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Tina's Record in the Legislature

The 2005-2006 legislative session was one of the most successful sessions that Rochester has ever had.  During the last session we received $21.8 million to build space for the Mayo Clinic-U of M genomics partnership, which is already advancing our medical knowledge, and which will create new economic opportunities in our community and our state.   

We received $12.8 million for new science labs at RCTC so students have better opportunities to study allied health care fields and to improve health care for all of us.  We got authority from the state to extend our local sales tax for education and transportation projects. Rochester schools received a much needed state funding increase after three years of flat funding.

I joined in successful effort to stop an expansion of gambling in Minnesota and to oppose 30,000 Minnesotans being cut from receiving benefits from Minnesota Care.

I worked hard -- along with the rest of the Rochester delegation -- to get the funding and authority for the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee. I attended most of the committee's meetings and I supported the goal of expanding higher education opportunities here.  The report recommends an expanded presence for the U of M in Rochester with signature academic and research programs in health sciences, biosciences, technology, and engineering. It is not everything Rochester could have wanted in higher education, but it is a smart, focused proposal.  It identifies a critical opportunity for the state, for the University of Minnesota, and for Rochester.  I enthusiastically supported the proposal and worked hard to win support in the legislature. In future sessions I will continue working to build on our success.

While the 2005 legislative session went on far longer than it should have, it was a considerable improvement over the 2004 "do nothing" session in which the legislature failed to accomplish its main task and did not pass a bonding bill.

During the frustrating days of the 2005 special session I voted eight times for a continuing budget resolution to prevent disruption in government services while the Governor and legislative leaders worked out their differences.  With Governor Pawlenty, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader and the Republican House Majority Leader locked in a stalemate, I joined colleagues in both parties to support a resolution taking the remaining issues away from leadership to debate and settle on the House floor.  That effort failed because we could not get the required two-thirds vote.

I also joined the bicameral and bipartisan "rump groups" of legislators as we attempted to hammer out an agreement since the three leaders could not. During those frustrating days, as Minnesotans worried whether parks and other state services would close, my opponent wrote a letter to the editor opposing the effort to keep services running until an agreement could be reached.

During 2006, I worked with colleagues in both parties to craft a reform agenda to encourage better working relationships and prevent future shutdowns. The 2006 session completed its work and ended on time.

2005 Legislative Report
(pdf)

Legislative Update
(December 2005 pdf)

Representative Tina Liebling was named a "Legislative Children's Champion" in 2005-2006 by the Children's Defense Fund of Minnesota. Liebling scored 100% on six key votes impacting the health and well being of children.

She also signed-on to key health care or childcare legislation during the 2005 legislative session.

She is one of just four Senators and 19 House Members to receive the honor.