MNGOP Calls Out A Redder Minnesota on their Facts

MNGOP takes on the Alliance folks on their attempt to beat up on Republican endorsed candidate for Governor, Tom Emmer. In a word: #FAIL.

Alliance Attack Ad Smears Emmer over Non-Existent Votes & Phantom House Sessions

Claim #1: Audio: “Tom Emmer sided with Governor Pawlenty and opposed a plan that would force corporations and CEOs to pay their fair share of taxes”  ABM Backup: “On May 18, 2009, Emmer voted against the second attempt at a DFL- written FY2010-2011 revenue bill.  The bill passed the House 82-47 before becoming the second revenue bill of the session to be vetoed by the Governor.  HF 2323, would have raised $1 billion in revenue through a tax on upper incomes, but closed the remainder of the budget gap with a shift in K-12 funding. [Minnesota House of Representatives, HF 2323, House Journal 7456]”

The Truth: Tom Emmer did not cast a vote on this roll call.

Claim #2: Audio: “They cut funding for education” ABM Backup: “On April 18, 2007, Emmer voted against HF 6, the K-12 funding bill, which passed the House with a huge bipartisan majority of 119-13. On May 8, 2007, Emmer again voted against the bill as it was re-passed on a similar 119-14 vote. The bill appropriated an additional $16 million to schools and granted schools an additional one-time increase of $51 per student. [Minnesota House of Representatives, HF 6 2007, House Journal 3997, 12113]”

The Truth: After April 18, 2007, there were no additional votes taken on this bill that year.  During the 2008 session, this bill was used as a “vehicle” and a delete-all amendment was added completely changing the bill.  The vote they reference on May 8, 2007 was actually a vote on May 8, 2008 and it wasn’t a vote on the bill but, rather, a procedural vote on whether the bill should be taken from the table.  Emmer voted against taking the bill from the table.

Claim #3: Audio: “[Tom Emmer and Tim Pawlenty] cut funding for education.”

The Truth: There is nothing in the bill cited that included a cut to education.  In addition, KSTP’s Tom Hauser recently had this to say about the claim that Governor Pawlenty cut education funding: “As for Pawlenty cutting education funding, that’s not true.  According to the education department, per pupil funding has gone up since 2004.” (Source: KSTP, “Truth Test: Two New TV Ads from Mark Dayton,” KSTP, June 30, 2010)

Claim #4: Audio: “[Emmer voted to cut] job training.”

The Truth: Nowhere in ABM’s backup is there any support for this claim.  “Training” is mentioned only once in the legislation, and that is in reference to home ownership education.  This bill had nothing to do with job training.

Claim #5: Audio: “[Emmer and Pawlenty cut] job training and health care”.  On screen: “Source: Minnesota House Journal, 4/25/2005”

The Truth: According to the Minnesota House of Representatives Journal, the House was not in session on 4/25/2005, meaning there could be no Journal of the House for that day.  The Alliance’s citation, therefore, does not even exist.

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