Governor Arne Carlson’s blog

Elected Governor of the State of MN in 1990; re-elected in 1994 by a landslide. Named with HHH and VP Mondale as 1 of 3 “Great” political figures of 20th Century in MN Poll. Accomplishments: 1-Restored integrity to MN’s budget process by lifting the state out of an inherited $2.3B deficit into a budget surplus of $2.3B in 1997 and $1.9B in 1998 2-Funded tax cuts of nearly $2.5B to Minnesotans through 2001 – largest tax relief in state history 3-Regained MN’s AAA bond rating, the lst state so upgraded in 23 years. 4-Reduced workers’s compensation premiums by 40% annually 5-Created meaningful welfare reform thru the MN Family Investment Program (MFIP), which moved 52% of its participants into jobs in just 18 months. 6-Established MN’s comprehensive health care reform program called MN Care, a nat’l model for health care reform. 7-Achieved historic education reform implementing School Choice which was hailed by the Wall Street Journal as a “model for the rest of the country”. 8-Launched MN’s lst commitment to Light Rail