Here Is What Happens

Here is what happens when you give 85 Democrats control of the Minnesota House of Representatives!

1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to public health; increasing affordability and continuity of care for state 1.3health care programs; modifying health care provisions; establishing a public 1.4health access fund; increasing the tobacco impact fees; providing subsidies for 1.5employee share of employer-subsidized insurance; establishing the Minnesota 1.6Health Insurance Exchange; requiring certain employers to offer Section 125 1.7Plan; creating an affordability standard; requiring mandated reports; authorizing 1.8 rulemaking; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 1.916A.725, subdivision 1; 62A.65, subdivision 3; 62E.141; 62L.12, subdivisions 1.102, 4; 256.01, by adding a subdivision; 256.9658, subdivisions 3, 9; 256B.061; 1.11256B.69, by adding a subdivision; 256D.03, by adding a subdivision; 256L.05, 1.12by adding a subdivision; 256L.06, subdivision 3; 256L.07, subdivision 3; 1.13256L.15, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, sections 1.1413.46, subdivision 2; 256B.056, subdivision 10; 256L.03, subdivisions 3, 5; 1.15256L.04, subdivisions 1, 7; 256L.05, subdivision 3a; 256L.07, subdivision 1; 1.16256L.15, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 1.17chapters 16A; 145; 256B; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, 1.18chapter 62U; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256L.15, subdivision 3. 1.19BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

If you are a smoker, a member of the middle class (income $45,000 to $150,000 annual income), an employer, a health care professional or a health care consumer be prepared to pay dearly for your health care. For example:

2.10 Sec. 3. [145.986] STATEWIDE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
2.11 Subdivision 1.Goals. The initial goals of the public health access fund are to reduce
2.12the percent of Minnesotans who are obese or overweight to less than half by the year
2.13 2020 and to reduce tobacco smoking by 2 percent annually starting in 2011. By
2011,
2.14 and considering available funding, the commissioner of health, in consultation with the
2.15 State Community Health Advisory Committee established in section 145A.10, subdivision
2.16 10, and other stakeholders, may make recommendations as to future goals related to
2.17alcohol use and illegal drug use.

Do you smoke? Use alcohol? Overweight? Be prepared to have the state dictate what you can and can not eat, drink or otherwise consume.

Say you are a family of 4 living on $66,000 a year (400% of the federal poverty level). Your cost for "free" government health care will be capped at 8% per year or $5280. If you have employer provided health care you will get a "credit" for the amount of your health care premiums, deductibles and other cost sharing, minus an amount based in the "affordability" specified in section 62U.08. Now for this typical family in that range our premiums, deductables and other cost sharing only amounts to about $2500 a year - net increase in health care premiums of $2780.00. I thought this was supposed to make health care "more affordable"?

It also creates a whole new level of state bureaucracy - the Commission of Health! Just what we need.....more government!

I am just starting to read this 52 page book. Keep an eye for more thoughts and notes here in these pages. But if first impressions are anything, I am not expecting much from this.

Whats Important

Sarah Janecek, whose must read publication Politics In Minnesota has been so very kind as to link back to True North and Ladies Logic in recent weeks, has a post that defenders and detractors should read and remember when the Senate starts debating the fate of MNDOT Commissioner Carol Molnau.

The DFL's deus ex machina, the "resolution to a story that does not pay due regard to the story's internal logic and is so unlikely that it challenges suspension of disbelief, allowing the author to conclude the story with an unlikely, though more palatable, ending."
To Democrats in the Senate. Remember that, today. Carol Molnau is the "improbable, though more palatable, ending" to a bridge falling down in Minneapolis. Wasn't her fault, you know that. So, be kind. Send her on her way without adding insult to injury. No need to pile on. Tone down the floor debate.
To Carol Molnau. Amor fati. Love your fate...because you have no other choice. Res ipse loquitur. It is what it is. For now.
Because the Carol Molnau I know is a carpe diem kind of gal. Seize the new day in your personal life, or seize it in a reincarnation of your political one. [And please do seize Jesse Ventura's arm, whenever you want.]

That is something that I have to remind myself as well. I got to know Lt. Governor Molnau when she was still in the Minnesota House of Representatives. A portion of Scott County was in her House District and so we saw her down here often. There was no mistaking this woman for a hot house flower. She had a history of rolling up her sleeves and doing whatever dirty work needed doing whenever it needed doing. She could stand toe to toe with the "good old boys" and hold her own. That is how I came to know and admire her.

Most of the DFL deus ex machina crowd knows in their hearts of hearts that they did you wrong.
The telling of that is in the fact that the dirty deed is being done under cover of today's budget shortfall announcement.
That's a small consolation prize, granted. But after seven months of political onslaught, any prize will do. And, you still have that big prize, Lt. Gov. You're number two.

So in our rush to defend Carol Molnau from an attack that is, very partisan and very unfair, we need to remember, she is still the Lt. Governor and she is still a force to be reckoned with. The Carol Molnau that I know will sieze the day with the grace and style that she has shown over a long career in public service. Don't cry for Carol Molnau......she certainly won't be crying when the day is done.

RIP Mr. Pittsburgh

Many are writing obits about William F. Buckley, who died yesterday at the age of 82. So rather than jump on that bandwagon, I thought I would bring to your attention the death of another icon...Myron Cope - a sports legend who died yesterday at the age of 79.

