Contact Information: 231 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. Phone: (651) 296-6316. E-mail: rep.steve.gottwalt@house.mn.

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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: Neutral

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: No

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.

The arts have been an essential part of my life, and I am an artist by nature. I personally support the arts, and believe others should too. I also believe government should have a limited role in funding (and controlling) the arts. I do not believe Minnesota should use constitutional amendments to fund programs or initiatives. Lawmakers are elected to make those tough decisions, not avoid responsibility by funding through the state’s constitution. Arts funding must also be taken into consideration in the context of many state government funding priorities. Things like public safety, essential infrastructure, health care, and education are top priorities, and the state faces a major budget deficit in the coming biennium. As much as I love the arts, I would prioritize these things above restoring government arts funding.

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

Additional Notes from MCA: Rep. Steve Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud, spent two years working on the stage crew of “A Prairie Home Companion” in the 1980s.

Contact Information: 473 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. Phone: (651) 296-6612 or (800) 920-5884. E-mail: rep.larry.haws@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

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: 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: 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.

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

Additional Notes from MCA: 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, Literary Arts, Dance, Other.

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: 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: Support.

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

Comments: Minnesota’s commitment to the arts is nationally known, but has come under threat because of state budget decisions in recent years. We need to get back to a partnership with arts organizations, with businesses, with schools, and with all Minnesotans who participate and contribute to the arts. Our quality of life, our economy, our children’s future opportunities all are important reasons I support the arts both personally and as a legislator.Q2: The arts are a key component of our economy and add a lot to our quality of life. I believe the cuts should not have been made and would be “Enthusiastic” in advocating for a restoration of the funding. Q3: In general, I believe we should be wary about changing our constitution and would have preferred the vote had been on the merits – rather than a constitutional one. I ultimately voted for it because of the combination the Senate included in it’s proposal – and the fact it would not have taken from other priorities if funded. In the next session I would still prefer the funding be done through the budget process rather than through a proposed amendment, but would likely vote “yes” again if there isn’t a direct legislative effort because of the good the potential funding would do.Q4: Yes- too many districts have had to make cuts in this area because of overall funding strains.

Additional Notes from MCA: None.