With less than two weeks to go until the Nov. 2 general election, the Tribune gave the area’s Legislative candidates questions this week from their opposing candidates and party leaders.

District 27 state Sen. Dan Sparks and District 27A House Rep. Robin Brown, both DFLers, received questions from Republican opponents Kathy Green and Rich Murray, respectively, along with Freeborn County Republican Party Co-chairman Al Arends.

Green and Murray received questions from Freeborn County DFL Co-chairwoman Rose Anderson and Brown.

The following is a rundown of those questions and the answers that each candidate gave.

District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks

Q: Small businesses create 60 percent of the private sector jobs in Minnesota. Most of these business owners pay income tax based on their business profits. Increasing income taxes on those individuals making $150,000 will seriously affect their ability to grow and really hurt the farm income in Freeborn County. Will you be voting for this increase?

A: Property taxes are the biggest threat to business success, yet property taxes have increased $3 billion under the “cuts-only” approach to budgeting. I’ve stood up for more than $2 billion in property tax relief in the Senate; I supported a property tax rate decrease for farmers; I’ve supported jobs packages that have created at least 20,000 new Minnesota jobs; and I was the only senator to vote against the 2009 tax bill because I thought it raised taxes on the middle class. My record is clear; using skewed statistics to say I don’t support business is simply false and misleading.

For clarification, the non-partisan Department of Revenue stated only about 5 percent of businesses would have been affected by creating a fourth income-tax tier for individuals making more than $250,000 in taxable income each year. Right now, these are the same people paying about 2 percent less of their income in taxes than the rest of us.

I’ve always stood up for average Minnesotans who live right here in Southern Minnesota, and I will continue to do that. It’s not even about gaining new revenue; it’s about making our tax system fair. I just don’t think it’s right that you and I carry a bigger tax burden than the wealthiest people in this state, and I will continue to support measures that correct that discrepancy.

Q: You have told people in Albert Lea that the JOBZ program is a great program, yet you have told people in Austin that the program doesn’t work. Are you for or against the JOBZ program?

A: This statement is not true. I have always said I support the JOBZ program and all of my votes in the Senate reflect that position. I’ve always supported the continuation of the program, and this year I even supported a one-year exception that would have made it easier for businesses hurt by the recession to stay in the JOBZ program. A few years after its implementation, the state found some flaws in the program where things weren’t working as expected. I supported the reasonable revision of program rules to make sure it was creating the jobs we needed it to.

Q: Who should pay higher taxes starting in 2011?

A: No one will be paying higher income taxes starting in 2011 because the legislature hasn’t passed a bill to make that happen, and lawmakers will not be meeting again until after Jan. 1, 2011. Most of us will be paying higher property taxes, however, because deep budget cuts made by Gov. Pawlenty and other Republicans have slashed funding to schools and local communities, requiring higher property tax levies across the state. I can promise that I will continue to work against this trend — and for property tax relief — in 2011.

Q: If you are against shifts and delays to education, why did you vote for them when approving the state budget?

A: I voted against education shifts multiple times while in the Legislature. I think it’s incredibly irresponsible to simply push problems into the future, especially if we’re doing it at the expense of school districts. However, Governor Pawlenty refused to consider any other options to solve the state budget deficit with just 10 days left in the 2010 legislative session. Unless we wanted to waste taxpayer dollars by going into a special session, we were forced to work with him to balance the budget. However, I fought hard to include a provision to make sure schools are paid back — something that wasn’t included when the governor originally proposed it.

District 27 candidate Kathy Green

Q: What are the specific steps you plan to take to solve the projected $6 billion state deficit? How would you balance the budget while protecting K-12 education, promote job growth, etc.?

A: We have to be willing to make the tough choices to cut unnecessary spending. State revenue grew by 7.6 percent last year, but we have a budget crisis because spending rose even more. State spending increased over 60 percent in the past 10 years.

Specifically, we should start by looking at what government should be doing: education, roads, bridges and public safety. We must fully fund these areas while also making sure that their dollars are being spent as productively as possible.

All other spending then must be prioritized based on how much money our state actually has. The state can’t afford to be all things to all people, especially when other groups are better at providing many programs. Reducing non-core spending is the only way to make sure we have the ability to meet truly critical needs. We have to look at everything and work together to determine what non-core functions are most important to the state. Taxes should only be an option of last resort because there is a real cost to small business, farmers and families.

Finally, I’ll get right to work on the budget in January, with both parties, instead of waiting until the end of the session.

Q: A large part of being a successful legislator is being able to work across party lines, sometimes even standing up to your own party leadership. What are two issues where you would stand up against the Republican Party leadership?