Myron Cope, colorful sports broadcaster and reporter whose Terrible Towel remains the banner of the Steelers nation, has died.
In declining health since even before his 2005 retirement after a record 35 years of Steelers broadcasts, Mr. Cope died this morning of respiratory failure at the Covenant at South Hills nursing home in Mt. Lebanon.

Myron (or Mahrn in Pittsburghese) was the voice of the Steelers for as long as I can remember. He was one of those classic sports and journalistic characters, like Irv Kupcinet and Harry Carey. The Logical Husband (who is a Pittsburgher) introduced me to the phenomenon that was Myron Cope when we were dating. If the weather was right, you could get the games on WTAE (which carried the Steelers games and was one of the original "clear channel" stations) in Chicago or St. Louis where we went to college. It took a little while for my Midwestern ears to completely get what Myron was saying, but that was half of his charm.

However, sports was not his only passion.

Then there was the bright black-and-gold swatch of terry cloth that Myron
christened The Terrible Towel, a lucky charm for the Steelers and a lifeline for
the Allegheny Valley School based in Robinson. He trademarked the name and
donated it so that royalties from the Towel and its spin-offs go to the private,
nonprofit agency that cares for children and adults with intellectual
developmental disabilities, including his son, Danny.

For that he earned a special place in the Logical Family's heart as the Logical Husband has two brothers who have developmental disabilities and we have seen his work up close and personally.

Ever the homer, Myron was Steeler black and yellow, through and through. He was Pittsburgh through and through and he will be greatly missed.

Another Quasi Non-Political Post

More Jeff Dunham on Dogs

A Quasi Non-Political Post

PETA members - do not watch this video. It will make your heads explode!

Open Letter to Rep. Abeler

Dear, Rep. Abeler,

I listened, with great interest, to your speech on the House Floor last Monday. While I was dead set against the bill, I was willing to listen to a divergent opinion on the subject. Apparently, based on your remarks, I was the only one of that mindset. I listened to you go on about how so many people from other districts contacted you and how you had over 800 emails and how you were searching for a "local" one. Well, using that "logic" Rep. Abeler, since I am in Scott County, does that mean only my representatives in Scott County can raise my taxes? While I wish that were the case (I have two very fiscally conservative representatives in Mike Beard and Mark Buesgens) I know that is not the case. Therefore, since representatives who are outside of my district can raise my taxes, then I think that I am well within my rights to lobby said representatives.

Another thing that struck my about your speech was your insistence that people who publically opposed the bill (like Phil Krinkie and Jason Lewis) didn't tell the whole story about what was in the bill and yet you did the same thing. You never mentioned (in your floor speech in defense of the bill) that the quarter percent sales tax increase was dedicated to light rail! You also never mentioned the 3.5 cent gas tax surcharge that goes on top of the two cent gas tax increase. You mentioned that the gas tax is dedicated to roads and yet you neglect to mention that the Trunk Highway funding formula takes most of the gas tax money that is raised in the Cities and sends it outstate where the needs are not as dire! You also neglected to mention the surcharge on leased and rental vehicles that is in this bill. It is obvious to me, that there is cherry picking of information going on from both sides. I would assume that someone so passionate about the whole story being told would be the one to tell the whole story. Clearly I was mistaken.

It seems to me that your mind was made up on this issue from the get go and no amount of input from anyone outside of your special interest groups (i.e. the Chamber) was going to change your mind. I can appreciate that, but please do not be surprised when the voters, the people you are supposed to represent rally against you. And do not be surprised when taxpayers interestes from outside of your district take an active roll in helping replace you. After all, you worked hard to take money away from taxpayers outside of your district. Can you really blame them for trying to prevent that in the future?

Cross Posted at TaxPayers Revolt

Rep. Abeler Answers His Critics

Gary Gross did a yeoman's work transcribing the speeches of some of the tax hero's from yesterday's debate. Now it is my turn to focus on one of the floor speeches from yesterday and unfortunately Rep. Jim Abeler gave a speech that was not heroic in any form. You can find the speech here and it starts at approximately the 25 minute 55 secondmark. I commented on his remarks briefly (in my live blog post of the days events) but I felt that his remarks deserved special attention and consideration. I will transcribe most of his remarks (because he does go off on some tangents) and reserve comment for afterward.

…Since 1998 we have failed to do the job on this topic also by coincidence. Sometimes you are home on a Sunday afternoon and the suns out and you’re walking the dog and nobody calls and there’s no one around and it’s a quiet park? Well that wasn’t this weekend. I didn’t feel lonely this weekend Madame Speaker and members...I didn’t feel lonely at all. In fact I have 800 unopened emails – not for lack of trying…I just kinda skimmed eh the ones that looked interesting to read, trying to find some local ones. If you want to know what your people think I can tell you…each of you what your people think…and they are both happy and unhappy depending on how much they know. Now I took some calls and some actually used the word I can barely stand against….BOONDOGGLE! No, no please don’t use the “B” word…the
boondoggle...they thought it would be an effective word as they described how they understood this bill.

OK - I have to stop here. Did you catch this? First off, Rep Abeler is whining because people outside of his district dared to speak up to him and tell him "No". Secondly, those of us who took the time to read the bill and who understand all of the tax increases in this bill are bad are just too stupid to truly "understand" what our betters are trying to foist on us.

