Tom Emmer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. (born March 3, 1961) was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from 2005 until 2011 and the Republican nominee for governor in the 2010 election
. He represented District 19B, which includes portions of Wright
and Hennepin
Counties and the cities of Otsego
, Albertville
, St. Michael
, Rockford
, Delano
, Montrose
, and Waverly
. He was born in South Bend
, Indiana
, and grew up in Edina
, Minnesota
.
near Saint Paul
. He then attended Boston College
followed by the University of Alaska at Fairbanks
, where he received a Bachelor of Arts
in Political Science
in 1984. He also played hockey for both schools. He received a Juris Doctor
from William Mitchell College of Law
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
in 1988.
in 2004, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. Because of his gubernatorial campaign, he did not seek re-election to the House in 2010. He served on the Finance Committee, the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee, and the State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee. He was also a member of the Finance Subcommittee for the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division, and of the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Subcommittee for the Licensing Division.
Prior to his election to the House, Emmer served as a member of the Independence
and Delano
city councils.
of the State of Minnesota in July 2009. In January 2010, Emmer came in second to Marty Seifert
in a non-binding straw poll
of Republican Party caucus
participants.
In April 2010, Emmer announced that his running mate
would be Metropolitan Council
member Annette Meeks
. On April 30, 2010, the Republican Party of Minnesota officially endorsed Tom Emmer as its candidate for governor at the state convention in Minneapolis. His main opponent, Marty Seifert, withdrew from the race and endorsed Emmer when it became apparent that Emmer was nearing the threshold for party endorsement. On August 10, Emmer easily won the Republican primary election
, receiving 82 percent of the vote.
Emmer received the endorsement of Sarah Palin
in his bid for governor of Minnesota. He has also was endorsed by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
and Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau
.
Emmer trailed by 9,000 votes behind his Democratic opponent Mark Dayton
in the un-certified election results, though the count was close enough to trigger an automatic recount
. Most analysts felt it was unlikely that the Emmer campaign could overcome such a deficit in a recount. On December 8, 2010, Emmer conceded the election.
donated $150,000 to Minnesota Forward
, a new political action committee
paying for advertising that supports Emmer's gubernatorial election. Emmer has said he views the Target giving as an exercise in free speech and wants to keep his campaign focused on economic issues. Best Buy
has donated $100,000 to MN Forward.
Following Congresswoman Michele Bachmann
's decision to run for the Republican nomination for the 2012 presidential election, Emmer has been speculated as a possible candidate to run for her seat, should she win the nomination. He has expressed interest in the seat if she does not seek re-election.
Emmer is scheduled to host a November 5 event promoting the launch of Representative Ron Paul
's presidential campaign in Minnesota.
on the basis of "ethical, moral or legal grounds as long as the pharmacist notifies their employer in advance and the employer can ensure a patient has timely access to the drug or device".
in 2005.
One week after his ‘tip credit’ press conference, Emmer announced a proposal that would exempt the first $20,000 a server makes in tips from state taxes. At the same press conference a protester dumped $20 in pennies on Emmer's lap.
and the head of the Minnesota DWI task force opposed the legislation because it would allow arrested drivers to continue to drive during the time between their arrest and hearing.
Emmer's own history of drunk driving became an issue in relation to his bill. Emmer, at the age of 20, received a driving under the influence
-related ticket in 1981. In 1991 he pled guilty to careless driving while two charges for DWI
and a license plate violation were dropped. He denies that his own drunk driving and legal consequences played a part in the bill, stating, "We all come to the Legislature with life experiences, but it has nothing to do with this bill." Emmer also stated that his sentence in 1981 should have been harsher. Had it been, Emmer felt that he "...probably wouldn't have taken the second chance" that led to his subsequent arrests and guilty plea in 1991.
On May 13, 2010, Emmer was one of three legislators not to vote on a bill that would have provided such tougher penalties for drunk drivers. Emmer said that he missed the vote when a previously scheduled lunch ran long, and that he had "no idea" how he would have voted on the bill, but that he "assume[d]" he would have supported it.
s or its legal equivalent, stating, "I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman." In March 2007, Tom Emmer introduced HF 1847 which was a proposed Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution stating, "recognizing as marriage or its legal equivalent only a union between one man and one woman."