A: I’ve spent nearly 30 years working with members of all parties to improve southeastern Minnesota and our state. I worked closely with our previous state representative Rob Leighton to highlight how the Profiles of Learning were choking student achievement. The budget crisis and job growth are not partisan issues, they are critical Minnesota issues. Both parties have ignored growing problems over the past eight years, which is precisely why the voters I talk to want new leaders.

The first issue I’d stand up to party leadership on is inequity in education funding. Metro schools get substantially more resources than outstate districts, a problem I understand firsthand as a member of the Austin and Minnesota State School boards. I will be a strong voice to make sure that all Minnesota students get the same opportunity to succeed.

The second issue is inequity in transportation funding. We spend millions of dollars on metro projects, while southeastern Minnesota has the highest percentage of roads and bridges in disrepair in the state. I’ll make sure we get our fair share of resources.

Voters are ready for a new leader who will actually solve these problems, not just talk about them.

Q: Give examples of rules and regulations you would change.

A: In the public sector as a school board member I have seen how rules have generated paperwork needing rigorous compliance, staff time, technology and resources that could be better used in the classroom.

During my campaign for state senator I have visited with business owners and farmers. They are from the private sector that fuels our economic growth. In discussion with them there runs a thread of over regulation, be it in the use of agricultural chemicals or the blending percentages of ethanol. I am hearing how their businesses are either being prevented from expansion or the regulations have a cost factor that inhibits profitability. I have heard from independent contractors who are limited in their opportunities because of restrictive bidding parameters favoring certain sectors. Our legislation needs to be responsive to health and safety measures. At the same time we need to avoid being a hindrance to our free market economy. We need to as one farmer who visibly cares about his land and animals, shared, “Get out of the way.”

Q: What are your plans to help the area’s veterans?

A: My father was a veteran of World War II; he also served in Korea. He enlisted at a young age because of his patriotism and love of our country and its freedoms. Sadly my father died at the age of 42. My parents raised my brothers and me to honor and respect the sacrifices of our military heroes, to know we owed a debt to those who were willing to do what was asked of them to defend freedom.

I have sought out areas that I can contribute to the support of our veterans and troops. I have created quilts for the Quilts of Valor project; our family donated our handicapped equipped van to the Sentinels of Freedom program to transition wounded military into their communities. My son’s Eagle Scout project was to honor Gold Star mothers. We have had the wonderful opportunity to honor my father and grandfather with pavers in the Mower County Veteran’s Memorial.

As a state senator it will be an honor to respect and acknowledge our responsibility as citizens to support those who served our country. I would work to make sure that their distance from services is not a hindrance to accessibility.

District 27A Rep. Robin Brown

Q: The state of Minnesota is projecting a $6 billion deficit. How will you address this issue and what specific steps will you take to solve it?

A: After I am re-elected on Nov. 2, I plan to meet with our newly-elected governor to personally discuss his specific plans on how to balance the projected $6 billion budget deficit over the next two years. Since this represents 17 percent of the state budget, I believe it will take a combination of revenue enhancements (tax increases) and program reductions (budget cuts) including eliminating some tax breaks that were given to upper income Minnesotans in 2002 when Minnesota had a $2 billion surplus.

One candidate for governor has proposed placing sales tax on new clothing as this will lower the budget deficit by $400 million. One candidate for governor has proposed eliminating the income tax break for upper income Minnesotans as this will lower the budget deficit by $400 million. It will take 15 ideas such as these just to bring the future state budget into balance.

Since Minnesota has a larger projected budget deficit per person than California, many programs will need to be frozen or cut. Since I already have a history of voting for $3 billion in budget reductions, I am willing to continue to make the tough votes to bring our budget into balance.

Q: Education makes up roughly 30 percent of the budget for the state of Minnesota. What do you propose to do with the education budget in light of the major deficit we are facing?

A: As a member of the House Education K-12 Finance Committee, I propose to protect funding for our K-12 public schools and provide funding for early childhood education as proposed by the National Chamber of Commerce. We will save millions of dollars when all children are fully prepared to enter kindergarten. We need to increase our high school graduation rates which will provide large savings in welfare, crime and unemployment.

I have drafted legislation that will be introduced in January that reforms the way public schools are financed in Minnesota. It is based on the following theory of BEST: Balanced, Equal, Simplified and Targeted. When passed, education funding will become equalized in Minnesota. Every student will receive the same amount of funding regardless of where they live. Our current school funding formula does not provide equal funding to greater Minnesota schools. I am committed to change the way 30 percent of our state budget is spent.

Minnesota had the highest economic growth in the 1980s and 1990s when we provided adequate funding for our public schools. We need to provide equitable, predictable and sufficient funding for our local schools in order to maintain our Minnesota quality of life.