But unfortunately they didn’t understand the bill…they didn’t understand the problem. And I told them about the report that the Legislative Auditor put out about the state highways and bridges…calling the situation grim.

And what YOU don't understand, Rep. Abeler, is that the the situation about our personal finances is equally grim. Foreclosures are at a record high, bankrupty filings are too. People are barely living paycheck to paycheck as it is...we are at the breaking point. Maybe you should try to understand OUR situation Rep. Abeler.

They also said that there is money available for preservation ONLY which is kinda bad when you want a lane out your way on Hwy 10 to ease some of that congestion.

Here's a radical thought Rep. Abeler....why not take out some pork out of the bonding bill to bring more money to MNDOT. OR another radical thought.....quit spending money on light rail until our roads are up to snuff! I'll bet you can get a lot of lane miles out of the money being spent on the Central Corridor!

I do have to commend, again, the Minnesota Chamber…they read the report. They’ve been living this report…they know that their people can’t get across town at peak times and even not peak times. And so they took up…they became the surrogate for us…for me…they became the surrogate for the governor and they waded into this thing with both their feet and they courageously took on this topic on behalf of their membership and there was compromise.

This, then, is the DFL's idea of "compromising" with the minority who is looking out for the people's interests. They bring in a LOBBYING organization to help them write the bill so that they can say that they "compromised" with someone.

This bill is smaller than last year.

Let's see....last years bill was $5.5 billion and this years is $6.6.....when I took math way back when....6 was a LARGER number than 5. Has that somehow changed?

This bill has reform in it….MNDOT has to face the scrutiny of the Chamber of Commerce….not known for being easy softball negotiators. The Chamber Of Commerce and the business partnership are exactly the opposite….they’re a bunch
of jerks when it comes to their negotiating. They’re gonna go after MNDOT and say “why are you picking projects like this?” and “what are you doing with the money we gave you?”

What are they doing with the money WHO gave them? That is not the Chamber's money, nor is it the Legislatures money it is the taxpayers money and MNDOT should not be accountable to a 3rd party lobbying organization, they should be accountable to WE THE PEOPLE!

MNDOT (unintelligible) this task force…it’s in the report. There is compromise in this bill. I was so happy with the amendments in this bill that came out. I was not part of any discussions and every amendment that came out I thought “that’s a good amendment…that makes the bill even better”

In one of my favorite movies, Indigo Montoya says "You keep using that word, but I do not think it means what you think it means." The same can be said to Rep. Abeler here. He keeps using the word compromise and then he says that he was not part of any discussions on the bill and that the amendments (all DFL amendments)were added to make the DFL Transit bill even better. How is that compromise with the minority or the Governor exactly?

There is a quarter percent lower in the sales tax…it is a number that the people
can afford – the Chamber can afford it.

Here's a thought....if the Chamber can afford it why not let THEM PAY IT. Oh and remind me what roads that quarter percent sales tax goes for Rep. Ableer.....

Now we have a bill that starts at two cents….people calling me thought it was like a quarter or something. Can I use a prop on the floor? Do you know it starts at two cents? But I do want to warn you that it’s going to go up to a nickel. A nickel so that you can get across town or so many your kid don’t get killed at a bad intersection of Hwy 47.

Two cents a GALLON next month and 3 cents A GALLON in October Rep. Abeler. For drivers like myself that is an extra $2.00 a week, $8.00 a month, $104 a year per car (we have two) and that is in ADDITION to the sales tax increase and in ADDITION TO the license tab fee increase and in ADDITION TO the 3.5 cents per gallon gas tax surcharge that you oh so conveniently forgot to include in your talk.

I’ve been on radio shows…I’ve been on some radio shows where I’ve given quotes and some radio shows where they’ve called me a names. Names that I would not even call you or anybody that I would want to make a joke about. It used to be called slander to name call on radio shows where you get to hide behind your microphone. Jason Lewis who is relatively small market radio talk guy he has been calling me names and he has had people calling me up and sending me emails based on 1/10th of the story. At least if you are going to have them call me, tell them the whole story.

Where to start.....from the top I guess. Jason Lewis, like you Rep. Abeler, is a public person and as such the level to reach slander are much higher. As a politician, you have an even higher bar to reach (just ask Senator McCain about slander from the media). And before you go accusing ANYONE of not telling the whole story about this bill, I would suggest that you look at your own words in this very speech! There have been a number of things about this bill that you have either flat out ignored or completely glossed over in your empassioned plea for "the whole story".

And my good friend Phil Krinkie, the Taxpayers League…I’m on their blog…call Jim
and Kathy…we didn’t feel lonely. Part of why I am doing this today is because they did this. I don’t know why they would do it again I thought they would play fair.

They did it because you and your friends in the DFL were not playing fair with US!

These are people who have really good citizens listening to them. These are our bread and butter citizens. They all have jobs, they have good families, they care, they pay their taxes and they are obedient to laws and they tell them a half a truth.

They are telling us the half of the truth that you don't want us to know. They are telling us the half of a truth that your willing accomplices in the media willingly hide for you. And that is the biggest problem here. We the people are better informed now than we were when people like Rep. Abeler took office. They can no longer hide behind pretty words....the bills are out there on the internet for ALL to see and now that ALL can see for themselves what is being done "in our name". What seems to bother Rep. Abeler most of all is that the unwashed masses dared to speak up and speak out against the Legislature. He only wanted to hear what his friends on the Chamber told him and when we the people spoke out, he couldn't handle it. So maybe it is time for the people of HD48B to find a representative that does not mind talking to "we the people". We can do better.

