Legislators in District 12

State Rep. 12A | State Rep. 12B | State Senator | Governor & Lt. Governor

12A House District 12A, Rep. John Ward (DFL)Legislator First Elected: 2006.Committees: E-12 Education; Early Childhood Learning Finance Division; Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division; State Government Finance Division (Vice Chair).Contact Information: 33 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. Phone: (651) 296-4333. E-mail: rep.john.ward@house.mn.

Send an e-mail to this elected official using MCA’s quick & easy Desktop Lobbyist.

2008 MCA Candidate Survey Results:

1. Minnesota’s nearly 1600 non-profit arts and cultural organizations provide access to the arts and support quality of life in every corner of the state. While providing over 22,000 jobs, arts organizations served nearly 4.5 million people in 2004.

Question: What arts activities have you attended, participated in or supported in the last year?

Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance, Other

Answer: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance, Other

2. Over the last several biennium the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council appropriations were cut by 34.5%. These are substantially larger cuts than the cuts to the overall state budget.

Question: Would you support an increase in arts funding to restore the cuts that were made, in recognition of the important role the arts and culture play in our economy and in our quality of life?

Enthusiastically Support; Support; Neutral; Opposed

Answer: Enthusiastically Support

3. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment will be on the ballot this November, asking if citizens want to invest in clean water, open areas, arts and parks and trails. Over 80% of the initiative is for outdoors conservation, but 19.5% will also support arts, arts education, arts access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.

Question: Do you support the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment?
Yes; No; Don’t know

Answer: Yes

4. Nonprofit Organizations provide social services, health services, education, and arts to the public. Under Minnesota law, nonprofit organizations have been free from paying sales or property taxes because their services benefit the public.

Question: Do you agree or disagree that nonprofit organizations should continue to be free from paying taxes?

Strongly Agree; Somewhat Agree; Somewhat Disagree; Strongly Disagree

Answer: Strongly Agree

5. Research shows that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a significant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years. The arts are required both by No Child Left Behind and also by Minnesota’s school standards, but our schools are not required to report how they are meeting those standards.

Question: Would you support policies to increase accountability for school standards in the arts?

Enthusiastically Support; Support; Neutral; Opposed

Answer: Enthusiastically Support

6. Comments: We would welcome any additional comments you would like to make with regards to the arts in Minnesota. Please use additional pages as necessary.

Having been an educator for 34 years, daily I witnessed how important the arts are in the education process. The arts enhance and help improve our children’s self-esteem and critical thinking skills along with allowing their creativity to blossom. I was proud as a sitting legislator to vote in favor of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which will give the citizens of MN an opportunity to show their support for our water, land, habitat, environment and the arts. Question #4 As long as truly non-profit.

2006 MCA Candidate Survey Results:

1. Minnesota’s nearly 1600 non-profit arts and cultural organizations provide access to the arts and support quality of life in every corner of the state. While providing over 22,000 jobs, arts organizations served nearly 4.5 million people in 2004.
What arts activities have you attended, participated in or supported in the last year?
Check all that apply: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance, Other.

Answer: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance.

2. Over the last three biennium the State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council appropriations were cut by 34.5%. These are substantially larger cuts than the cuts to the overall state budget. Would you support an increase in arts funding to restore the cuts that were made, in recognition of the important role the arts and culture play in our economy and in our quality of life? Select One: Enthusiastically Support, Support, Neutral, Opposed.

Answer: Enthusiastically Support.

3. During the 2006 legislative session the legislature considered a constitutional dedication of funds for water, hunting and angling and various cultural purposes including the arts. Would you support a similar constitutional amendment in the 2007 legislative session? Select One: Yes, No, Don’t Know

Answer: Yes.

4. Research shows that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a significant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years. Would you support policies and funding to increase the availability of the arts in our schools? Select One: Enthusiastically Support, Support, Neutral, Opposed

Answer: Enthusiastically Support.

5. We would welcome any additional comments you would like to make with regards to the arts in Minnesota.

Comments: I have been a teacher for 33 years and have witnessed daily the importance of the art in our children’s lives. The Arts enhance and help improve our children’s self esteem and critical thinking skills along with allowing their creativity to blossom!!

Additional Notes from MCA: None.


12B House District 12B, Rep. Al Doty (DFL)Legislator First Elected: 2006.Committees: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs; Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division; Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division (Vice Chair); Transportation Finance Division; Veterans Affairs Division; Watersheds, Wetlands and Buffers Subcommittee.Contact Information: 433 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. Phone: (651) 296-4247. E-mail: rep.al.doty@house.mn.

