	DFL	39	FOR
Steve Murphy	DFL	28	FOR
Thomas M. Neuville	Republican	25	FOR
Sean R. Nienow	Republican	17	FOR
Gen Olson	Republican	33	FOR
Sandra L. Pappas	DFL	65	FOR
Pat Pariseau	Republican	36	FOR
Jane B. Ranum	DFL	63	FOR
LeRoy A. Stumpf	DFL	01	FOR
Charles W. Wiger	DFL	55	FOR

House Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee approval
March 14, 2006 (HF3269)

HF3269, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Ozment (R-Rosemount), originally included language that would have divided the revenue among habitat preservation, parks and trails, clean water efforts and an arts, humanities, museum and public broadcasting fund. Following discussion about whether inclusion of the latter fund would improve the probability voters would support the amendment, it was removed. If approved this November by voters, the increased tax would be in effect from July 1, 2007, until June 30, 2032.

Result: Passed

Environment and Natural Resources Committee approval
March 10, 2006 (S.F. 2734,)

S.F. 2734, carried by Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples), places the amendment on the general election ballot this November. If approved, the sales tax increase takes effect July 1, 2007. The additional revenue is allocated 34 percent to fish, wildlife and habitat projects, 22 percent to parks, trails and zoos, 22 percent to clean water projects, and 22 percent to arts, humanities, museums and public broadcasting. Sams said projections indicate $65 million per year would go to the fish, wildlife and habitat area, while $42 million annually would go to each of the other three areas. The constitutional language in the bill prevents the Legislature from using the dedicated revenue to replace traditional funding for cultural and natural resources.

Result: Passed

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Thomas M. Bakk	DFL	06	FOR
Satveer Chaudhary	DFL	50	FOR
John C. Hottinger	DFL	23	FOR
John Marty	DFL	54	FOR
Sean R. Nienow	Republican	17	FOR
Pat Pariseau	Republican	36	FOR
Tom Saxhaug	DFL	03	FOR
LeRoy A. Stumpf	DFL	01	FOR