Following is a summation of the response two members of HD50B Republicans received after contacting all five candidates for the Mounds View School Board races tomorrow:

No response from Greg Madsen or Jon Tynjala, incumbents.

Marre Jo Sager took the time to talk by telephone. She is pleased with MV's personal learning plans, an innovation not tried for the general student population in the rest of the state requiring money from the general budget for implementation and involving choices by very young students and their families that could restrict the choices open to them later in their education. Ms. Sager believes these plans will improve career planning for students.

She also supports the International Baccalaureate program written under the auspices of the United Nations, although she points out MV has chosen to foster other routes for high-achieving students such as college courses during high school. Ms. Sager might want to consider why it is that a significant number of the best students in the MV system find it necessary to go to the college level to be challenged.

Ms. Sager enjoys her work on the board, is proud of MV faculty and staff, and is opposed to any form of vouchers, saying she wants the district to be so good, all parents wish to send their students to MV public schools. Ms. Sager has been endorsed by at least one teachers' union.

Tim Husnik was endorsed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local chapter. To see his full response to those critical of this endorsement, please read the comments to the post BOOT the Mounds View (I)s. To explain how the SEIU thinks it has anything to say about school board races, Mr. Husnik noted that the local members are very passionate about education and that students can't learn in poorly maintained, unsafe buildings.

Mr. Husnik says all subjects should be thought of as "core," being equally important to student development--that is, trigonometry should have the same weight in hours of credit and impact on the GPA as home economics. This, according to comments from Ms. Sager, appears to be current MV policy.

He was previously unaware of the International Baccalaureate program before HD50B Republicans asked him about it. He believes his youth (he is 30) and lack of previous political participation are assets showing his proactive character, since he is getting involved before his children enter the school system.

When asked about the district's continuing calls for levy funds, Husnik replied, "I support the current levies at their current amounts. A tax increase is a BAD idea right now, I would not likely support a net new levy. I would listen to all the info and take it into consideration though." Very thoughtful of him. Mr. Husnik does not support any form of vouchers, but would support increases in tax credits or deductions to those sending children through private schools and for those being hit by higher fees in the public schools, such as for busing. He is also in favor of the personal learning plans now in place in MV, saying "the parents love them."

Jack Brunell seemed most open to all new ideas, and most concerned about the high level of spending in education. This probably explains why he was not endorsed by any union. On the weight of core subjects, he responded that reading, math, and science were most important (this is not a new idea, but apparently novel in the sense of disfavored by the establishment). He supported the idea of vouchers in general, saying "I would like to encourage a competitive spirit in the school system."

Mr. Brunell connected International Baccalaureate to his ideas for resolving the district's budget problems, saying that if IB was part of the way to attract good students into the district's schools, then it's a good thing (MV should "grow [itself] out of its financial problems" through open enrollment, more resident students entering the schools, and financial return on community use of the buildings). He believes the personal learning plans have resulted in greater parental involvement and offer greater variety, in recognition of the way children vary.

This information is provided as food for thought only. No candidate is endorsed by HD50B Republicans, since the school board races are nonpartisan.

If you're a local Republican resident in Minnesota House District 50B, please join our meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. Our next meeting is on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at Lakeside Homes in New Brighton. Park at the Lakeside Homes office and enter through the Residence Room door.

Democratic Congress 2008

• The price of gas hovered near $4.00
• Unemployment grew to 6.1%
• National deficit $407 billion and growing

Republican Congress 2006

• The price of gas was $1.86
• Unemployment was 4.4%
• National deficit was shrinking to $248 billion

Democrats Believe... Government Cares Best, That Provides Most

• Government's role is to provide cradle to grave services for the basic needs of its citizens.
• Freedom happens when government lifts the burden of personal responsibility and the consequences of bad decisions.
• The Constitution empowers government to regulate personal freedom.
• Property ownership is the hallmark of a tolerant government.

Republicans Believe... Government Is Best, That Governs Least

• Government's role is to protect Life, Liberty, and the unregulated Pursuit of Happiness.
• Prosperity in wealth, technology, and industry are by-products of citizens free to pursue their dreams without government intervention.
• The Constitution is a strict rulebook for regulating the power of government.
• The right to own and manage property is the hallmark of a free society.