On November 4, 2008, Emmer's campaign made a $250 cash contribution to Christian punk rock
ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International
. Emmer has since met with the CEO and President of the group Bradlee Dean on his radio show Sons of Liberty in early 2010. Dean stated that “Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America... they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do... They know homosexuality is an abomination.” Emmer's campaign stated that he "is a supporter of traditional marriage, and he strongly opposes any kind of violence or unfair discrimination against any group."
During an October 9 televised debate, Emmer said he would oppose legislation to combat school bullying against gay and lesbian young people. Emmer, who in the past voted against anti-bullying legislation as a state lawmaker, said that teachers are most responsible for halting bullies, but suggested that the threat of lawsuits keeps them from doing so. "I don't think we need more laws; I think we need more understanding,"
.
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
from 2005 until 2011 and the Republican nominee for governor in the 2010 election
Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota for a four-year term to begin in January 2011. The general election was contested by the major party candidates State Representative Tom Emmer , former Senator...
. He represented District 19B, which includes portions of Wright
Wright County, Minnesota
Wright County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1855. As of 2010, the population was 124,700. Its county seat is Buffalo.-History:...
and Hennepin
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
Counties and the cities of Otsego
Otsego, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,389 people, 2,062 households, and 1,674 families residing in the city. The population density was 217.5 people per square mile . There were 2,120 housing units at an average density of 72.2 per square mile...
, Albertville
Albertville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,621 people, 1,287 households, and 984 families residing in the city. The population density was 826.3 people per square mile . There were 1,318 housing units at an average density of 300.8 per square mile...
, St. Michael
St. Michael, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,099 people, 2,926 households, and 2,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 279.4 people per square mile . There were 3,058 housing units at an average density of 93.9 per square mile...
, Rockford
Rockford, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,484 people, 1,296 households, and 929 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,021.2 people per square mile . There were 1,333 housing units at an average density of 773.3 per square mile...
, Delano
Delano, Minnesota
Delano is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,464 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Montrose
Montrose, Minnesota
Montrose is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,847 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.03% is water. U.S...
, and Waverly
Waverly, Minnesota
Waverly is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,357 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.U.S...
. He was born in South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and grew up in Edina
Edina, Minnesota
Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Education
Emmer attended St. Thomas Academy, an all-male, Catholic, military, college-preparatory high school, located in Mendota HeightsMendota Heights, Minnesota
At the 2000 census, there were 11,434 people, 4,178 households and 3,237 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,222.2 per square mile . There were 4,252 housing units at an average density of 454.5 per square mile...
near Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. He then attended Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
followed by the University of Alaska at Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System, and is abbreviated as Alaska or UAF....
, where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1984. He also played hockey for both schools. He received a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law, or WMCL, is a private, independent law school located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Accredited by the American Bar Association , it offers full and part-time legal education in pursuit of the Juris Doctor degree....
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
in 1988.
Political career
Emmer was first elected to the Minnesota House of RepresentativesMinnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
in 2004, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. Because of his gubernatorial campaign, he did not seek re-election to the House in 2010. He served on the Finance Committee, the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee, and the State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee. He was also a member of the Finance Subcommittee for the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division, and of the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Subcommittee for the Licensing Division.
Prior to his election to the House, Emmer served as a member of the Independence
Independence, Minnesota
Independence is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,504 at the 2010 census. U.S. Route 12 serves as a main arterial route in the community.-Geography:...
and Delano
Delano, Minnesota
Delano is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,464 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
city councils.
Gubernatorial campaign
Emmer officially announced his candidacy for governorGovernor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
of the State of Minnesota in July 2009. In January 2010, Emmer came in second to Marty Seifert
Marty Seifert
Marty Seifert is a former Republican Minority Leader and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 21A, a predominantly rural district in southwestern Minnesota that includes portions of Lyon, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties, and the cities of Marshall...
in a non-binding straw poll
Straw poll
A straw poll or straw vote is a vote with nonbinding results. Straw polls provide dialogue among movements within large groups, reflecting trends like organization and motivation...
of Republican Party caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
participants.
