Matt Entenza in the Minnesota Legislature

In 1994, the citizens of district 64A elected Matt Entenza to the Minnesota House of Representatives, where for 12 years he championed education, a greener future, and the working people of Minnesota, challenging failed Republican policies.

From 2003-2006, Matt served as House Minority Leader, leading DFLers to substantial gains in the 2004 elections and standing up to Governor Pawlenty during the 2005 government shutdown, ensuring thousands of Minnesotans retained health care and public education didn't suffer further cuts.

• Making Minnesota Work for Working Minnesotans - Matt repeatedly supported raising the minimum wage, increasing worker compensation benefits, and improving unemployment benefits, earning him top ratings from the AFL-CIO. Having grown up in Worthington, Matt understands the concerns of rural Minnesotans. He opposed cuts to agricultural funding and voted to reimburse for crop losses. Matt also tirelessly opposed unfair taxation, voting to lower taxes for all Minnesotans except those in the highest tax bracket.

• Making Minnesota Greener - During Matt's legislative career, he earned 100 percent ratings from both the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters/Conservation Minnesota. Matt voted to improve and protect water and air quality standards.

• Standing up for Children and Education - Matt worked tirelessly in the House to ensure that Minnesota's education standards remained among the highest in the nation. He authored legislation to maintain funding for school breakfast programs and raise accountability standards for charter schools. Matt also was a major contributor to child support legislation in Minnesota, authoring every major reform from 1995-2002 and increasing collection by 25 percent.

• Seeking Quality Health Care for All - In the House, Matt worked for health care reform, seeking quality care for all. He proposed all Minnesotans be given the opportunity to buy into MinnesotaCare, the state's successful public health care program, and voted to keep HMOs in Minnesota non-profit. Matt also sought to maintain state funding for nursing homes. He consistently voted to fund organizations that provide women's health care and family planning services, earning him high marks from NARAL ProChoice Minnesota for his work.

• Fighting for Civil Rights - Matt consistently spoke up for the equal rights of all Minnesotans, including speaking out and voting against an amendment banning gay marriage.

• Protecting Consumers - Matt was the chief author of legislation to provide the Department of Commerce more authority to protect consumers. Matt also chief-authored Minnesota's "Do Not Call" law, prohibiting telemarketers from harassing Minnesotans.

• Guarding Against Crime - Matt frequently sponsored bills to toughen laws against both drunk driving and hate crimes, and he supported strengthening sentencing guidelines for sex offenders. Matt also criticized the reactionist post-9/11 policies of the Bush and Pawlenty administrations, pointing out the unjust, discriminatory nature of some so-called "anti-terrorism" laws.