MN voters going Blue

Republican incumbent John Kline's getting worried in Minnesota's Second District, because with all eyes on the Bachmann race, a pro-business Democrat, former MN State Representative Shelley Madore, has a message that resonates with fiscally conservative voters.

Madore, recently endorsed by Clean Water Action, ascribes her primary victory earlier this month to her "35 Cent Tour" highlighting that an imbalance of federal tax dollars promoted by Kline is undermining job creation and business investment. The facts support her position.

While Minnesota averages 77¢ back for every dollar we spend in federal taxes, the Second is only getting back 35¢ - which moves the burden for key projects in the community onto other revenue sources, such as property taxes.

"Mr. Kline has refused to request Federal tax dollars for important community projects, even when asked by our trusted county, city and school leaders...”

Shelley J. Madore

There's a belief that Republican ideology is better for the business climate.  Madore's opponent has also adopted an "earmarks are all pork" theory that's clearly costing his district a fair share of federal dollars.

Last week, in "How does Minnesota stack up in business taxation? Pretty well, it turns out" Sharon Schmickle (minnpost blog) pointed out the facts and figures indicate Minnesota's effective tax rates for businesses are somewhat less than neighboring Wisconsin, Iowa, or South Dakota, and substantially less - approaching HALF - the effective rate in North Dakota.

Yet North Dakota's unemployment rate is the lowest in the country right now.

So if lowering taxes and keeping federal dollars out of the state or the District is the secret to creating jobs, why have 10,900 manufacturing jobs moved from MN's 2nd District to China?  That's the worst record for any Congressional District in the state.  Minnesota's population is growing, but Madore's District been shedding jobs on John Kline's watch, and he's just throwing political double-talk at the problem.

If sounding reasonable by relying on Republican talking points equated to "good for the District" John Kline would be just fine: his presentation of GOP rhetoric is polished, and his re-elections prove it's been persuasive in the past. But the fact is he's quietly voting for his ideological theory, not the people of the Second District, and now Madore has got the attention of the media - and the voters.

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, Democratic Campaign Manager, journalist, and photographer who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.