Democrats Believe... For Every Problem, There's A Tax To Fix It

• Taxation not only generates revenue, but is vital for regulating personal behavior and ensuring fairness within the private sector.
• Wherever there is a profit, there is opportunity for another tax.
• The profit motive forces business to take advantage of customers and employees. Only government bureaucracies care about people.
• Because government bureaucracies live forever and are exceedingly large, only they can be trusted to satisfy the basic needs of the people.

Republicans Believe... Smaller Slice Of A Bigger Economic Pie

• Low taxes allow for greater economic growth and lead to higher tax revenues.
• Taxing profits inhibits job growth and prosperity.
• Every tax on business or investors is passed on to the consumer in higher prices or to the employee in lower wages. It is impossible to tax the wealthy without hurting the poor and middle class.
• It is the nature of a government program to take wealth from the private sector, waste most of it within its bureaucracy, and trickle loose change back to the people.

Democrats Believe... Just Birth Control

• Government should not interfere with a woman's right to abort the baby as means of birth control for any reason at any time.
• Restricting abortion robs a woman from the right to control her reproductive system.

Republicans Believe... Unborn Child, Innocent Life

• Abortion ends a human life and should only be used to save the life of the mother.
• A baby's right to live supersedes a woman's right to eliminate the consequences of prior choices.

Democrats Believe... Government Control Is Cure

• Health care decisions are too complicated for the average citizen – congress and bureaucrats are needed to control costs and ration care.
• The equal distribution of care is the most important consideration, even if the quality and timeliness of care suffer.
• Profits from providing drugs and health care, need to be regulated – bureaucrats and lawyers can make all they can get.

Republicans Believe... More Freedom, Better Healing

• Current costs are high because the consumer is far removed from purchasing decisions. Buying power lies with bureaucrats, not patients.
• When consumers are free to shop for insurance and services, the free market will compete with more choice, higher quality, and lower costs.
• Citizens should not have their insurance tied to their employer, but should own it personally, like other types of insurance.

Democrats Believe... We May Not Deserve Victory

• Iraq was invaded for oil and Halliburton.
• The evil of Saddam and Bin Laden can only be understood in the context of America’s immoral foreign policy and provocative military.
• War has never resulted in peace - fighting back only emboldens our enemies. If we reform our ways and beg forgiveness, they’ll leave us alone.

Republicans Believe... We Must Fight To Win

• Saddam and Bin Laden declared war on the U.S. Both became bigger threats, in part, because of U.S. inaction. Refusing to fight back led to 9/11.
• Bin Laden has declared Iraq to be Al Qaeda's greatest battlefield. They want the protection of Syria and Iran and the wealth from Iraq's oil to continue their international terrorism.

Taxing the wealthy makes it harder for the lower class to find a job and earn a raise. Moreover, it may lead to a higher cost of living. There are two types of “wealthy”

1. Sitters -- Those who inherit wealth (Mark Dayton, Ted Kennedy), those who marry into wealth (John Kerry), and those who live off wealth previously earned (Barbra Streisand).
2. Producers – Those who earn and create wealth (Bill Gates) by offering a product or service that others want or need.

Why does this matter? It is the second type, the Producers, who are most directly responsible for the creation of jobs. Unfortunately, with an income-based tax code, the Producers are typically the first to be targeted with higher taxes. Does taxing the wealthy help the lower class? No! It may feel good to “punish” those who have more than you do. But, when you tax those who create jobs, they stop creating jobs and cut back on increasing the pay of current employees. It is human nature to protect what you have. When you raise taxes on one who pays your salary (either directly or indirectly as with major corporate shareholders), they find ways to protect their profits. Raising their taxes encourages them to cut back on job creation, on pay increases, and even on existing jobs. Further, it encourages raising prices for the products or services that they produce – thus raising the cost of living. What about taxing the Sitters? Taxing anyone who has wealth has negative impacts on the lower class. This wealth is not hidden under mattresses or in the backyard. It is kept in the market. Those who have accumulated any degree of wealth, invest it in businesses that create jobs. Taking more of their money, discourages this investment. When less money is invested, businesses are less likely to hire new employees or increase pay. People who have money tend to spend it. Every time they spend it, they keep more people employed. When they build bigger homes, they employ construction workers. When they buy more cars, they keep the auto plants in business. These spenders keep people employed. In 1991, Congress imposed a luxury tax on expensive goods. They thought that those who buy expensive toys can “afford” the higher taxes. But, Congress neglected to realize that such taxation changes spending habits. For example, the wealthy stopped buying expensive yachts. Unfortunately, this put many yacht builders out of business. Those in the lower and middle class who built the yachts were suddenly without a job – thanks to a tax hike on the wealthy. Does it really make sense to ask government to take more money from those who sign your paycheck and those who set prices for the products you buy?

