Senator Gerlach has
been a dedicated voice for reform, supporting efforts to help government
work smarter and to improve schools by challenging the status quo. Gerlach
pushed to repeal the Profile of Learning and replace bureaucratic hoops
with real standards. He has worked to reduce the gap in funding between
urban and suburban school to ensure that suburban school receive a fair
share of state funding.
In the 2005 session,
Senator Gerlach voted to increase prison sentences for sex offenders and
supported a new law to keep those predators who are most likely to strike
again in prison for the rest of their lives. “I think we ought to make
it crystal clear – this state has no tolerance for the sexual criminals
that prey on our society. We’ve had too many tragedies, it is time for
consequences.”
The Budget & taxes
As District 37’s
Senator, Gerlach says he would focus on finding a responsible solution
to the state’s
budget deficit. In 1999 he voted to deliver Minnesota's largest tax cut
in the state's history and he has consistently worked to stop big-government
spenders who sought to protect the government's budget at the expense
of your family's budget.
Chris believes in
investing in transportation projects that make sense for the most people – like
metro highways and
transit projects like the Cedar Avenue Busway of which he was the chief
author in the House. He will ensure that gasoline taxes are used for
road construction and maintenance only and not misdirected into costly
and ineffective rail projects that benefit few.