State of Minnesota Archives: on Corporations


Jason Lewis: Voted to roll back parts of Dodd-Frank

Q: Tighten or loosen regulation of banks and credit card companies?

Jason Lewis: Loosen. Voted to roll back parts of Dodd-Frank and to repeal guidance to help consumers prevent markups on auto loans.

Tina Smith: Tighten. Signed letter to Senate leadership opposing rule change that would hurt access to credit by communities of color.

Source: CampusElect on 2020 Minnesota Senate race Oct 10, 2020

Tina Smith: Opposes reduction of CFPB funding

Financial Regulation: Support cutbacks in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)?

Smith: No. Signed letter to US Senate leadership opposing reduction of CFPB funding.

Housley: No position found.

Source: 2017-2018 Minnesota special election CampusElect.org Guide Nov 1, 2018

Jeff Johnson: Help small business and embrace all present and future jobs

All Minnesotans deserve an economy where hard work is the only limit to success. The way to achieve this is to create an environment that encourages small-business owners and embraces both the jobs of today and tomorrow. Our government has failed miserably to do this and instead has been a direct obstacle. Whether it's taxes, regulations or a government attitude of helping rather than antagonizing job creators, I will work every day to make Minnesota's business climate competitive.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website Sep 1, 2018

Karin Housley: De-regulation could be new stimulus to help small business

Regulations are the new tax, so I think what we can do to help our nursing homes and our assisted living is crafting legislation that works for them but still protects our seniors. Regulations in our small businesses, regulations alone, we have too many of them across the board. I think helping our businesses with less regulations, helping them grow, helping them create jobs. Helping our businesses is really important to me.
Source: Hutchinson Leader on 2017-8 Minnesota special election Feb 18, 2018

Karin Housley: Small business needs lower taxes, less government to survive

In a statement to potential supporters and in interviews Tuesday, Housley pitched herself less as a conservative ideologue than a can-do champion of Minnesota ideals with a conservative approach. Her statements focused on her family, her work to protect seniors living in assisted-living centers, and her beliefs that small businesses need lower taxes and fewer government obstacles to succeed.
Source: Twin Cities Pioneer PressL 2017-8 Minnesota special election Jan 25, 2018

Mark Dayton: Eliminate corporate tax loopholes & tax relief for families

Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith today unveiled their 2017 Tax Bill, which would provide $300 million in tax cuts for more than 450,000 Minnesotans and in aid payments to local governments for essential services, while protecting the state's long-term fiscal health. The Dayton-Smith Tax Bill also would reduce taxes for Minnesota farmers and landowners to help build an economy that works for everyone, everywhere in Minnesota. And their proposal would eliminate tax loopholes for corporations--leveling the playing field for businesses.

"Our tax bill provides relief to more than 450,000 Minnesotans. It provides assistance to those who need it most, while protecting the progress we have made to stabilize our state's finances," said Governor Dayton.

The tax cuts would make high-quality child care more affordable for Minnesota families, and cut property taxes for Minnesota farmers who have seen their property taxes increase 114 percent in the last decade.

Source: 2018 Minnesota Gubernatorial website mn.gov/governor Jan 5, 2017

Tina Smith: Eliminate corporate tax loopholes & tax relief for families

Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith today unveiled their 2017 Tax Bill, which would provide $300 million in tax cuts for more than 450,000 Minnesotans and in aid payments to local governments for essential services, while protecting the state's long-term fiscal health. The Dayton-Smith Tax Bill also would reduce taxes for Minnesota farmers and landowners to help build an economy that works for everyone, everywhere in Minnesota. And their proposal would eliminate tax loopholes for corporations--leveling the playing field for businesses.

"Minnesota's farm communities are the backbone of Minnesota's economy. The last several years have been challenging for many Minnesota farmers, who are facing low commodity prices and rising property taxes," said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. "Our tax bill would provide significant relief to farmers by buying down the cost of local school district levies. I urge the Legislature to provide this needed tax relief for Minnesota farm families."