Do Senators raise their own taxes? Generally, no. While the U.S. Senate is filled with many multi-millionaires and at least one billionaire (John Kerry), their average annual income is about $150,000. Rules of the Senate limit external income. When they raise income taxes on “the wealthy”, they are often not affected. While Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry are wealthy, they are NOT the “wealthy” whom they target for higher taxes. They target the Producers who are still creating their own wealth – and paying your salaries.

Much has been argued about the need to make marriage more inclusive. However, it already is the most inclusive union between two people for it is the only union that includes both sexes. More to the point, traditional marriage is the only union that does not discriminate against one sex for the benefit of the other. In contrast, it is “same sex marriage” that seeks to discriminate against the opposite sex. So, why is this important?

• First, because both sexes are required to create a child.
• Second, because a child benefits most from the influences of both a mother and a father. Men and women are different. And each offer nurturing skills, experiences, and viewpoints that are unique to their sex. Children need both for a well rounded upbringing.

Size:

• ANWR is 19 million acres.
• Minnesota is 51 million acres.
• Proposed drilling 2,000 acres.
• White Bear Lake, just north of the Twin Cities, is 2,416 acres.
• Take a look at this map of Alaska that highlights the size of ANWR. That tiny little red box inside the green area labeled ANWR Coastal Plain represents proposed drilling site.

Environment:

• The area proposed for drilling is a frozen tundra – NOT the picturesque postcard image often portrayed by those opposed to drilling.
• Despite unwarranted warnings from environmental groups, the caribou were not harmed by the construction of the Alaskan pipeline. Prior to construction, there were an estimate 5,000 caribou in Alaska. Today, the population exceeds 30,000.
• Drilling methods available today are far more environmentally friendly than those used in the Middle-East. Moreover, the risks of environmental damage from shipping Middle-Eastern crude over-seas is far greater than those of drilling for it on frozen tundra in ANWR.

Money:

• Land lease, rentals, and taxes from drilling in ANWR are estimated to return 4.2 BILLION dollars of revenue to the federal government during the first five years after development begins.
• Drilling in ANWR is expected to create over 2 MILLION new jobs nation-wide.

Recently, this question was asked: "How long have the St. Paul and Minneapolis schools been under the leadership of Democrats? The response was: "When have they not been controlled by Democrats!" The point is these two school districts have been under the leadership of liberal Democrats for decades. If the Democrats have the best leadership, the best solutions, and the best values, shouldn't the performance of these two school districts be the best? Shouldn't they be model school districts in student achievement? Think about it!

Marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman because this is the unique combination of the sexes required to procreate. Moreover, this is the very reason that marriage is limited to two people – because there are exactly two sexes. Those who seek to change marriage claim it to be discriminatory because it prevents them from marrying the one they love. But love is NOT part of the definition. The application for a marriage license doesn't even mention the word “love”. While most of us agree that love is essential for a successful marriage, the government doesn't care if love exists at all. Marriage between one man and one woman increases the potential for procreation which is why government endorses it. Moreover, it increases the potential that children are raised by both a mother and a father who are committed to each other and to their family. Our nation benefits from population growth, particularly when its senior retirees depend on younger workers to fund Social Security. Moreover, it is in the best interest of the nation for children to be raised to become self-sufficient, law-abiding citizens. It is well established – by independent study and common sense – that children raised by traditionally married parents are most likely to become productive, law-abiding citizens. Further, they are most likely to get married and raise future children – future citizens – of their own. Marriage laws are even regulated to protect children and promote a healthy family:

• Marriage between blood relatives is prohibited because it leads to medical problems for the children.
• Marriage involving a minor is restricted to ensure that both partners are mentally and physically able to make such a commitment – mentally able to comprehend the responsibility and physically able to sustain the potential consequences of consummation.
• Marriage involving one who is already married is prohibited because such unions are considered detrimental to the wellbeing of the partners and their potential children.