In April 2010, Emmer announced that his running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
would be Metropolitan Council
Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council or Met Council is the regional governmental agency and metropolitan planning organization in Minnesota serving the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area. The Met Council is granted regional authority powers in state statutes by the Minnesota Legislature. These powers...
member Annette Meeks
Annette Meeks
Annette Meeks is a Minnesota Republican politician, a member of the state's Metropolitan Council, and was the 2010 endorsed Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, running with gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.-Biography:...
. On April 30, 2010, the Republican Party of Minnesota officially endorsed Tom Emmer as its candidate for governor at the state convention in Minneapolis. His main opponent, Marty Seifert, withdrew from the race and endorsed Emmer when it became apparent that Emmer was nearing the threshold for party endorsement. On August 10, Emmer easily won the Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, receiving 82 percent of the vote.
Emmer received the endorsement of Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
in his bid for governor of Minnesota. He has also was endorsed by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
and Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau
Carol Molnau
Carol Molnau was the 46th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. She formerly served as head of the Minnesota Department of Transportation...
.
Emmer trailed by 9,000 votes behind his Democratic opponent Mark Dayton
Mark Dayton
Mark Brandt Dayton is an American politician, the 40th and current Governor of the state of Minnesota. Dayton previously served as United States Senator from Minnesota from 2001 to 2007 in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses...
in the un-certified election results, though the count was close enough to trigger an automatic recount
Election recount
An election recount is essentially a repeat tabulation of votes that is used to determine the correctness of an initial count. Recounts will often take place in the event that the initial vote tally during an election is extremely close....
. Most analysts felt it was unlikely that the Emmer campaign could overcome such a deficit in a recount. On December 8, 2010, Emmer conceded the election.
Corporate sponsorship
The race has attracted national attention as the "first case in this election cycle of a company hit by national protests over a campaign donation". Minnesota-based Target CorporationTarget Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
donated $150,000 to Minnesota Forward
Minnesota Forward
Minnesota Forward is a political action group funded by local corporations. They were "established to ensure that private-sector job creation and economic growth are at the top of the agenda during the 2010 campaign" Their mission statement says that "MN Forward is an effort by Minnesota job...
, a new political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
paying for advertising that supports Emmer's gubernatorial election. Emmer has said he views the Target giving as an exercise in free speech and wants to keep his campaign focused on economic issues. Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
has donated $100,000 to MN Forward.
Post-election activities
Emmer is now a registered lobbyist in Minnesota. In early 2011, he ran for an open Minnesota seat on the Republican National Committee, but lost that election to Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson.Following Congresswoman Michele Bachmann
Michele Bachmann
Michele Marie Bachmann is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing , a post she has held since 2007. The district includes several of the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, such as Woodbury, and Blaine as well as Stillwater and St. Cloud.She is currently a...
's decision to run for the Republican nomination for the 2012 presidential election, Emmer has been speculated as a possible candidate to run for her seat, should she win the nomination. He has expressed interest in the seat if she does not seek re-election.
Emmer is scheduled to host a November 5 event promoting the launch of Representative Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
's presidential campaign in Minnesota.
Pharmacy conscience clause
He has supported "conscience clause" legislation that would allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense contraceptionContraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
on the basis of "ethical, moral or legal grounds as long as the pharmacist notifies their employer in advance and the employer can ensure a patient has timely access to the drug or device".
State Sovereignty
Emmer sponsored an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would allow the state to nullify federal laws, which presumably would require all federal laws to be approved by the state government, and which would probably be unconstitutional under the United States Constitution.Taxes
Emmer strongly opposes tax increases. He has also proposed gradually reducing the state corporate tax, with the eventual goal of repealing it altogether.Minimum wage
Emmer introduced an amendment within the Minnesota House of Representatives that would have eliminated Minnesota's minimum wage lawMinimum wage in the United States
, the federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour. Some states and municipalities have set minimum wages higher than the federal level , with the highest state minimum wage being $8.67 in Washington. Some U.S. territories are exempt...
in 2005.