Send an e-mail to this elected official using MCA’s quick & easy Desktop Lobbyist.

2008 MCA Candidate Survey Results:

1. Minnesota’s nearly 1600 non-profit arts and cultural organizations provide access to the arts and support quality of life in every corner of the state. While providing over 22,000 jobs, arts organizations served nearly 4.5 million people in 2004.

Question: What arts activities have you attended, participated in or supported in the last year?

Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance, Other

Answer: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts

2. Over the last several biennium the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council appropriations were cut by 34.5%. These are substantially larger cuts than the cuts to the overall state budget.

Question: Would you support an increase in arts funding to restore the cuts that were made, in recognition of the important role the arts and culture play in our economy and in our quality of life?

Enthusiastically Support; Support; Neutral; Opposed

Answer: Support

3. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment will be on the ballot this November, asking if citizens want to invest in clean water, open areas, arts and parks and trails. Over 80% of the initiative is for outdoors conservation, but 19.5% will also support arts, arts education, arts access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.

Question: Do you support the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment?
Yes; No; Don’t know

Answer: Don’t Know

4. Nonprofit Organizations provide social services, health services, education, and arts to the public. Under Minnesota law, nonprofit organizations have been free from paying sales or property taxes because their services benefit the public.

Question: Do you agree or disagree that nonprofit organizations should continue to be free from paying taxes?

Strongly Agree; Somewhat Agree; Somewhat Disagree; Strongly Disagree

Answer: Strongly Agree

5. Research shows that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a significant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years. The arts are required both by No Child Left Behind and also by Minnesota’s school standards, but our schools are not required to report how they are meeting those standards.

Question: Would you support policies to increase accountability for school standards in the arts?

Enthusiastically Support; Support; Neutral; Opposed

Answer: Support

6. Comments: We would welcome any additional comments you would like to make with regards to the arts in Minnesota. Please use additional pages as necessary.
NONE

2006 MCA Candidate Survey Results:

1. Minnesota’s nearly 1600 non-profit arts and cultural organizations provide access to the arts and support quality of life in every corner of the state. While providing over 22,000 jobs, arts organizations served nearly 4.5 million people in 2004.
What arts activities have you attended, participated in or supported in the last year?
Check all that apply: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance, Other.

Answer: Music, Theater, Visual Arts.

2. Over the last three biennium the State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council appropriations were cut by 34.5%. These are substantially larger cuts than the cuts to the overall state budget. Would you support an increase in arts funding to restore the cuts that were made, in recognition of the important role the arts and culture play in our economy and in our quality of life? Select One: Enthusiastically Support, Support, Neutral, Opposed.

Answer: Neutral.

3. During the 2006 legislative session the legislature considered a constitutional dedication of funds for water, hunting and angling and various cultural purposes including the arts. Would you support a similar constitutional amendment in the 2007 legislative session? Select One: Yes, No, Don’t Know

Answer: No.

4. Research shows that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a significant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years. Would you support policies and funding to increase the availability of the arts in our schools? Select One: Enthusiastically Support, Support, Neutral, Opposed

Answer: Neutral.

5. We would welcome any additional comments you would like to make with regards to the arts in Minnesota.

Comments: The arts are important for many reasons which your members already understand. My neutral answers on questions 2 & 4 are for two reasons : There is no specific language and no funding source. I would never commit to anything before knowing these two things.

Additional Notes from MCA: None.


Senate12 Senate District 12, Sen. Paul E. Koering (R)Legislator First Elected: 2002.Committees: Health, Housing and Family Security, Ranking Minority Member, Agriculture and Veterans, Capital Investment, Finance – Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division, Finance – Health and Human Services Budget Division, Finance – Higher Education Budget and Policy Division, Higher Education.Contact Information: 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
State Office Building, Room 131, St. Paul, MN 55155-1206. Phone: 651.296.4875.Send an e-mail to this elected official using MCA’s quick & easy Desktop Lobbyist.2006 MCA Candidate Survey Results: Candidate did not respond to survey.

Additional Notes from MCA: None.


Pawlenty Governor Tim Pawlenty & Lt. Governor Carol Molnau (GOP)Governor & Lt. Governor first elected: 2002.Contact information: Office of the Governor, 130 State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155. Phone: (651) 296-3391 or (800) 657-3717. E-mail: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us.Send an e-mail to this elected official using MCA’s quick & easy Desktop Lobbyist.

2006 MCA Candidate Survey Results: Candidates did not respond to survey.