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Help struggling families; don’t cut spending

December 29th, 2009 by admin |

This letter to the editor was published in the MN SUN.

In her recent letter to the editor, Rep. Tara Mack asked her constituents for innovative ideas on how to reduce the state’s deficit. She recommended that the state should slash spending even more than Gov. Tim Pawlenty already has and she used one of the governor’s favorite talking points to sell her argument when she said families “are forced to make tough choices every day regarding how to spend their money … there’s no reason state government shouldn’t operate in the same fashion …”

As per her request, I would like to offer an idea: Minnesota’s families don’t need lawmakers who disingenuously oversimplify complicated situations with political talking points and hyperbolic rhetoric. What we need is a solution that fosters job growth and preserves the safety net public assistance provides families who are struggling to make ends meet.

If that means taxes need to be raised, then raise them in a fair and reasonable manner so that food, housing and medical care can be accessed if we or a loved one comes face to face with a financial crisis.

In 2009 families have increasingly accessed public assistance programs including food support, yet Mack authored a bill (HF 2198) that, if passed, would severely limit access to the type of groceries low-income families can access. Please, Rep. Mack, set aside your utopian vision where taxes don’t exist and compromise a little with your Democratic colleagues in the Legislature with a bipartisan spirit because there are too many struggling families in your district.

Eric Jayne,

Apple Valley

Kicking People Off Health Care

May 18th, 2009 by admin |

Rep. Mack today voted to kick close to 100,000 Minnesotans off health care. These are individuals with mental and physical disabilities and includes many veterans. We need a leader, not someone who blindlessly follows her party. Funny that some people with a physical disability have more backbone than Rep. Mack.

Does she really want to pass bills?

April 22nd, 2009 by admin |

In the United States to pass legislation you introduce a bill in the House and a companion in the Senate. The same is true in Minnesota. If you don’t have an author in the other body it usually means you are trying to get a bill as part of an omnibus bill (if you are in the majority) or you are not trying to get your legislation passed at all.

I am curious why when only introducing 5 bills, has Tara Mack not had the time to find FOUR co-authors? In fact, Tara has only introduced on bill that could go anywhere since she found an author in the Senate.

Stop wasting our time and money and get to work.

Helping the Community?

April 12th, 2009 by admin |

When asked what the first bill she would propose as a legislator would be, Representative Mack responded that she would propose legislation that would increase “transparency in the education financing system.”

However, Mack has not proposed any legislation regarding financial transparency in our schools; the only education proposal forwarded by Mack would allow charter school students to participate in extracurricular activities in their resident school district. During the election season, Mack claimed that her experience working for the legislature would make her an effective representative for Apple Valley and Burnsville.

Representative Mack has yet to author or co-author any legislation that would significantly benefit the community.

Sidelines of History… not what we wanted

April 8th, 2009 by admin |

Rep. Mack has been in office since January. The citizens of Eastern Burnsville and Western Apple Valley elected her to the State House in difficult economic situations. Since then, Tara has only been the chief author of five bills onto the House floor. Her first bill has a House File number of 1622. That means 1621 bills were introduced before Tara Mack did anything as our legislator. We need someone who will actively fight for families, not just sit on the sidelines.

Mack Broken Promise Number 1 – Reform Education:

April 2nd, 2009 by admin |

On Tara Mack’s website, literature and even House website she said her first priority will be reforming education. According to the House website 161 bills have been introduced about education. Rep. Mack has only signed onto two – both regarding charter school students attending public schools for activities (which we previously discussed).

I don’t how these two bills fulfill her campaign promises of lower class sizes, empowering parents and teachers or prioritizing funding. So far it looks like her campaign was just full of empty rhetoric she isn’t acting on.

Is Tara Mack Confused?

March 19th, 2009 by admin |

Representative Tara Mack recently authored a bill about allowing charter schools to attend co-curricular activities at a public school. This is HF 1957. But this is almost identical to a bill she was a co-author of HF 843 (Slocum) is Tara Mack just confused, trying to get more bills drafted (she has only authored 5) or is she just wasting time by introducing more legislation?