State Representative
Rich Stanek

(ST. PAUL) Permanent tax relief, high quality schools and getting tough on crime are all top priorities of residents of House District 333B, according to the responses to a constituent survey distributed by State Representative Rich Stanek (R-Maple Grove).

Over 650 area residents returned the survey which Rep. Stanek distributed in February. Half (50 percent) of everyone who responded to the questionnaire said that high taxes were the more important issue facing the State of Minnesota, followed by quality in K-12 education at 19 percent. Similarly, respondents favored changing or repealing the Profile of Learning and giving local school districts more flexibility in making curriculum decisions.

"Minnesotans are tired of government breathing down their necks," said Rep. Stanek. "They recognize that government has a key role to play in protecting citizens and providing the resources to educate our kids, but they don't want them in every aspect of their daily lives. They believe that their taxes are too high, they want permanent, significant tax relief. I agree."

Among the results of the survey were the following:

Among tax relief options, more respondents supported an income tax cut (56 percent) than property tax relief (20 percent) or sales tax relief (20 percent). 67 percent favored delaying or repealing the Profile of Learning or giving school districts greater flexibility in making curriculum decisions. Only 18 percent believed that the Legislature should make no changes to the Profile. 74 percent supported banning late term and partial-birth abortions. 40 percent said that the growing transportation needs of the northwestern suburbs should be addressed by building more roads.

Representative Stanek serves residents of House District 33b, which includes the communities of Maple Grove and Plymouth. He can be reached by mail at 543 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55155; by phone at 651-296-5502.

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