'Tip credit'
On July 5, 2010, after visiting a restaurant in St. Paul Minnesota, Emmer was asked during a press conference if he supported the idea of a tip credit, the financial policy of allowing businesses to subtract tips from a server's hourly wage. His response was "Yes... if you didn't have a minimum wage law..." His reasoning for implementing the tip credit is that "...somebody could be taking home well over one hundred thousand dollars as a server" while the restaurant owner could be making much less.One week after his ‘tip credit’ press conference, Emmer announced a proposal that would exempt the first $20,000 a server makes in tips from state taxes. At the same press conference a protester dumped $20 in pennies on Emmer's lap.
Drunk driving
In 2009, Emmer sponsored a bill that would shorten the period of license revocation for driving while impaired and for refusing to take a sobriety test. Additionally, though "suspected drunken drivers [currently] face revocation before they go to court," Emmer's bill would delay revocations until after conviction. Supporters of Emmer's bill have said "it's needed because pre-conviction revocations penalize drivers before proving they're guilty." Mothers Against Drunk DrivingMothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy...
and the head of the Minnesota DWI task force opposed the legislation because it would allow arrested drivers to continue to drive during the time between their arrest and hearing.
Emmer's own history of drunk driving became an issue in relation to his bill. Emmer, at the age of 20, received a driving under the influence
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
-related ticket in 1981. In 1991 he pled guilty to careless driving while two charges for DWI
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
and a license plate violation were dropped. He denies that his own drunk driving and legal consequences played a part in the bill, stating, "We all come to the Legislature with life experiences, but it has nothing to do with this bill." Emmer also stated that his sentence in 1981 should have been harsher. Had it been, Emmer felt that he "...probably wouldn't have taken the second chance" that led to his subsequent arrests and guilty plea in 1991.
On May 13, 2010, Emmer was one of three legislators not to vote on a bill that would have provided such tougher penalties for drunk drivers. Emmer said that he missed the vote when a previously scheduled lunch ran long, and that he had "no idea" how he would have voted on the bill, but that he "assume[d]" he would have supported it.
Same-sex marriage and Gay and Lesbian issues
Emmer supports a state constitutional amendment banning civil recognition of same-sex marriageSame-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
s or its legal equivalent, stating, "I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman." In March 2007, Tom Emmer introduced HF 1847 which was a proposed Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution stating, "recognizing as marriage or its legal equivalent only a union between one man and one woman."
On November 4, 2008, Emmer's campaign made a $250 cash contribution to Christian punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International
You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International
You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International is a Christian youth ministry that holds assemblies, including Christian rap/metal music and discussions with students, in public schools. Founded by Bradlee Dean, the ministry is based in Annandale, Minnesota...
. Emmer has since met with the CEO and President of the group Bradlee Dean on his radio show Sons of Liberty in early 2010. Dean stated that “Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America... they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do... They know homosexuality is an abomination.” Emmer's campaign stated that he "is a supporter of traditional marriage, and he strongly opposes any kind of violence or unfair discrimination against any group."
During an October 9 televised debate, Emmer said he would oppose legislation to combat school bullying against gay and lesbian young people. Emmer, who in the past voted against anti-bullying legislation as a state lawmaker, said that teachers are most responsible for halting bullies, but suggested that the threat of lawsuits keeps them from doing so. "I don't think we need more laws; I think we need more understanding,"
BPA
In 2009, Emmer voted against S.F. 247. This Minnesota law states that by January 1, 2010, no manufacturer, retailer, or wholesaler may sell or offer for sale in Minnesota any children's product that contains Bisphenol-A, except for used children's products which will be prohibited after January 1, 2011. Emmer stated that he voted against the law because of fear of “increased costs.” As well-intentioned as people may be, he said, "they don't think about what this vote means five steps down the line."Personal life
The great-grandfather of Emmer, along with his two brothers, founded Emmer Brothers Lumber in 1910. It is now called Viking Forest Products LLC, an employee-owned company. Emmer has seven children with his wife of more than 20 years, Jacqueline Emmer. He is an avid hockey player, having played in college, and continuing the sport by coaching. During the legislative session, Emmer regularly rides the bus to the Minnesota State CapitolMinnesota State Capitol
The Minnesota State Capitol is located in Minnesota's capital city, Saint Paul, and houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Governor...
.
External links
- Representative Tom Emmer (R) official MN State Legislature site
- Emmer for Governor official gubernatorial campaign site
- Voting record (2005-2008) at Minnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
Votetracker