Happy To Pay....

In the mornings, while getting the Junior Logician ready for school, I usually put on one of the local news broadcasts to see what the weather is going to be for the day. This morning, I had on Fox 9 News (as I usually do) and I heard something that actually made me stop what I was doing. Going into commercial, anchor Tom Butler, teased a story that was coming up about the Transit Bill. While their reporting on this story was not unexpected, it was what Mr. Butler said that brought me up short.

...and coming up, now that the House and the Senate have over-ridden the
Governors veto on the Transportation bill, find out how much in new taxes you’ll
have to pay...

The emphasis that was put on the "you'll" was what caught me as there appeared to be a certain amount of joy, happyness or excitement in his voice. It struck me as just a little odd that a supposed "neutral observer" would take such delight in the fact that the taxpayers of Minnesota had just been told to "bend over and grab your ankles" by the state Legislature!

What really got to me though was that for the first time in this whole debate, a local media outlet actually listed out many of the new taxes including the 1/4% metro area sales tax increase that is solely for transit. This is the first time that I have heard any of the local media outlets talk about the fact that light rail was going to be a beneficiary of this bill. Heck if you listened to people like Rep. Lieder and Rep. Abler (more on him later) you would have thought that all monies for this bill were going to make our roads "safer" and that those who told you otherwise (like talk radio and bloggers) didn't know what they were talking about!

This in a nutshell is why the voters of MN are looking to new media outlets for information about what is happening in the legislature. They realize that the local media are willing participants with the DFL in pushing these tax increases down our throats.

Stay tuned to True North - there are two more BIG tax bills that are coming. Rep. Lenczewski's Tax bill and the Universal Health Care bills are both supposed to come to the floor this week and True North will be there to cover it for you.

Thanks For Nothing

Last night I got an email from a very angry neighbor of mine.

I hope the Republican Party is proud today, as some of our great MN Republican Representatives sided with the Dems to pass as you most eloquently put it “one of the most regressive tax bills to come out of this legislature”. Maybe it is time for a change because the Republicans of this state don’t have the back bone to stand on the principles of the GOP.
Thanks for nothing,

This neighbor of mine is a typical Minnesotan....VietNam era vet, small business owner, hard working family man who is just trying to make a good life for his family. Just like the rest of us, he is well informed about what is going on in the legislature (contrary to what Rep. Abler implied yesterday on the House floor) and he is very frustrated at what he sees. He sees a legislature that is more concerned about lining their own pockets rather than one that is concerned with doing "the peoples business".

As a small business owner I can't seem to find the extra cash to give my Service tech's $96.00 a day for food allowance that our boys and girls at the Capital seem to enjoy and take advantage of.

I guess all I can add is I hope that the lobbyists that our legislature seems more inclined to represent will take care of them when they get voted out of office. I also hope, for the lobbyiests sake, that the workers that their businesses depend on don't bolt the state leaving them saddled with the full burden of this horrific tax bill.

Here They Are!

These are the 6 "Republicans" who voted to over-ride the Governor's veto.

Rep. Abler

Rep. Erhardt

Rep. Tinglestad (hello HD49!)

Rep. Heidgerken

Rep. Neil Peterson

Rep. Hamilton

For those that have not had endorsing conventions, now is the time for the disgruntled activists to make their wills known! There are 6.6 BILLION reasons for you to do so!

Live Blogging the Veto Over Ride Vote

Gary Gross and I will again be live blogging the gory details of the veto over ride vote which is supposed to take place this afternoon. The Legislature was supposed to convene at 12:30 and of course they have not done so yet so as soon as there is action, you will hear about it from Gary and I.

12:40 and there is much chanting and shouting from the gallery. I can't make out what is being said so if anyone reading this is there and can shoot me an update I would appreciate it. A lot of legislators are filing in so maybe something will start soon.

12:57 and we're gaveled to order!

12:58 - ok I thought Friday's prayer was a multicultural liberal rant.....YIKES.

1:06 Communication from the Governor - the over-ride has been read and Rep. Lieder brings HF2800 back to the floor for reconsideration. They're starting off with a bang.

1:08 - Rep. Lieder starts off with the lie that this is a "safe roads" bill and a bill that "strikes a balance between rural and metro". Gary and Drew and everyone else at True North who has covered this has already exposed this as a lie so I will leave that off.

For clarification - a green vote is a vote to approve Rep. Lieder's motion to over-ride the veto and a red vote is to sustain the veto.

The first speaker is Gary's adopted rep - Steve Gottwalt. He re-iterated that this bill was not a compromise as there has been no discussion with the Governor on transportation and no consideration of the minority report.

Rep Severson (Sauk Rapids) got up and spoke about a constituent of his that called him to tell him about how this bill would kill his limited income because he has to drive from Sauk Rapids to Rochester to the Mayo Clinic two times a week. He talks about all of the pork that is in this bill, the bike trails (Sue covered this yesterday) and urged that the members vote red on the bill.

Rep. Hortman got up and said that this was a compromise bill - after all Rep. Earhart wrote part of it....need I say any more?

