Ads by House Republicans blame DFLers for increase in gas tax

By MIKE KASZUBA, Star Tribune

Last update: April 28, 2008 - 9:01 PM

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Left or Right?

Give me a break. 2 cents is the difference between taking a left turn into one gas station or a right turn into another. The real question … read more is why is gas so godd*mn expensive, and what are both parties going to do about it? If the MN Republicans care so much about MN drivers, why aren't they doing more to urge Bush to stop filling the strategic reserve- seems like right now would be a pretty strategic time to tap into that. Or maybe they could donate the funds from their next ad to MN drivers to save us all the $10 bucks or so we'd be spending on this tax.

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Hoping to catch the attention of motorists irate with prices at the pump, House Republicans unveiled an ad campaign Monday that ties the rising cost of gas to DFL transportation spending.

The 15-second TV ads begin airing Tuesday in the Twin Cities and blame DFLers who voted for the first state gas tax increase in 20 years for being partially responsible for the price spike. The ads come two months after DFLers overrode a veto by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty to pass a $6.6 billion transportation package that included the gas tax increase and a sales tax in the metro area to fund transit projects.

DFLers say the ads oversimplify global events driving prices. "Minnesotans know global supply concerns and oil company profits of $123 billion have pushed gas prices to new records," said House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL- Chisholm.

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, acknowledged the campaign received a setback when Holiday Station Stores declined to feature the ads on TV monitors found above many gas pumps. Seifert said Republicans were waiting to hear from other major gas station corporations.

"It will illustrate people's frustrations," he said of the ads. He said the rising price of gas "affects your everyday life" and "costs you more at the grocery store."

He also said that the ads will be tailored to focus on at least 10 House DFLers in politically vulnerable districts and that gas prices will be a major campaign issue for Republicans this year. The ads feature the phrase "Minnesota Democrats: You Pay, They Pump" and say DFLers will be responsible for raising the state gas tax by 42 percent. The tax, which had stood at 20 cents a gallon since 1988, rose by two cents April 1 and will increase in stages by an additional 6 1/2 cents.

One target is first-term Rep. Julie Bunn, DFL-Lake Elmo.

Bunn said she voted to increase transportation spending because "the honest thing to do [is to face] the problem head on."

Mike Kaszuba • 612-673-4388

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