In the News:
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Morrison County Record 10/24/2008
Doty understands complex issues
To the Editor:
It is critical that our Minnesota representative has the ability to read the existing regulations with understanding, to think independently and make quick decisions when changes to them are being proposed under pressure of a committee hearing.
Before he was a representative, I talked with Al Doty on Senior Advocate issues. He knew the regulations on the senior issues I was dealing with and explained them so I could understand what they meant and could make a decision.
For almost two years, I attended meetings that included Mike LeMieur when the Little Falls City Council was considering the Wal-Mart Superstore. From my experience at these meetings, as a new City Council member, if Mike LeMieur had read the Little Falls governing ordinances, he did not understand them clearly. When Wal-Mart representatives were presenting different options in their proposals, he did not grasp their full impact on the community.
Mike is a nice person, but I don't think he is experienced enough yet on regulatory issues. When Greg Blaine was representative we had the same problem; he did not have experience reading and understanding complex regulations.
My vote will be to re-elect Al Doty.
- June Varner, Little Falls
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Morrison County Record 10/24/2008
Doty is a talented legislator
To the Editor:
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve with Rep. Al Doty. Since he and I are House mates (12A and 12B), I witnessed firsthand Al Doty's remarkable talent as a first term legislator. Doty always voted first for this constituents and with his conscience; the DFL Caucus came second. I watched him work tirelessly for District 12B and its citizens. He continuously reached across the aisle to collaborate with all legislators in order to achieve success in governing.
Doty has great insight and knowledge in many different areas, making him a huge asset to the legislature and residents of District 12B. He has not missed a day or an opportunity to represent and serve his constituents and his district. Doty's dedication, hard work, positive attitude and tenacity are only a few reasons why the citizens of District 12B should send him back to St. Paul as their State Representative.
- Representative John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, District 12A
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Morrison County Record 10/17/2008
The whole truth not conveyed in mailings
To the Editor:
I recently received a mailing from the Republican Party stating "Al Doty voted to waste $400,000 of our money on sheet music." I wanted to get the full story so I contacted Rep. Doty and asked him about that vote.
It turns out that there was a line item in the last bonding bill that included $400,000 for a sheet music museum. This bonding bill included $5 million for Camp Ripley to construct a public safety training area for the whole state. (Doty introduced that bill, and fought to have the facility built at Camp Ripley, winning out over several other areas competing for the site.) In order to vote against the sheet music museum he would have had to vote against the entire bonding bill that created 10,000 jobs. The bill passed 107-26.
Statements and actions taken out of context although factual, do not always convey the whole truth. Go to the source and get the entire story on any issue. Al is responsible and willing to discuss his record and views.
And by the way, Gov. Pawlenty line-item vetoed the sheet music museum. Any fiscally responsible governor of either party would have done the same.
- Mavis Buker, Little Falls
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Morrison County Record 10/17/2008
Rep. Al Doty is truly pro-life
To the Editor:
Two years ago, letters to the editor - and letters sent privately to voters - were full of scare talk that Al Doty wouldn't vote pro-life. Those individuals did that in spite of Doty's plain talk that he was pro-life from conception to natural death.
We've had two years to verify his voting record. MCCL rated Rep. Doty's pro-life record at 100 percent, for both years.
That doesn't surprise those who know him. He is a man of honesty, integrity, common sense and wisdom. His word is true. He has and will vote like he says he will. What really surprises me is that all those people using scare tactics two years ago, aren't thanking him for defending our most vulnerable. Not only aren't they thanking him for a job well-done, they're writing letters trying to scare you about him on other vital issues as well.
Doty has proven his pro-life stance to us with his 100 percent MCCL voting record. We have to wonder about those who only use this issue
when it's politically convenient. Those individuals think voting Republican is more important than saving the unborn and our most vulnerable.
They're voting party, not pro-life. Shame on them.
- Janet Hanneken, Pierz
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Morrison County Record 10/17/2008
Doty supports veterans' needs well
To the Editor:
Our military veterans receive a lot of fanfare when they first return from combat. But all too often when the parades are over, the hardest part is still ahead: making the transition from combat to civilian life with their friends, families and co-workers. For some families, the transition is fairly easy and a return to "normal" happens quite quickly. For others, the transition is a lot tougher.
Al Doty is devoted to our military men and women, our veterans and their families. As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Al worked to secure bi-partisan support for a sweeping package of new laws that included a new Minnesota GI Bill and a new Veteran's Linkage Line to provide veterans with a one-stop-shop for resources and services when they return home. He supported changes that make it easier for military personnel and their families to vote while serving overseas, supported income tax exemptions on military pensions, and much much more.
Every day, Al Doty gives real meaning to the words "support our troops." We need to send him back to St. Paul to keep working for them - and for all of us.
- Dan Bakke, Randall
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Morrison County Record 10/3/2008
Doty is an advocate for veterans
To the Editor:
Al Doty has been an outstanding advocate for veterans. He was the chief author of bills to increase education benefits to veterans and to bring $5 million to Camp Ripley for a public safety training facility, which helps our area greatly. I've heard Al Doty say he well remembers how badly we treated our troops during and after the Vietnam War. He's determined not to let that happen again. It is important that we vote him back into office again so that he can continue doing a good job for us.
- Harvey Hempeck, Little Falls
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Morrison County Record 9/12/2008
Doty will work on a fair deal for all of us
To the Editor:
I support Al Doty because he understands that Gov. Pawlenty's false program of "no new taxes" has led to skyrocketing property taxes and that there is a fairer way to pay for government expenses. Al Doty says that taxes should be about the ability to pay, and I agree with him.