Rep. Buesgens is speaking now about compromise again. He said that the Legislatures version of compromise was compromise between people who want to take a whole LOT from the people and those who want to take less. He called it a compromise of thieves! He said that if there was real compromise in this bill then there would be spending cuts to match the taxes increased. Mark is on fire today - he mentions that foreclosures are tripling and that people are on unemployment and barely squeaking by and yet there is talk of taxing them even more! He said that the lobbyists who are bellying up to the trough are the ones who are guaranteed to make millions off of this bill while the people of Minnesota will be working even harder in order to keep the trough full!

Rep Abler spoke next about how that he was not lonely over this weekend and that he had over 800 emails most of them decrying the bill. He said that we "don't understand" the bill. Well Rep. Abler - why don't you try living my life and then tell me how I "don't understand" how your bill is going to steal food from my family! Rep. Abler is taking Jason Lewis to task. He also took Phil Krinkie and bloggers to task - saying that we are only telling part of the story. He chastises us to "tell the whole story". We are telling the story that YOU refuse to tell Rep. Abler.....maybe YOU should tell the whole story. He asks "have you forgotten that a bridge fell in Minneapolis?" How can we forget when we have unscrupulous politicians campaigining on it sir? He said he has been asked "what about your career?" and that no one in the chamber considers it a career. If that is the case why have the Legislature been in committee every day since last year's session was gaveled out of session?

Rep. Wardlow is up next telling about his weekend. He mentioned that he heard from many of his constituents on this bill - everyday people struggling to make ends meet thanked him for voting against the transportation bill. He also brings up the lack of referendum on the sales tax increase in the metro. He asks "why do outstate residents get a chance at a referendum and the metro does not?"

Rep Olson is talking about an email that he got on the life of a democracy - how a democracy is doomed once people realize that they can vote themselves other peoples money (to see the whole thing go to Anti-Strib). These are serious times that we live in Rep. Olson says - we can not afford to be raising taxes in a time of economic uncertainty.

Rep. Holberg - what we pass matters! Amen to that. She also brings forward the lie that this is for roads because the money (in the Madore amendment) was taken out of roads while transit dollars stayed the same when the sales tax was reduced!

I'm starting to feel a little sorry for Rep. Hortman, she seems to be the only one who is willing to stand up and DEFEND this pig of a bill! Every time there is a criticism of the bill, she is the one that gets to recite the DFL spin on the issue.

Rep. Wenstrom - this will take a lot of money out of family budgets and small business budgets if this bill passes. We need to be better stewards of the PEOPLES money. There needs to be reform of how the money is spent! There isn't enough money in our family and small business budgets to pay for all of these taxes. A year and a half ago - I didn't hear anyone campaigning on raising taxes. They all said we could live within our means....

Rep. Demmer is echoing Rep. Nornes and Rep. Olson when he said that transportation spending is not a high priority for his contituents - not like housing and the economy. He talks about how the Federal Government is giving money BACK to the taxpayers while the MN Legislature is busy taking it away! He called this a Christmas Tree bill....I like that! He said that he read a quote from Thomas Jefferson in his local paper that sums this all up...."When Government is big enough to give us everything that we want it is big enough to take it all away!" We all know that a transportation bill that works on ROADS AND BRIDGES and maybe looks at transit is needed but in a time of economic trouble like we are facing now, we need to look at priorities! People come up and aske me about the "Gas tax bill"...if constituents do not understand what the bill is IT IS OUR FAULT!

Rep. Berns said that a compromise would be one where everyone was unhappy and I think he has it down....

Rep. Hortman got up again and Rep. Buesgens brings up a point of order asking whether Rep. Hortman is able to rise to speak again (this is her 4th time up) stating that according to Mason's Rules, a speaker was only allowed to speak on an issue twice. Rep. Kelliher has deferred the ruling saying that it is clearly within the rights if it the member is a part of the drafting of the bill which Rep. Hortman is a co-author of.

Rep. Hortman claimed that this bill would only cost families $126.00 a year. Rep. Emmer got up and slammed that back at her saying that by the DFL's own numbers this bill will cost every man, woman and child in the state of Minnesota $126.00 a year. He also slapped at Rep. Sertich's claims that the bill will create 33,000 jobs when it came out in committee that this job will only create eleven hundred full time construction jobs! He said that it will create temporary jobs, but nothing permanent. Rep. Emmer is now asking each of the freshman members (individually) if they campaigned on raising taxes and neither one of them would answer the question directly. Shelly Madore DID say that she would vote to raise taxes because a bridge fell and people died!

Rep. Seifert - there is some agreement here today. There is agreement between the liberal media, the DFL and the special interests agree to stick it to the poor and middle income citizens in Minnesota! Say one thing do another...campaign as moderates, pass the largest tax increase in the states history - but the people will be fooled no longer.

VOTING - 91 Ayes and 41 nays the veto is over-ridden. Look for updates on who turned to follow.

Can Someone PLEASE Explain This To Me?

Rep. Ron Erhardt (R?-Edina) is one of the six who voted for the Transit Bill that was going to raise the state and metro sales taxes. Yet he has also is the chief author of House File 2551 a bill to:

A bill for an act
1.2relating to taxation; repealing the sales tax exemption on clothing; decreasing
1.3the sales tax rate; creating an income tax credit; adjusting local option sales tax
1.4rates; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 295.60,
1.5subdivision 1; 297A.62, subdivision 1; 297B.02, subdivision 1; proposing coding
1.6for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 290; repealing Minnesota Statutes
1.72006, section 297A.67, subdivision 8.

