State Senate Candidates Keith Downey, Melisa Franzen on the Issues

Melisa Franzen (DFL) and Keith Downey (R) took center stage as the League of Women Voters of Edina held its second candidate forum of the 2012 election cycle earlier this week.

Discussion topics ranged from last year's state shutdown to improving the state's education system, as the two Senate District 49 candidates made their cases to potential voters.

Here's a quick rundown of where they weighed in on the major issues during the Oct. 1 LWVE forum at Edina City Hall.

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What measures would you support to reduce the state budget deficit and repay money owed to school districts?

Keith Downey: Assuming there's $36 billion to spend, we're in a position to have an adequate increase to our budget and make substantial progress toward repaying schools. With the expected surplus and new tax revenues, "we could pay off the entire shift in two years."

Melisa Franzen: I will tackle the budget and work on balancing it honestly and without gimmicks. Argued we won't have a budget surplus, that instead it'll be a deficit next January. It's important to provide an environment for businesses to hire and grow jobs. Solving problems like this will take compromises, with Democrats and Republicans working together.

What is your position on the construction of the southwest light rail line?

Franzen: I strongly support the southwest corridor light rail. It would bring about 60,000 new jobs, not counting construction jobs. It has bipartisan support, as well as support from cities and chambers of commerce. "We keep sending money to Washington, we should bring some of it back to Minnesota." Noted the $125 million investment is not cheap, but said it is an investment in our long term infrastructure and transportation needs.

Downey: I support a multimodal transportation plan, but we need to take a critical look at ones that will create real congestion-relieving value. With southwest line, we'll have spent $4 billion in total. "Just because it came from the federal government doesn't mean it's free money." We need to look at economics and decide whether perhaps fixing interchanges at I-494 and I-35W or I-94 and I-494 would be better investments.

What do you think of the constitutional amendments on the ballot?

Downey: I voted to put both amendments on the ballot. In terms of the marriage amendment, we're simply "asking people to validate what's currently in state law." Rather than have courts and lawyers handle it, we thought voters should have a say. As for Photo ID, we have a serious crisis of confidence in our election system. "Opponents of it are massively overstating the implications of it."

Franzen: I'm opposed to the marriage amendment and think it's "outrageous to insert divisiveness into our constitution." It's important to have tolerance in our community. Also opposes Voter ID, calling it a "perfect example of something that could've been tackled by the Legislature."

Do you support the development of a Minnesota health insurance exchange rather than waiting for a federal system?

Franzen: Yes, said she supports a Minnesota-based exchange. "This is something we need to have leadership in." We need to stop stalling and find something that works for Minnesota. 

Downey: Would argue we should hold off deployment of anything until "we know the outcomes of the elections in November." Minnesota has had a high quality, low cost medical program for some time. Thinks the Federal Affordable Care Act "is anything but that."

What would you do to move Minnesota toward a clean energy future?

Downey: Embracing the conservation ethic of my parents and grandparents, I'd put a priority on balance. You have to balance the economic and environmental factors. "I think we should be carefully looking at where we can make improvements without compromising our ethics."

Franzen: I'm a big advocate of clean energy. "We can't always rely on one form of energy." Mentioned Pawlenty's 25 percent by 2025 clean energy push, saying Xcel said it didn't cause an increase in prices. Said we've lost competitiveness with Iowa in terms of wind turbine manufacturing.

What sustainable forms of revenue would you support?

Franzen: It's going to take more than one bill. Said an eFairness Tax Bill would bring in $10 million every biennium. The bill—which would help collect sales tax on the Internet—would update law, giving the legislation some teeth.

Downey: We already do have a sustainable tax structure. We need to recover our economy as job number one. What is unsustainable is state spending growing twice as fast as the rest of the economy.

How do we grow jobs in our state?

Downey: We've declined in terms of tax rankings among states and Minnesota is consistently in the worst 10 in terms of business tax environment. "We need to provide some tax relief for Minnesota businesses." Said you can start a business in 60 days in Iowa, but it takes two years in Minnesota. If we get a level playing field, believes our economy will take off and we'll grow the right way.

