2006: Mike Hatch Refused to Say Whether He Would Raise Taxes to Pay for His Agenda. "After the speech, Hatch dodged reporters' questions on issue that might have overshadowed his desired message. He declined to say whether he would raise taxes to pay for his campaign promises, whether he supports a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage or whether he would call a special legislative session to act on proposed baseball and football stadiums." (Bill Salisbury, “Mike Hatch Makes His Run Official,” Pioneer Press, October 25, 2005) 1990: Mike Hatch Announces, Says He Will Not Raise Taxes. "Hatch, who has had a statewide volunteer organization drumming up support for him for a year, said his campaign will focus on two issues - improving economic opportunity for Minnesotans and restoring Minnesota values. . He promised to be a hands-on governor who will not raise taxes or cater to special interests groups." (“Hatch Joins DFL Governor’s Contest,” UPI, January 22, 1990) 1990: Mike Hatch Pledged No New Tax Increases; Proposed Three New Tax Increases. "Hatch has sent mixed messages. In announcing his candidacy last winter, he declared: 'I won't raise taxes.' But since then he has proposed at least three new taxes. One is the payroll tax he proposed to finance health care for the uninsured. Hatch said that tax should be offset by lower premiums for existing health plans. The other taxes he proposed are those on toxic chemicals and non-recyclable packages that are designed to discourage pollution." (Bill Salisbury, “The Perpich, Hatch Face Off: Where Gov. Rudy Perpich And Former Commerce Commissioner Mike Hatch Stand On Major Issues As They Campaign For The Sept. 11 Primary,” Pioneer Press, August 26, 1990) 1990: Mike Hatch Proposed Payroll Tax Increase. "DFLer Mike Hatch is the first candidate for governor to propose a way to provide health care to the estimated 375,000 Minnesotans who don't have health insurance. Hatch also is the first candidate who is courageous - or foolish - enough to propose a tax increase to pay for it. His plan would cost large companies $2 per employee each month - a proposal certain to spark business opposition. Hatch says he would offset any tax increases with cost-cutting measures." (Bill Salisbury, “Hatch Offers Plan To Help Uninsured Get Health Care Tax[;] Would Expand State-Sponsored Insurance Pool,” Pioneer Press, July 15, 1990) Senator Becky Lourey: 2006: Becky Lourey Advocates Increasing Gas Tax. "Both [Kelly] Doran and [Becky] Lourey voiced support for a gas tax increase like the one Pawlenty vetoed last year. It would have added 10 cents to the 20-cent-a-gallon tax in effect since 1988." (Conrad deFiebre, “Race For Governor; DFLers Spare Each Other, Saving Barbs For Pawlenty,” Star Tribune, March 8, 2006) 2006: Becky Lourey Claims Minnesotans Tell Her To Raise Their Taxes. "While they offered no specifics on how to pay for education and other state programs, Lourey says many people support a tax increase. 'As I've been campaigning, wealthy Minnesotans have said to me, "please, please, raise our taxes. We believe in public education. We know that it is the melting pot for our state," ' Lourey said." (Laura McCallum, “Hatch Keeping Low Profile As Competitors Score Points At Business Forum,” Minnesota Public Radio Website, February 8, 2006) 2002: Becky Lourey Said '04-'05 Deficit Couldn't Be Solved Without A Tax Increase. "Two DFL candidates, state Sen. Becky Lourey of Kerrick and Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe of Erskine, said the state’s projected $3.2 billion budget shortage projected for 2004-05 can’t be fixed without tax increases. 'I'll be very candid with you, in order to replenish the budget reserve and deal with the structural problem in ‘04-05, we're going to have to raise taxes,’ Moe said. Lourey said the balancing would have to come from 'reserves, decreases in spending and increased tax revenues.'" (Dane Smith, “Tax Issue Divides DFL, GOP Gubernatorial Hopefuls,” Star Tribune, March 1, 2002) 2002: Becky Lourey Said She Wants To Raise Gas Tax. "Moe thanked business leaders for creating a ‘middle ground’ and pushing the idea of a gasoline-tax increase dedicated to transportation and said he supported that plan. Lourey said she also supports a gas tax increase." (Dane Smith, “Tax Issue Divides DFL, GOP Gubernatorial Hopefuls,” Star Tribune, March 1, 2002) 2002: Becky Lourey Campaigned On Raising Taxes. "And while Dutcher and Moe are rather vague on exactly how they would pay for increased costs of public programs, Lourey said she favors rolling back the recent income and property tax cuts for high-income Minnesotans." (Dane Smith, “(Mostly) Civil DFLers Gear Up For Convention,” Star Tribune, April 28, 2002) Senator Steve Kelley: 2006: Steve Kelley, Becky Lourey, and Former Candidate Kelly Doran Voice Support For Gas Tax Increase. "Real estate developer Kelly Doran and state Sens. Steve Kelley and Becky Lourey all said they would push to expand coverage and reduce the costs of health care, a mounting problem for many businesses. All said they would accelerate state spending or ‘investment’ on highways and mass transit, and all indicated they would likely approve a gasoline tax increase to relieve what one them called a 'congestion tax' on businesses." (Dane Smith, “3 DFL Candidates Mostly Agree At Business Forum,” Star Tribune, February 9, 2006) 2005: Steve Kelley Introduced A Bill Without A Funding Source, Said Tax Increases Are One Way To Pay For It. "Republicans and DFLers from both the House and Senate on Friday announced an education budget plan they say would pump $750 million into Minnesota schools over the next two years. ... 'This bill does not contain a funding source,' said Sen. Steve Kelley, DFL-Hopkins, the bill's primary Senate author, at a Capitol news conference called to announce the plan. 'It sets out a funding priority for the state. At this stage of the game we don't know where the funding's coming from.' Proposal backers say funding will probably have to come from increased fees and taxes of some sort. But no one identified the specific sources. 'I know how we're going to fund this is critically important,' Kelley said. 'I think tax increases need to be in the mix.'" (Norman Draper, “Bigger Education Budget Proposed,” Star Tribune, February 26, 2005