None of these restrictions are based on love and none would be applicable if love was the essential element defining marriage. In addition, these restriction apply equally to all regardless of whom they love. An unmarried adult man can only marry a woman who is of age, who is not a blood relative, and who is not married. It doesn't matter whether the man loves another woman who is married, another woman who is a blood relative, a girl who is underage, or another man. The effort to protect the current definition of marriage is not an effort to discriminate against non-traditional relationships. It is an effort to protect marriage itself and to protect children who deserve to raised by their mother and their father. It is an effort to protect children who deserve to learn from and benefit from parents of each sex. If marriage is re-defined to anything other than one man and one woman, it will eventually lose meaning and cease to exist.

Next time someone questions why we attacked Iraq, give them these highlights from the President's speech that he delivered as the first bombs were dropped.

• Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons.
• He has used them. Not once, but repeatedly.
• Left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again.
• This situation presents a clear and present danger to the stability of the Persian Gulf and the safety of people everywhere.
• The hard fact is that so long as Saddam remains in power, he threatens the well-being of his people, the peace of his region, the security of the world. The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government -- a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its people.
• If Saddam defies the world and we fail to respond, we will face a far greater threat in the future. Saddam will strike again at his neighbors. He will make war on his own people. And mark my words, he will develop weapons of mass destruction. He will deploy them, and he will use them.
• Because we're acting today, it is less likely that we will face these dangers in the future.

Next, ask which of these statements were false. Finally, give President Clinton credit for getting it right for it was Clinton who delivered this speech on December 16, 1998 preceding his four-day bombing campaign on Baghdad. Of course, it would also be appropriate to note that the Clinton administration failed to complete the objectives defined in President Clinton's own speech – objectives that President Bush is achieving today.

If you want to become a delegate to a Minnesota Republican Convention, it all starts at the Caucus on February 5. To learn more, follow the road map below (click on image to enlarge).

Welcome to our new web site. Please check these pages often. We will be adding information regarding our candidates, events, and issues that are important to our residents and voters.

The first $50 of your donation to MN HD50B may be eligible for a refund from the State of Minnesota. Complete details of this Minnesota State Program follows. (Click here for the official Minnesota 2006 Political Contribution Refund Form.)

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Minnesota voters who contributed gifts of money to candidates for state office or to a state political party may be able to apply for a refund of all or a portion of contributions made during the calendar year. The maximum refund is $50 for an individual and $100 for a married couple. An individual or married couple filing a joint application may file only one Form PCR for each calendar year in which contributions were made, even if they contributed to more than one candidate or party. You may receive a refund for all or a portion of contributions you made in 2006 to candidates for the following Minnesota state offices—if the candidates have signed an agreement with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to observe the state campaign spending limit law:

• Minnesota House of Representatives
• Minnesota State Senate
• Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
• Attorney General of Minnesota
• Secretary of State of Minnesota
• Minnesota State Auditor

You may also receive a refund of all or a portion of contributions you made in 2006 to the:

• Independence Party
• Republican Party
• Democratic Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party
• Green Party
• any precinct, city, county, congressional or legislative district unit of the Minnesota parties listed above (this includes MN HD50B Republicans).

Who may file? To be eligible for the refund, you must be a registered voter in Minnesota or, if you are not a registered voter, you must:

• be a United States citizen,
• be age 18 or older, and
• have lived in Minnesota at least 20 days immediately before any 2006 statewide or local election in which you would be eligible to vote if you were registered.

However, regardless of whether or not you are a registered voter, you are not eligible for the refund if:

• you are under guardianship of the person, but have not retained the right to vote, or
• you have been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote, or
• you have been convicted of a felony and your civil rights have not been restored.

Minnesota House District 50B Republicans is an all volunteer, grass roots organization. We are residents of HD50B who take an active interest in the governance of our community, our state, and our nation. Many believe that the average citizen has little say in his or her government. But, this isn't true. If want to speak up, all you have to do is show up. And it all starts with your local caucuses in March of each election year. This is how the members of HD50B united to participate in our citizen-run government.

Please feel free to give us your feedback.

If you would like to help, send us an email at the address below. Please include the following information (or as much as you prefer):

• Name
• Address
• Phone
• Email

How would you prefer to be contacted? If by phone, which hours work best? How would you like to help?

• Host a lawn sign? For which candidate?
• Help plant lawn signs?
• Drop literature with a candidate?
• Make phone calls?
• Stuff envelopes?
• Other ideas?

Donate money?

• If you wish to make a cash contribution, be sure to include your name and address. We will send you a contribution form with a stamped return envelope.
• Remember, the first $50 that you donate may be eligible for the Minnesota Political Contribution Refund. Click here for more information.