Franzen: One thing missing is the private sector needs predictability. They all wait for action, needing to know how legislative items will impact them, so the leadership needs to get things done. The other piece is an education/skills gap that exists, which needs to be bridged.

What would you do to improve Minnesota's education system?

Franzen: We owe schools $2.4 billion, which some districts had to borrow. It's not all about money, though. We need to be sure to invest money in the right areas, like early childhood education. Focus should be on bettering education, from early childhood to higher education.

Downey: "The Minnesota Miracle that worked so well 40 years ago is showing some serious cracks." Superintendent Ric Dressen will tell you that 85 percent of decisions made locally are dictated by the state. There's too much union bureaucracy. For struggling schools, we need to implement a series of reforms to compensate teachers for success and achievement instead of tenure.

How do you embody the unique voice of Edina, which has traditionally been fiscally conservative and socially moderate?

Downey: I'm not going to tell you why you should think that. I've been born and raised here. I represent a tried and true Minnesota ethic that my parents and grandparents raised me with. "I'll do my bees tot embody that and honor that legacy with everything I have in the state Legislature." We might differ of the means, but not over the ends. 

Franzen: They're my own values. As I've been talking with Edina residents, fiscal responsibility matters to you. We need to tackle the budget long term and balance it responsibly. I think what I can offer this district is that I'll be honest and transparent about how we get to those goals, but I'm on your side. It's an open dialogue.

What's your position on gun control laws?

Franzen: The second amendment grants us the right to bear arms. Mentioned recent tragedy in Minneapolis, said we shouldn't jump to more stringent laws. "We need to stay the course."

Downey: Agreed with Franzen. Our local gun control regulations are consistent with other states. "I support the right to bear arms."

What's your opinion on collective bargaining?

Downey: Collective bargaining has its place, but there's a freedom of employment dimension that's important to protect. Proposed a right to work amendment, which would give any employees the freedom to join or not join unions. "What we have right now in state government is an excessive regularly environment that gives public workers too much leverage in the equation."

Franzen: Federally, we have the National Labor Relations Act, so there's no need for local right to work regulations. "I think people have a right to negotiate their contract."

What would you do to prevent another state shutdown?

Franzen: I wouldn't give up. We owe that to every taxpayer, public employee and business. It's one of the reasons I decided to run for office. "We need people who will work together and make sure we find some compromises to move Minnesota forward."

Downey: The situation last cycle included a $6 billion budget gap. I've seen blame placed on the Legislature, but the governor deserves an equal amount of the blame for the shutdown. He didn't negotiate bills, vetoed our budget and refused any sort of compromise offer, only to accept the same deal three weeks into the shutdown.

What reforms on redistricting would you propose to avoid the expense we faced this year?

Downey: I don't mind having a process like we went through to determine redistricting. Separate commissions have must as much politics as the legislative process itself.

Franzen: I wasn't in the Legislature, so I'm not as familiar as how redistricting worked. I do know we need to make sure we redistrict in a way that doesn't hurt our constituents.

How much local government aid should the state of Minnesota provide?

Franzen: I believe for the most part local aid doesn't go to every city. What's the point if it never gets back to your city? We need to make sure that at the state level we have better visibility of where those funds should be going.

Downey: We actually appropriated $2.5 billion in local aid, equal to the amount in 2010. We distribute based on population, but I think we should turn half of it into a grant-based program. All of the money would have to go into water, core infrastructure and public safety. Some portion should be dedicated to communities coming together in shared service arrangements.

Is there any question you would have liked to have been asked tonight and why?

Downey: We've had no discussion of if we'd support Gov. Dayton's calls for increases in taxes or discussion of core issues I've heard at the door. "We have a governor advertising Minnesota as the state you come to if you want your taxes raised." I've heard nothing from my opponent if she'd support Gov. Dayton's proposals.

Franzen: I wish you'd asked what makes me a moderate Democrat. I don't have to agree with everyone in my party. I'm not cut by the same mold, I look at each issue on a case-by-case basis. "I'm not a robot, so I won't be voting party line." That's my vow and trust I hope to get from people in the district. I'd represent my own interests, not that of the party.

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