New Letter to the Editor - Why I Oppose Peggy Scott for 35B

I'm sending this new Letter to the Editor to the ABC Newspapers for publication in August, as an edited version (there is a 350-word limit) of the pro-Perske and pro-Perovich letter appeared in the July 9 issue of the Anoka Union Herald.  This is a response to the flyer we received from Peggy Scott in the mail on Saturday.  I take exception to it - in my opinion, it is shaded with false statements and innuendo.

To the Editor –

 

In her July campaign flyer disguised to appear like an official “2014 Legislative Report” to the voters of District 35B, Peggy Scott shares common Republican half-truths and lies.   Minnesota DFLers are proud of their 2013-2014 accomplishments, so what is the real record Scott is shading?

 

Peggy Scott falsely accuses paying for Obamacare will ‘drain’ $207.96 Million from our schools the next three years.  In reality, DFLers balanced the budget and repaid the $2.8 Billion which Scott and the Republicans “borrowed” from our schools when they were in charge.  DFLers provided funding for all-day kindergarten and hot school lunches.  They increased funding for early childhood family education and froze public college tuition for two years.  We can have Obamacare and smart school funding, too.

 

Peggy Scott finds it easy to criticize Obamacare, even while voting to prevent it from succeeding.  But health care changes have been very successful in Minnesota.  Over 180,000 Minnesotans are now covered by health plans, as our uninsured rate is down to 4.9%.  Over 50,000 seniors are saving hundreds for prescription drugs.  Over 35,000 young adults can remain on their parents’ insurance.  Over one million of us receive preventive health coverage with no additional co-pays.

 

Peggy Scott’s Republicans opposed the first increase in the minimum wage in a generation.  Over 300,000 state workers will receive a higher minimum wage of $9.50 in 2016.  Low-paid health workers will benefit greatly.  Low-paid child care workers who receive government funding seek higher rates and benefits through the opportunity to unionize.  Peggy Scott opposes giving this particular group the right to even vote on unionization – a right all workers should have.  Under the DFL leadership, over 100,000 jobs have been added, and unemployment is at a seven-year low.  Forbes Magazine rates Minnesota the 3^rd best state in which to make a living.  The DFL ensured equal pay for equal work would strengthen women’s economic security in the years ahead.

 

My candidate in 35B is Coon Rapids small-businessman Samuel Beard.  Vote to keep the successful DFL stewardship of Minnesota in place for the next two years.