Jesse Ventura in 2001 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Education: Take over general education costs & eliminate local tax

I propose that the state take over the full costs of the K through 12 general education formula and eliminate the state-mandated general education levy by local school districts. Combined with other changes to the property tax system, this will result in net property tax relief of over $800 million annually to all types of property across Minnesota, Including double digit percentage property tax reductions to: businesses, homes, apartments, farms, and cabins. Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Jan 4, 2001

On Education: Support school districts that think and act outside the box

We increased K through 12 spending by $1.3 billion. I recommend ways to support new teachers in the classroom by supporting those districts that think and act outside of the box. My budget will support those districts that provide mentoring support, and create new career pathways that help teachers stay in their chosen profession. I propose ways to support getting new teachers and non-teachers into the classroom by loosening and fixing licensing requirements and compensation plans. Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Jan 4, 2001

On Government Reform: Close soft money loophole, give candidates public money

My Administration's goals for campaign finance reform are:

Closing the soft money loophole.
Giving candidates the public money when they need it.
Providing better citizen access to campaign finance information on the web.
I believe that political parties & party caucuses should agree to limit their independent
expenditures as a condition of receiving public money, and I encourage the Minnesota
Legislature to pass a bill that will close this gaping loophole in Minnesota's law.

Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Jan 4, 2001

On Tax Reform: Property tax needs to be smaller, simpler, fairer

The property tax puts an unfairly high burden on businesses and rental housing, which hurts our competitiveness and creates economic development barriers. Many question the basic fairness of the property tax as a way to pay for government. How much does the value of a property have to do with how much it costs government to serve it, or the ability of the owner to pay the tax? The property tax needs to be reformed so it is smaller, simpler, fairer, and more truly a local tax, and we can do it. Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Jan 4, 2001

On Tax Reform: Across the board reduction in state income tax rates

We have the 10th highest top rate and the third highest starting rate in the nation. Those high income tax rates also make it harder to attract and keep skilled workers in our state, the very people we need if our economy is to continue to grow. I will propose an across the board reduction in state income tax rates that will reach .5% in all three brackets, and I will propose increases in the Working Family Credit to ensure that work is rewarded at all income levels in our state. Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Jan 4, 2001

On Tax Reform: Find a way for state taxes to be collected on ecommerce

The growth of ecommerce, while essential for economic growth, causes a growing tax loss because sellers from outside Minnesota don't collect our sales tax and put our Minnesota retailers at a competitive disadvantage. We must find a way to create a way for out of state sellers to charge and collect our sales tax, just as our in state businesses must. If we don't, more of the tax burden will be shifted to those who find themselves on the wrong side of the "digital divide" and that's not fair. Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Jan 4, 2001

The above quotations are from 2001 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts from 2001 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts by Jesse Ventura. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Mar 14, 2021