By Don Heinzman

Minnesota Republican activists are disciplining Republican legislators for daring to vote their conscience and for what they believe is best for their districts.

Meanwhile, some people in those districts are praising these legislators who voted to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of a bill that will bring badly needed dollars to the state’s transportation and highway system.

In retaliation for that single override vote, those who strayed from the party line have been stripped of their state legislative committee leadership positions and are being denied endorsements for re-election.

The six should be commended for their courage and should be encouraged to run for reelection without the blessing of the party.

Those under siege by their own party are Rep. Jim Abeler of Anoka, Rep. Kathy Tingelstad of Andover, Rep. Neil Peterson of Bloomington, Rep. Ron Erhardt of Edina, Rep. Rod Hamilton of Mountain Lake and Rep. Bud Heidgerken of Freeport.

The 10-year $6.8 billion transportation funding law includes a 5 cent per gallon gas tax and a 3.5 percent tax to pay debt service on the bonds, a quarter cent metro sales tax that will go to fund transit, an increase in the license tab fee and a $25 income tax credit for low income earners. A motor vehicle lease tax will be phased into transportation funding by 2012.

There hasn’t been a change in the gasoline tax since 1980.

Metropolitan counties may, by board resolution, impose a quarter cent sales tax and a $20 new vehicle excise tax for transit. It’s estimated the average Minnesotan who drives 11,000 miles a year will pay about $50 after all the increases are phased in.

By its own admission, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says it needs $2.4 billion every year to keep up with maintaining the state’s roads and bridges.

Already the six Republican legislators who crossed over are being denied party endorsement which comes with financial help for campaigning.

In Anoka County, Rep. Jim Abeler came within two votes of getting the endorsement, and Rep. Tingelstad was not endorsed, with party leaders deciding to hold a convention later after they find some candidates to oppose her. Abeler and Tingelstad plan to run for reelection.

Rep. Peterson and Rep. Erhardt were not endorsed in their districts.

One vote could bring down the political careers of those who have accomplished much for their districts.

A case in point is in Anoka County where Abeler and Tingelstad voted for the transportation bill that will double the county’s badly needed state funds over the next 10 years.

County Board Chairman Dennis Berg calls it a “super good transportation funding result for Anoka County.”  He says the sales tax proceeds will replace the property tax that was needed to fund the Northstar Commuter rail system.

The funds will allow completion of commuter rail stations in Ramsey and Fridley and will enable the county more quickly to add a third lane and eliminate the lights on US-10 to Anoka.

Both legislators have been reelected because they have responded to the needs of their districts and their school district, where working along side DFL legislators they obtained $3 million in education compensatory grants.

Rather than punishing these legislators, the Republican Party should be praising them for what they’ve accomplished as Republicans in their districts.

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