Viewpoint: Bunn is a champion for Minnesota business

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As co-owner of a small, fast-growing hi-tech Minnesota company, I’ve admired State Rep. Julie Bunn’s legislative accomplishments. I’ve seen how she's been a champion of Minnesota business.

Julie is expert on business tax climate issues. In 2007, in her first five months as a legislator, she chief authored the Minnesota Business Partnership’s top priority — a bill to accelerate reformulation of the corporate income tax to encourage companies to expand operations and grow jobs in Minnesota.

In those same first months of her first term, she chief authored the healthcare reform package in the Minnesota House that was then passed and signed into law by the governor.

The business community has applauded Julie for her work on healthcare reform. the Minnesota Business Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce testified in favor of her bill, as did major labor unions.

In 2007, they said of Bunn’s health care reform package: "The business community believes this proposal outlines a positive direction for transforming how we deliver and pay for health care." [Beth Hartwig, Minnesota Business Partnership.]

This is why the State Chamber of Commerce has contributed to her campaign, and the Minnesota Medical Association and Minnesota Nurses Association have endorsed her.

Julie has also championed R&D initiatives in our state. She serves on the Biosciences and Emerging Technologies Committee and has traveled the state listening to corporations, entrepreneurs and researchers to learn what Minnesota can and should do to better compete.

As a result, she chief- or co-authored legislation providing tax credits to small and large businesses for research and development activities, to establish a UMN grant program for innovative technology and economic development research, and to establish a bioscience business development program and a nanotechnology development fund.

Julie has also voted repeatedly against tax increases. She voted against every bill to raise income taxes, and testified in the tax committee against Senate proposals to increase commercial and industrial property taxes.

She also fought proposals to have taxes on businesses from our district pay to subsidize Phase II construction at the Mall of America.

Julie listened to the expressed needs of her area business leaders, city officials and county commissioners in voting to support a long overdue comprehensive transportation finance bill.

Continuing to attract and grow jobs depends on our making adequate investments in maintaining our roads and bridges.

For her legislative leadership and voting record, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (the Minnesota Small Business Association) has just recently awarded Julie its 2008 Guardian of Small Business Award.

In a recent filing statement, Julie's opponent touts what she wants to do for Minnesota business.

Our state representative, Julie Bunn, in only her first term, has championed more major pro-business legislation than most legislators do in five terms.

Julie has already established herself as a leader who not only wants to deliver for business but has the skills to do so, and did deliver for business.

As an economist, and the wife of an engineer who has been in on the ground floor of four successful high tech start-up companies, Julie understands what it takes to insure economic prosperity in our state over the long run.

Given the challenging economic times that we face, District 56A is most fortunate to have a representative who can advance concrete policies to help move us forward.

Ward is a resident of Woodbury.

Tags: bunn, opinion, ward, legislative