Rep. Seifert stops in New Ulm
Running for governorBy Kevin Sweeney - Journal Editor
Article Photos
NEW ULM - State Rep. Marty Seifert concluded his four day, 14-city tour of the state Friday afternoon in New Ulm. Seifert, the former House Minority Leader and Repblican state representative from Marshall (District 23A) is announcing his intention to run for governor.
His tour took him to the Metropolitan area, to the DFL strongholds of the Iron Range, and finally to the rural areas he understands best. The tour, he said, represents his wish to be a governor for all of Minnesota, not just the rural counties and communities, and not just the Republicans.
He ended his tour in New Ulm, he said, because Brown County, specifically Springfield, is where he was born. He grew up on a hog and crop farm in Redwood County, where his parents taught him the lesson that "If you work hard and live by the rules, you can realize the American dream."
"The values that I grew up with have everything to do with what I want to be as your governor. Frugality, humility, service to people, but most of all the value of common sense are missing from our government today, and I want to be sure that from top to bottom, in every agency of our government that those values are reflected at every level."
As House Minority Leader Seifert has been involved in the past few years in much of the bipartisan jousting that has characterized the legislative process. He said that the job required him being "edgy," and to carry water for the governor and his party caucus. "And it was a pretty heavy bucket," he said.
But he points to his earlier work as chairman of the House Government Financing committee, responsible for one of the major spending bills.
"We were able to get it done on time, under budget, with extra spending for veterans while cutting spending on government operations. It passed with over 100 votes," said Seifert.
He said that as governor he would be able to use his knowledge of how others feels about the issues, where their hard points and soft points are, along with frequent meetings and communication to build a better process.
One of his main focuses, he said, will be creating jobs and economic growth in Minnesota. That can be done by cutting away the unnecessary regulations, permitting requirements and red tape that stifle many businesses in the state, sometimes driving them across the borders to less restrictive environs.
Seifert said that in his stop in Virginia, he spoke with people who have been trying to open a mine for four and a half years, but have been stymied by licensing and permits. "There are 5,000 man-hours of work waiting to open up the mines and get the equipment moving, but because of our state agencies all of those people are unemployed right now who want to work in that mine."
Someone trying to build a hog facility in East Grand Forks had the financing lined up, but because they can't get the necessary permits, the financing is now on hold.
Seifert said he wants to reform taxes that punish employers. He mentioned the "single sale factor" in the Minnesota tax system that charges companies a higher tax rate the more employees they hire.
"We need to encourage the creation of more jobs, not tax it," he said.
Creation of new jobs will decrease the dependence on state services and public assistance, he said, and create more tax revenue to balance the state's budget without raising tax rates.
Seifert said he has not taken a no-new-tax pledge, "But I'm not going to raise your taxes."
Seifert said the argument in the state Capitol should not be about taxes but about "restructuring and reforming the way we provide government services." He said many counties could be sharing services and personnel, for example. He would like to place a two-year sunset clause for any new state programs, to make sure they are meeting expectations.
"I am not going to raise taxes to subsidize the status quo."
Seifert said he would like to bring more common sense to the state's public assistance program. He said there are still many people coming into the state, 10,000 to 20,000 a year, who sign up for government benefits but aren't interested in working. Public assistance, he said, should be for those down on their luck and need temporary support to get back on their feet, or who are aged, or too infirm to support themselves.
Seifert said he would bring common sense to the use of debit cards provided by public assistance. They can currently be used in any state in the union, can be mailed to someone else, or sold on the black market.
Seifert said he would require that they could only be used in Minnesota, should be tied to a photo ID to prevent them being transferred or sold, and should not be able to be used to get cash or to purchase liquor, tobacco or lottery tickets.
Seifert has a web site, www.seifertforgovernor.com, which contains specific statements on different issues.
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svensota
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07-13-09 12:48 PM
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I believe everything this guy says. For example, he won't take the no new taxes pledge, but he says, "I'm not going to raise your taxes." He's wonderful! And he's got his full blown b.s.jibberish down pat. Hope he's got a hot babe in the closet to go with it. Where do these guys crawl out from??? (Oops, here!!)
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LibertyLady
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07-12-09 2:16 PM
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As far as I'm concerned the two party duopoly is just a two-headed bird of prey. One likes to give welfare to the unproductive, the other likes to give welfare to the corporate elite, both taking from the hard-working middle class. However, whatever policies one side institutes, the other willingly and boldly maintains. That's why I will continue to support an alternative party even if there is little chance for that party "right now".....
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middleclassworker
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07-11-09 9:10 PM
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If you think Governor Pawlenty is partisan, just wait to see what Seifert would be like. All he ever did was go on television saying how everything was the democrats' fault.
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middleclassworker
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07-11-09 9:09 PM
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Don't worry, LibertyLady, the poor NOR the rich are paying more in taxes...just the rest of us, the middle class.
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LibertyLady
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07-11-09 6:38 PM
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Yea, like we need a liberal Democrat.... As Marilyn Barnewall says: Liberals strongly support the non-productive at the cost of the productive. The non-productive are a major portion of the liberal voter base and must be supported… maintained. They don’t understand that when taxes become too burdensome on the productive, lifestyle costs are cut. When that happens, spending comes to a halt. The GDP falters when sales tumble. Manufacturing tumbles when sales go down. More jobs are lost. Add a still unstable real estate market and you should be able to see the picture. In fact, in today's environment, to be rewarded by government one must become a drain on society. Then, you get help with your mortgage, your credit card, your car payment. You'll soon get free health care, too. It won't be good, but it will be free - at least it will be free for those who do not pay taxes into the system. It will be a terrible burden for productive people who do pay taxes.
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shadow
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07-11-09 3:21 PM
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That just what this state needs another republican to screw up the state more the Plenty did already .
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