Source: 2017-8 Minnesota special election website mn.gov/governor Jan 5, 2017

Tom Emmer: Family business is Viking Forest Products

In 1907, Tom's great-grandfather, John W. Emmer, came to Minneapolis with two of his brothers to found a business that eventually became known as Emmer Brothers Lumber. In the early years, they provided lumber to build summer homes and cabins around Lake Mille Lacs. Tom's grandfather joined the company in 1933 and his father and uncle took over in the 1960s as the company shifted to lumber wholesaling. Today it's known as Viking Forest Products, with Tom's brother, Jack, continuing in the business. Growing up around the company, Tom learned first hand the value of hard work and the everyday pressures faced by employers and the families who count on them. Tom was born in 1961 in South Bend, IN as his father finished his degree at Notre Dame. He grew up in Edina and went to St. Thomas Military Academy where he grew in his faith and learned leadership through the JROTC.
Source: 2014 Minnesota House campaign website, EmmerForCongress.com Oct 10, 2014

Heather Johnson: Don't use eminent domain for private companies' benefit

Q: What is your opinion on oil fracking?

A: Here in Minnesota, Enbridge wanted to lay an oil line. I testified yesterday at a hearing about whether the public utilities commission would examine alternate routes and systems for their application for the permit. I spoke about how part of their plan would cross indigenous lands provided in the 1855 treaty. I supported the land rights, and spoke about having the route exclude indigenous territories and other land where there are land use rights. Government should not use eminent domain for private companies' benefit. Businesses have a right to do business, but they should take the risk and responsibilities for how their business functions, the impact on the environment and the people around them. They should legally acquire the land in voluntary exchanges. If they are using public lands they should contract with the government.

Source: News Examiner Q&A on 2014 Minnesota Senate race Aug 11, 2014

Al Franken: Block merger of biggest & 2nd biggest cable providers

In New York two years ago Franken ran into Lorne Michaels, his former boss at "Saturday Night Live," chatting with the CEO of Comcast, which had recently acquired NBC-Universal in a deal that Franken opposed. "I fought to prevent this!" Franken blurted out to the two men.

After a failed attempt to block the Comcast-NBC-Universal merger, Franken has emerged as the leading congressional opponent of Comcast's $45 billion bid to take over Time-Warner Cable, a merger that would unite the nation's two biggest cable companies. He was the only lawmaker to explicitly say he wanted the merger blocked.

"We've got the biggest cable provider and biggest Internet provider, in Comcast, buying the 2nd-biggest cable provider and 3rd-largest Internet provider, and I'm very worried that will create a company that's too big," Franken said. "They're going to use their position to leverage higher cable prices and to dictate a lot of things that will make for fewer choices, and their service will be even worse."

Source: N.Y. Times on 2014 Minnesota Senate race Apr 11, 2014

Al Franken: Oppo AdWatch: Franken limits free speech issue advocacy

American Encore debuts its first ad in Minnesota, criticizing Franken for supporting additional restrictions on tax-exempt issue-advocacy groups--putting roughly $250,000 behind the 60-second spot.

The ad criticizes Franken for calling on the IRS to impose new rules that could limit certain political activity by "social welfare" non-profit groups. The ad features clips of a Civil Rights-era march, Suffragettes and an antiwar protest. It derides efforts by the IRS and Senate Democrats to impose new rules on these nonprofits, citing complaints by the ACLU. "Tell Sen. Franken to stop attacking free speech," the narrator says.

"This is ridiculous--Sen. Franken is one of the most vigorous defenders of free speech in the Senate," said a Franken spokeswoman. But the homepage of Franken's campaign website asks people to sign a petition endorsing a constitutional amendment that would upend the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that gave corporations more leeway to influence elections.

Source: Wall Street Journal AdWatch on 2014 Minnesota Senate race Mar 25, 2014

Mark Dayton: Lowest business tax states accompanied by lowest incomes

Those who measure "business climate" only by tax rankings will question my strategy. We're 15th among the states in taxes. However, Minnesota has not been considered a "low tax" state during my almost four decades of public service. And the facts show that states offering businesses and their top executives the lowest taxes usually offer the rest of their citizens the lowest incomes, the fewest public services, and the highest crime rates.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Minnesota Legislature Feb 6, 2013

Tim Pawlenty: Reduce business tax from 3rd highest corporate tax rate

Minnesota's business tax climate is the 8th worst in the nation. That means 42 other states have a competitive edge on Minnesota.

We have the 3rd highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. Our personal income and sales tax rates are among the highest in the country, and Minnesota offers no preferential rate for capital gains. We need to face the facts: Minnesota's tax system is costing us jobs, and our tax code needs to change to meet the challenges and opportunities of our time.

Source: Minnesota 2010 State of the State Address Feb 11, 2010

  • The above quotations are from State of Minnesota Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Corporations:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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