So let me get this straight....we are going to repeal the clothing exemption - thus raising taxes on working class Minnesotans EVEN MORE and then we are going to decrease the sales tax in this bill so that we can raise it in another? If we decrease the sales tax, Rep. Erhardt, how are we going to be paying for the toy trains in the metro? Inquiring minds really want to know.

Needs Vs. Wants

More from Logical Lady Sue Jeffers

When Rep. Kathy Tinglestad showed up at her BPOU convention yesterday, she provided a copy of the DOT Legislative audit to justify her vote to support the transit bill. The audit stated that roads and bridges have improved in the last 6 years but funding is falling behind. The report said more money is needed for road and bridge funding. The problem for our legislature is that they are simply not spending money on roads and bridges this year.

Legislators are considering spending hundreds of millions of dollars on various projects instead of roadsand bridges. Just some of the projects include the Thief River Falls pedestrian and bicycle pathways system; ice arena complex in the city of Crookston; renewable energy clean air project in Koochiching County; AgLan Center; electrical system of the Yellow Medicine County Agriculture and Transportation Museum; Bemidji Regional Event Center; regional community center in Upsala; Prairie Ecology Center in Jackson County; Duluth Entertainment Convention Center arena, Paynesville, Cold Spring downtown riverfront redevelopment project; National Hockey Center at St. Cloud State University; Pemberton community center; Mankato to predesign and design a performing arts theater and Southern Minnesota Women's Hockey Exposition Center; Mayo Civic Center Complex in Rochester; Minnesota Wildlife Art Museum; senior center in the city of Mora; Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval; Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie; Burnsville Performing Arts Center; Richfield athletic fields, Asian Pacific Cultural Center; acquisition and renovation of a building for St. Paul Youth Services.

Listed below is another $100 million in requests that could also be spent on roads and bridges instead of election year bribes for incumbent DFL districts. As you know this is just a partial list of funding requests. I have attached bill numbers and authors for your convenience.

HF3002 (Moe) A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for state trail acquisition, rehabilitation, and repair; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. $29 million.

HF 2302 (Welti) Great River Ridge Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1.34 million

HF697 (Welti) Chester Woods Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. No dollar amount listed

HF143 (Peterson, A.) Minnesota River Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1 million

HF2594 (Dill) North Shore state parks and trails funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. (The Committee will only hear the trail portion of the bill at this time.) $9.6 million

HF2461 (Gardner) Rice Creek North Regional Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2.189 million

HF2598 (Hosch) Stearns County; Rocori Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2.02 million

HF2199 (Hansen) South St. Paul span arch bridge funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $800,000

HF2511 (Koenen) Clara City walking path funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $850,000

HF858 (Sailer) Big Bog State Recreation Area funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1.6 million

HF2834 (Wollschlager) Cannon River pedestrian bridge funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2 million

HF2707 (Lenczewski) Bloomington; Old Cedar Avenue Bridge replacement funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2 million

HF1026 (Hortman) Anoka County bicycle and pedestrian trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. No amount listed

HF1369 (Garofalo) Cannon River pedestrian bridge funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1.5 million

HF1522 (Lillie) Gateway Trail tunnel funding provided, and money appropriated. $650,000

HF2284 (Demmer) Mantorville; Stage Coach Trail and welcome center design grant provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $100,000

HF2829 (Hornstein) Minneapolis; Grand Rounds parkway improvements funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $2 million

HF2819 (Johnson) Lower Afton Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $450,000

HF2848 (Bly) Mill Towns State Trail construction funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $1 million

HF2881 (Faust) Mora; Spring Lake Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $100,000

HF2914 (Pelowski) A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for the Wagon Wheel Trail; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. $249,000

HF2917 (Pelowski) A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for an extension of the Root River State Trail; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. $1.641 million

HF2929 (Koenen) A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for a segment of the Minnesota River Trail; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. $4.5 million

HF2431 (Nornes) Vergas; Roger Hanson Memorial Trail completion funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. $50,000

Is it any wonder that the citizens of Minnesota have no faith in their elected officials when it comes to solving the REAL problems facing this state. None of this (mostly from the bonding bill) money should be spent on anything other than roads and bridges, roads and bridges, roads and bridges....then when the roads and bridges are finally up to par, then we can take a look at spending money on the "nice to haves".

More Backlash Against The Transit Bill

From Logical Lady Sue Jeffers.

Passed by a near unanimous voice vote on Saturday February 23, 2008 at the Wabasha County BPOU Convention.

The Wabasha County Republican Party of Minnesota supports and encourages the Republican Party of Minnesota and the Minnesota House Republican Caucus to PROMOTE and support any Republican Candidate who seeks party endorsement against any Republican Incumbents who vote to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto on the transportation bill.

Conduct Unbecoming

Logical Lady Sue Jeffers brings us this.

Carver County Republican has the details.

Rep. Ron Erhadt, in responding to acaller asking him to uphold the Governor's veto and not support the Democrat overrride attempt responded with anger and profanity, telling the caller to "tell the people who told you to call to go 'F***' themselves."

