Minnesota Majority announces ‘heroes’ and ‘zeros’

Fourteen Republican state legislators, including gubernatorial nominee Tom Emmer, received perfect ratings from Minnesota Majority for their voting records during the 2010 legislative session. Conversely, seven state senators, all Democrats, received zero ratings from the conservative advocacy group.

Minnesota Majority based its assessment on 28 House votes and 16 Senate votes. Among the bills included: a proposal to require that voters bring photo identification to the polls and a plan to salvage the the state’s General Assistance Medical Care program for indigent adults.  Minnesota Majority was in favor of the former, but opposed to the latter.

Among Republicans, Rep. Jim Abeler, of Anoka, received the lowest score at 74 percent. On the DFL side, Rep. Kory Kath, of Owatonna, earned the highest mark, voting with Minnesota Majority 61 percent of the time.

Minnesota Majority’s “heroes”: state Reps. Bruce Anderson, (Buffalo Township) Mark Buesgens (Jordan), Steve Drazkowski (Mazeppa), Emmer (Delano), Tom Hackbarth (Cedar), Mary Liz Holberg (Lakeville), Paul Kohls (Victoria), Dan Severson (Sauk Rapids) and Ron Shimanski (Silver Lake), and state Sens. David Hann (Eden Prairie), Amy Koch (Buffalo), Warren Limmer (Maple Grove), Pat Pariseau (Farmington) and Mike Parry (Waseca). Severson is the GOP-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State. Kohls is not seeking re-election.

The “zeros”: Ellen Anderson (St. Paul), Richard Cohen (St. Paul), Scott Dibble (Minneapolis), Ron Latz (St. Louis Park), Mee Moua (St. Paul), Steve Murphy (Red Wing) and Tom Saxhaug (Grand Rapids). Moua and Murphy are not running for re-election.