While being on a fixed income, we've watched our property taxes eat away at our ability to support ourselves. We still don't have enough money to pay for our schools and other services provided by local governments. We need a representative in our district who's willing to work for a fair deal for all of us, and that's Al.
- Edward R. and Joan Hervin, Deerwood
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Morrison County Record 9/12/2008
Doty votes his district
To the Editor:
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert recently laid out three main points of Republican strategy for District 12B. You'll see them all - get ready.
1) They'll try to make you believe Rep. Doty voted to increase taxes on working families.
This is absolutely false; he voted to increase the tax rate on couple's incomes over $400,000, so we could lower taxes for working families. He wants property taxes based on ability to pay. You can see why a party that protects the rich would want to replace Rep. Doty.
2) They'll imply that Al isn't pro-life; but they won't talk about his votes.
The truth is, Al Doty received a 100 percent rating from MCCL both years, and authored sensible pro-life legislation. You can see why they won't talk about Al's voting record.
3) They'll claim that Rep. Doty votes a party line.
Ridiculous. Doty voted very well for this district, voted against several major DFL bills and has one of the most independent voting records in the entire House. Contrast that with how Republicans punished those who dared vote their districts, and you can see why they'd want to replace Al Doty with someone they could control.
- Betty Salmon, Little Falls
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Morrison County Record 9/3/2008
Al Doty and Mike LeMieur State House of Representatives race heats up
In hopes of supplying our readers with fair, accurate and in-depth election coverage this political season, the Record sent out political questionnaires to each of the candidates for State House of Representatives District 12B. The following are the candidates' responses to five questions on political issues which the state legislature might be faced with over the next two years. Each candidate was asked to limit their response to each question to 100 words or less. The Record intends to interview both candidates in the coming weeks for a series of social issues stories on education, energy and taxation.
• Click here to read the responses (link goes to a .pdf file at the Morrison County Record website)
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Morrison County Record 9/4/2008
Here are the facts on Doty's per diem
To the Editor:
A letter (Aug. 31 issue) on the topic of per diem got me interested enough to look up the facts. I learned that per diem is used for more than just meals. Also, representatives and senators can take as much per diem as they wish up to the maximum. Rep. Al Doty took far less than either his predecessor in the House, or our current state senator.
In his last session, Rep. Blaine collected $10,956 in 2005, and $6,006 in 2006, for a total of $16,962.
Sen. Koering collected $15,456 in per diem in 2007, and $9,696 in 2008, for a total of $25,152.
In 2007, Al Doty collected $8,990 and $6,391 in 2008. That totals $15,381.
Instead of that "whopping 17 percent increase" the writer wants you to assume he took, Rep. Al Doty actually took a 9 percent decrease compared to his predecessor. The writer also asked why legislators get a housing allowance when they're not in session. Though some representatives and senators do take year around housing, Rep. Doty only took housing while in session.
It's "readers beware" during campaign letter-writing season.
- Dan Bakke, Randall
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Morrison County Record Friday, August 01, 2008
Seniority is reason to re-elect Al Doty
To the Editor:
One of last week's letter writers was right in one regard: seniority is a key factor in passing legislation that benefits our district. This is yet another reason we should re-elect Rep. Al Doty rather than starting fresh with an inexperienced and unaccomplished replacement.
- Josh Buker, Little Falls ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morrison County Record Friday, August 01, 2008
Doty is a practical legislator
To the Editor:
Al Doty has shown himself to be very qualified to work on the most pressing problems of our time - health care, education and transportation. He's done a good job for us in our district. I like the fact that he's a practical legislator who understands the difference between necessities and extravagance.
We have no need for legislators who are blindly against government and who hold the attitude that if we just get government off our back, everything will work out fine. Al Doty has successfully demonstrated that he understands what the working relationship between government, business and society should be all about. I think we should send him back to represent us again.
- Lu Morrow, Flensburg
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Morrison County Record Friday June 06, 2008
Rep. Al Doty campaign kick-off
Rep. Al Doty's, DFL - Royalton, campaign kick-off will be held Wednesday, June 11 at 6 p.m.,
at the Carnegie Library in Little Falls.
Doty, a District 12B Democrat, is seeking a second term in the Minnesota State House of Representatives.
"It is a privilege to represent this district in St. Paul," Doty said. "I've worked hard to turn things
around, but there is more to be done."
The public is invited to meet Doty. Refreshments will be served that evening. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morrison County Record - May 25, 2008
Thank You
To the Editor:
The city of Royalton thanks Rep. Al Doty for his help in obtaining funding from the Public Facilities Authority for our wastewater treatment facility. The financing package will save our taxpayers approximately $435,300.
It was Al Doty's hard work that enabled the city of Royalton to apply for and receive this money and
its tax savings for our citizens. Kudos to Al for his fine work.
- Andrea Lauer, Mayor, city of Royalton
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Monday, March 03, 2008
Midwest Monday: Interview with MN State Representative Al Doty
(click on link to read full interview)
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May 11, 2008 - Letters to the editor - The Morrison County Record
Doty is a great advocate
To the Editor:
During our current legislative session, I had the pleasure of working with Rep. Al Doty on an issue that
I could not get resolved through years of trying. Rep. Doty was more than willing to meet with me and others
in my union about my dispute with the state of Minnesota. Rep. Doty arranged a meeting to finally
resolve my problem without wasting more time and money by the state. It became clear that Al understands funding issues and middle class working people. He was prepared with his research
and resolve. Rep. Al Doty represents our district superbly, and he is a great advocate for the people
of District 12B.
- Debbie Zimmerman, Royalton, MAPE Local 1601
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RE-ELECT AL DOTY
Together we can turn things around!
© 2008 Prepared and paid for by the Committee to Elect Al Doty, 302 N. Hickory St., Royalton, MN 56373
