| For Immediate Release |
| January 6, 1999 |
House Republicans led by Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum and Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty unveiled their Minnesota House Inspection Report today, outlining an aggressive agenda of tax cuts for families and education reforms.
"On Tuesday, November 3rd, the people of Minnesota invested in a new House - a Republican House" said Sviggum. "Today, we offer citizens our House Inspection Report so they can hold us accountable as we work our way through the 1999 session."
According to Sviggum and Pawlenty, the House will pass each of the items on the Inspection Report before the session adjourns on May 17. Highlights of the report include:
Lowering the monthly mortgage payment through an immediate tax rebate of over $1 billion for Minnesota families to be followed by the largest permanent tax cut in Minnesota history.
Reinforcing the foundation by investing in education reforms such as lower class sizes, increased discipline options, and equity funding for all students.
Fixing the leaking roof and cracked sidewalk through government reforms and legislative downsizing including fewer committees and legislative staff (which is already done), a supermajority to raise taxes, and Initiative and Referendum.
Installing a security system and keeping our families safe by enhancing the gang strike force, passing "three strikes" legislation, and removing teacher licenses of teachers convicted of sexual assault.
"House Republicans are proving today that we are ready to lead, and we want people to judge us
by our results" said Pawlenty. "Keeping more money in the family budget and lowering class sizes
will mean that we passed the House Inspection."
Today's announcement represents the broad policy agenda of the top Republican prioritites for 1999. Full details for each item in the Inspection Report will be available as the session progresses and specific bills are introduced. The Republican leaders also emphasized this report does not reflect all of the things the House will do this year, only the top priorities.
The House opened the 1999 session yesterday and all 134 members were sworn in. Sviggum was elected Speaker of the House on a vote of 72-61. Sviggum and Pawlenty were joined at the press conference by the members of the House Republican Caucus.
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