The call was made by Tom Winterer of Chanhassen to Erhardt's home this morning. Winterer is new to grassroots politics, and just joined the Carver County Republicans at the Feb. 5 precinct caucuses.

In the call, Erhardt asked Winterer why he was calling, since he was not a constituent or Edina resident.

"I'm calling because I'm going to be taxed under your veto override," Winterer said. "He told me I didn't know what I was talking about. I told him there are vast sums of money that are not being directed properly."

Erhardt responded, "Tell the people to go "F***' themselves and that they are full of 'S***'."

Erhardt has a challenger and Hennipen County's Republican endoring convention is meeting today.

Obviously it is now time for Rep. Erhardt to be retired if he has no desire to serve "we the people".

Fallout!

The fallout begins. Michael Brodkorb (of Minnesota Democrats Exposed) reported today that the delegates of the House District 49B Convention (Rep. Kathy Tinglestad's district) withheld endorsement today. What this means is that they chose to postpone the endorsement for this seat. This is a bold move by the activsts. It is not often that an incumbent legislator is so thoroughly "dissed" by their convention.

The grass roots activists have spoken loudly to Rep. Tinglestad. We put too much effort into things like the Party Platform to have our elected officials ignore it. Rep. Tinglestad now faces a choice. Which way she chooses, will have serious consequences, not only for her but for her BPOU and for the party as a whole. As the next few weeks worth of BPOU conventions progresses, we will continue to see fallout from the Transit vote.

The Notables from Tonights Transportation Vote

The final vote on the bloated Transportation Funding went as follows - 83 Democrats and 6 Republicans voted FOR the Transportation bill and 42 Republicans and 2 Democrats voted against it. The 6 Republicans who voted for the bill were:

Rep. Jim Abler (48B)
Rep. Ron Erhardt (41A)
Rep. Rod Hamilton (22B)
Rep. Bud Heidgerken (13A)
Rep Neil Peterson (41A)
Rep Kathy Tinglestad (49B)

Word has it that Rep. Peterson was bought out by a pork project for his district.

The 2 Democrats who voted against the pork fest were:

Rep. John Lesch (66A) and Mary Ellen Otremba (11B).

For those of you who are so inclined, a phone call or two (politely of course) to between now and next Tuesday (when the House is tenatively scheduled to take up the over-ride vote) reminding the 6 "Republican" legislators that the citizens of Minnesota ARE overtaxed enough as it is thank you very much might be in order. Furthermore, a reminder that Section 1 of the Republican Party of Minnesota standing platform (which starts off as follows):

Republicans believe that limited government is the best government and that free
enterprise is the best path to prosperity for all Minnesotans. We support reducing taxes, spending and regulation to create business opportunities for our hard-working families and businesses. Therefore, we support:
A. Reducing the burden of existing taxation on our economy, supporting President Bush's tax cuts and making those cuts permanent; abolishing federal and state capital gains taxes as well as taxes on marriage, sickness, death, or inheritance; and keeping
Internet access and sales free of taxation.
B. Limiting the ability of Congress and the Legislature to use tax increases as the first solution to every problem by requiring a supermajority vote in Congress or the Minnesota Legislature to enact such increases; by a state Constitutional amendment
limiting growth in state spending to inflation plus population growth; by requiring that all state surpluses be returned to the taxpayers in proportion to the taxes paid; and adopting a United States Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget.

might be in order. Emphasis above is mine, but you get the point! Until the Legislature gets their spending priorities in order (roads and bridges, roads and bridges, ROADS AND BRIDGES) then we the people should not support any new taxes or any legislators who support raising taxes on an already over-burdened populace.

Final Vote

89 Ayes 44 Nays - mostly along party lines. Some notable votes:

Abler - Aye
Erhardt - Aye
Tinglestad - Aye
Beard - NO (I told you so AAA)

I will look for the posted roll call vote and comment once I get back from our BPOU meeting tonight.

Break over

The last amendment (Siefert Amendment) was to prohibit illegal immigrants from getting the Motor Fuels Tax Credit. Surprisingly (based on the discussion surrounding the amendment) it passed 73-60.

There are still a number of amendments being proposed. Some are more arcane than others. I will not waste everyone's time live blogging on all of them, but I will comment on things that strick my fancy as they happen.

WHOA - Rep. Howe reports that one of the LA's got a threatening email over the debate on this bill. Come on people....that is just not cool...

OK - we are done amending the bill. Rep. Buesgens is up and talking about how the tax increases are going to hurt people and jobs in the state. He talked about how these tax increases are an economic killer! Gary managed to get the money quote - a quote that I missed due to needing to help the Junior Logician with a homework assignment....

4:15- On to debating the bill. Rep. Buesgens speaking: “Winston Churchill said that trying to tax their way into prosperity is like a farmer standing in a bucket, then trying to lift the bucket up by the handle.” God bless Rep. Buesgens. Now he’s onto talking about “overburdening our families.” “This bill is bad for families. This bill is bad for our economy. This bill is bad for Minnesota.” AMEN!!!

Rep. Buesgens is absolutely correct.

Intersting.....Rep Olson has asked that the bill be tabled until the February 28th budget forcast comes out. The motion to table the bill failed 37 Ayes to 96 Nays....

Give Rep. Juhnke full props for being the first one to mention the 35W bridge collapse in the debate. You certainly have to love a man who plays politics on dead bodies.

