Madore applauds President's proposed business tax credits

"...our district is already in a position to create those opportunities without a tax increase...”

former State Representative Shelley Madore

Sept. 8, 2010 (Apple Valley, MN)– Minnesota Second Congressional District Candidate Shelley Madore applauds President Obama’s plan, announced today, to provide for transportation infrastructure improvements, continued business research and development tax credits, and the extension of tax credits for middle-income earners. Madore, a former state representative, has been touting ways to create jobs, increase business development and strengthen the local economy.

“My campaign’s 35 Cent Tour calls attention to the total lack of investment in our community since Republican incumbent John Kline became the hoarder of our hard-earned federal tax dollars,” Madore said.

What does that mean for the taxpayer in the Second Congressional District?

“For every Federal tax dollar paid in our district, only 35 cents is spent here in our community,” Madore said. “Other Minnesota districts receive an average of 77 cents. At the same time, John Kline voted for the bill that included the 'Bridge to Nowhere' in Alaska, and many other bills that included earmarks for other states.”

“As the rest of the country struggles to find ways to finance job creation, our district is already in a position to create those opportunities without a tax increase,” Madore continued. “If we had a Representative who would ask for our money back, we could bring back to this district millions of dollars and thousands of jobs. Mr. Kline has a grip that won't loosen, despite the loss of more than 10,000 manufacturing jobs in our district. While we were losing those local jobs, John Kline was bailing out Wall Street banks and leaving Main Street behind. I support small business growth. John Kline’s continued lack of support for small businesses is evident, most recently in his vote against the Small Business Lending Fund Act. I look forward to working with local leaders to address our long term economic strategy and put hard-working Minnesotans back to work.”

For more information about Shelley Madore and the 35 Cent Tour, please visit madoreforcongress.com

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Myths & Ideology Undermine Business

Who figured voters would have a pro-business DFLer on the ballot in the Second District?  Incumbent John Kline's got to be worried, because as I pointed out back in early July, former State Rep. Shelley Madore is just that.

Shelley's winning message for the primary was wrapped up in her "35 Cent Tour" highlighting that the imbalance of federal tax dollars is undermining job creation and business investment, the facts tell the tale. While the state averages 77 cents back for every dollar we spend in federal taxes, the Second is only getting back 35 cents - which moves the burden for key projects in the community onto other revenue sources, such as property taxes.

Among the myths about John Kline is that Republican ideology has just got to be good for the business climate here by favoring lower taxes and fighting pork.  Here's the thing:

In "How does Minnesota stack up in business taxation? Pretty well, it turns out" by Sharon Schmickle yesterday at minnpost the facts and figures indicate our effective tax rates for businesses are somewhat less than Wisconsin, Iowa, or South Dakota, and substantially less - approaching HALF - the effective rate in North Dakota.

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

I'm not about to tell you that there's no waste in government spending. There's waste in virtually every business, too, and controlling it is essential to efficiency and - ultimately - success.

But 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 the Second District to China?  That's the worst record for any Congressional District in the state.  Our population is growing, but we're shedding jobs on John Kline's watch, and he's not doing anything but throwing political double-talk at the problem.

And if sounding reasonable meant a Representative was good for the District, Kline would be just fine: his rhetoric is polished, and persuasive. But the fact is he's quietly voting for his ideological theory, not the people of the Second District.