Q: What do you consider to be the core responsibilities of the Minnesota state government, and should we focus our efforts and resources in these areas?

A: Article I of the Minnesota constitution the object of state government is as follows: “Government is instituted for the security, benefit and protection of the people, in whom all political power is inherent, together with the right to alter, modify or reform government whenever required by the public good.”

President Lincoln stated that, “The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, or well do, for themselves — in their separate, and individual capacities.”

I believe the core responsibilities are to provide adequate and equal funding for a uniform system of public schools.

I believe in providing a reliable public highway system with safe roads and bridges.

I believe in protecting our environment.

I believe in providing a fair and equitable tax system that encourages economic growth that provides good paying jobs.

I believe that government has a role in providing economic and social justice for all citizens.

I believe that government needs to protect our individual rights to us to make individual decisions for ourselves and our families.

We should focus our efforts on these core responsibilities.

Q: Who should pay higher taxes in Minnesota?

A: Over the years, Minnesota’s tax system has become increasingly more regressive, which means taxes are not based on a person’s ability to pay. The best example is property taxes. Inadequate school funding and deep cuts to local government aid have caused property taxes in Minnesota to increase by over $3 billion. This has put an increased burden on seniors living on a fixed income, small businesses and young families just starting out.

I believe in a progressive tax system, which is more closely based on a person’s ability to pay. Under our current system, Minnesotans in the upper income tier actually pay a smaller percentage of their income in taxes than middle-income earners. This, combined with rising property taxes and health care costs, is squeezing the middle class. Just like a parent getting a second job when they simply can’t cut anymore, our state must also look at how we can bring in more money in ways that are progressive and fair.

District 27A candidate Rich Murray

Q: Name two issues where you would stand up against the Republican Party leadership.

A: I have already stood up to the party and the governor candidate regarding the issue of local government aid. I believe everything needs to be on the table as we work on fixing a projected $6 billion budget deficit, but I don’t think the concept of disproportionately increasing taxes in greater Minnesota through drastic cuts in local government aid is fair. Where is the offsetting increase in the metro area’s tax burden that creates a fair playing field?

The second area I will fight for is fair funding for our schools, our roads and our nursing homes. I look forward to working across party lines and will stand up against my party and your party on this one. It’s not about political parties or special interests — it’s about doing the job we were elected to do for the communities we represent. It is about time legislators realize who they represent and quit trying to move their own personal agenda forward. I will work hard on the issues facing Greater Minnesota because that is who I represent.

Q: Why did you file for office just at the deadline and how did you arrive at your decision to run?

A: I filed on the last day but my decision to run for office is one I’ve been thinking about for more than 20 years. I first thought about running for this seat when Bob Haukoos retired, but at the time we had four children in the house and I couldn’t put that burden all on my wife, so I passed. A few years later when Ron Kraus didn’t run for re-election, I thought about it again but having just bought into the company where I work and being the general manager of the company it didn’t work again, so I passed again.

My decision this year was not easy either as I enjoy my work and spend a great deal of time helping out in the community. But that wasn’t the toughest part of my decision. The hardest part was the thought of having to give up some of the time I spend with my granddaughters, and you have to understand I love them all so much I would see them every day if I could. After several family meetings and prayerful consideration I decided that now is the time. I need to run and try to make a difference for the people in this district and this state. We cannot pass the problems we have created along to our children and grandchildren.

Q: Name five areas you would make budget cuts.

A: I have spent most of my professional career working on finding solutions to difficult problems. Everything needs to be on the table so there is no way you can simply say what five areas should we cut. We need to reform the way government works as bigger government is not the answer. Governments should be working to help individuals and families succeed not be a barrier to that success because we need more and more tax dollars. As I’ve knocked on doors across the district, people keep telling me government is trying to do too many things for too many people.

Just as you and I have to live within our budget state government needs to figure out what are our priorities and what can be reigned in or eliminated. I am willing to sit down at the table with all legislators to figure our how we properly fund our priorities and what services should government not be providing.

I believe we need to get a handle on the growth in government. While most individuals I talk with are seeing no growth in their budgets the state of Minnesota is going to get a 7 to 10 percent increase in revenues and that isn’t enough to cover the obligations. We need to gain control of the growth in government programs before it bankrupts our state.

Q: What are your plans to protect the veterans of the state?

A: As a veteran and more importantly as an American I have a deep respect and great deal of admiration for our veterans. We enjoy the freedoms we have today because of the sacrifice they have made for us. Men and women who have served our country in the armed forces deserve our assistance for both themselves and their families especially while they are serving. There is nothing that should stand in our way to make sure they have the medical care and assistance they need. I will work tirelessly on behalf of all our veterans. It’s the least we can do for all they have done for us.