Clark, Swenson discuss top issues

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- State legislators will debate the merits of changing the sales tax and property tax, while tackling redistricting proposals and plans to distribute the state surplus, when the session convenes in January.

Reps. James Clark (R-New Ulm) and Howard Swenson (R-Nicollet) discussed the major issues for the 2001 Legislature during a breakfast meeting Friday at the Holiday Inn in New Ulm.

Clark listed the redistricting measure, which will occur after final census numbers are released in the spring, at the top of the list.

"Unfortunately, as most of us realize, we are losing population in rural Minnesota," Clark said. "It means our legislative districts will get larger and our voices will become smaller."

To combat this dilemma, Clark said it is important for rural legislators to build coalitions with suburban representatives to get key measures passed.

The state surplus, which is expected to top $920 million next year, will also garner much debate.

"We're going to try and allocate it the best way possible," Clark said. He believes that features a combination of a rebate along with funding for nursing home programs, education and transportation.

"I think the key word is 'balance,'" Clark said.

Both Clark and Swenson said they oppose Gov. Jesse Ventura's plan to expand the sales tax.

"The things I've heard about taxing food and clothing... I'm not going to support that," Clark said.

Swenson noted that Ventura's sales tax plan would help the state take over education funding, another of Ventura's goals.

"If you do it, will you have any local control left?" Swenson said.

He added: "It still won't take care of (the need for) excess levies."

Both legislators spoke against any proposals that would reduce state aid to communities. In New Ulm, one-third of the city budget comes from state aid.

Swenson said legislators should be looking for ways to help cut taxes to local units of government.

"Now that the state has some money, it would be a good time to do away with these taxes on local government," Swenson said.

Both legislators spoke about the need to pump money into transportation funding. Improving Highway 14 from New Ulm to Mankato is a goal high on both lawmaker's lists.

"Highway 14 is critical to New Ulm, critical to our part of the state," Clark said.

However, legislators do not determine which projects get funding. The lawmakers only provide the funding, then the Department of Transportation determines which projects get funded based on the total dollars it has been given.

Swenson said he plans to introduce a bill that would constitutionally-allocate the sales tax collected on car purchases into a highway-use fund. Currently, that money is placed in a general fund.

Clark also expects legislators to toughen rules on habitual drunk drivers. The Legislature didn't pass a felony-level penalty for repeat DWI offenders last year. Clark anticipates that measure will pass this year once funding becomes available.

"It's long overdue," he said.

Also, federal legislation will require states to drop the legal drunk-driving level from .10 to .08 blood-alcohol content, or risk losing some federal dollars.

"I don't know if that issue will come forward this year," Clark said.

Another piece of legislation that failed last year was a plan to limit the state's ability to sell public information on individuals. Clark believes that measure will pass this session.

"I think people expect that when they give information to the government, it will be kept private," he said.

Another interesting legislative measure could restrict a person from using a cell phone while driving, Clark added.