Rep. Kohls calls this bill the largest tax increase in Minnesota history. Rep. Hortman says that this bill is a "compromise" in that is it smaller than last years bill? Gary dispelled that myth!

3:52- We’ve heard alot about compromise. Let’s keep in mind that this isn’t true compromise. Last year’s bill called for a $5.5 billion tax increase. This year’s bill calls for $7.5+ billion in tax increases.

Some compromise Rep. Hortman. Even if we use her numbers ($6.5 billion) we are still looking at a larger bill than we had last year!

Rep. Olson raised an interesting point of parlimentary inquiry. Many of the Republican Reps have been asking for the bill to be held until the forecast is released on Feb. 28. Rep. Olson's point of inquiry was if the bill passes today and it neeeds to go to a joint conference committee how many days would it be before the Governor has to act on it. Once out of committee (assuming that it only takes one day to get out of committee) the Governor has three days (not counting Sunday) to act. So if it hits the Governor's desk Saturday morning, he has to act before Tuesday - two days before the next budget forcast is released. Putting it in that context does not make the prospect of waiting until the forecast is out ot be an unreasonable request.

Rep Steve Gottwald is speaking now about how the message out of this bill is that the legislature can't prioritize and so we are forcing the taxpayers to bear the brunt of the legislatures failures! He said that they are being told that they bond roads and bridges because it will pass the burden on to our children and grandchildren but it is ok to do it for dolphin pools and festivals! He said that if the other members can go sell that to their constituents then they are much better sales men than he!

Rep Drazkowski....it's about priorities and discipline...something "we are lacking as a body". There is nothing courageous reaching into your neighbors pocket to pay for things. WOW - where did this guy come from and can we clone him?

Back In Session

While I am getting back into the swing of things on the debate on the floor, listen to this report (HT Gary and Drew). Tom Hauser did the math on the claim of 30,000 new jobs and found out that the claims are (gasp) not near reality.

Rep Mark Olson (in defense of his amendment) just gave a speech that has echoed what many of us have said....it's about priorities! We need to make roads and bridges a priority!

The mantra continues....roads and bridges, roads and bridges, roads and bridges....and priorities. Good for you guys. It's more than past time to be talking about necessaties and "nice to haves".

The roll is being taken on the Olson Amendment. I came into the webcast in the middle of it but the best that I can tell is that the amendment would guarantee that 50% of all bonded dollars went to ROADS AND BRIDGES. The motion failed 40 Ayes to 93 Nays along party lines.

Rep Olson has another amendment on the floor and has asked for a roll call vote on it. The Amendment requests that no taxes be raised during this time of economic downturn and recommends that the revenue increases in transportation funding be offset with tax/spending cuts in other areas. Rep Solberg rose to raise a point of order that the amendment was not germane. Rep Olson ably defended why it is germane and Rep. Solberg withdrew his point of order. Rep Olson points out that state spending is 52% HIGHER than the rate of inflation and insists that the citizens of Minnesota simply can not afford that to continue! Bravo Rep. Olson.

Rep. Lenczewski argued against the amendment because of it's "regressivity". Rep. Brod got up and stated that if you are against "regressivity" then you need to vote AGAINST THE ENTIRE BILL! Brava Rep. Brod.

Rep. Erhardt rises and askes how much is being taken out of the general fund in order to fund the roads under the Olson Amendment. Rep. Olson said that it is reducing what is spent less $19 million. Rep Erhardt claims that necessary items like Education funding would be cut out of the General Fund and argues against the Amendment. Rep. Olson said that the money would not come out of necessary items like Education but it would come from one time monies and rainy day funding.

Rep. Erhardt went off on a tangent and finished off his tirade with a comment "I'd like to see those numbers (reffering to federal funding)" and then finished with a rather odd laugh. All Speaker Anderson could follow up with was "okaaaayyyyy". The roll was called and went down on a 41-92 party line (except for Rep. Erhardt) vote.

Rep. Heidgerken made a great point (talking about the amendment to change the sales tax from 1/2 cent to 1/4 cent) that most Minnesotans do not have "transit". Now to the defense of that, most counties do have a city/county circulator bus or other form of localized bus circulation. That said, this transit money is the troubling part. Again - this bill is supposed to be for "roads and bridges". If we are serious about fixing our ailing infrastructure then we must temporarily stop subsidizing Hiawatha LRT and North Star and Dan Patch lines and the Central Corridor LRT. We have to reset our priorities. How difficult is that for the Legislature to understand?

Rep. Morrow got up and gave an impassioned plea in support of the amendment saying (directly to Rep. Tinglestad) "we want North Star don't we?" NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!! ROADS AND BRIDGES, ROADS AND BRIDGES, ROADS AND BRIDGES!

Rep. Buesgens is speaking now likening this "compromise" to a thief taking all of your money, handing half of it back to you and saying "see we compromised!"

Rep. Seifert is saying that he can not vote for an amendment that would raise taxes on the outstate voters who can least afford it.

Rep. Berns got up and asked where the sales tax referendum was for the metro area residents! Apparently outstate gets to vote on it but the 7 county metro area does not.

Rep. Solberg got up and read a Chamber of Commerce letter endorsing the Lieder Amendment (which would lower the sales tax increase from 1/2 cent to 1/4 cent). Rep. Brod got up and asked several questions on the amendment including whether there was a fiscal note done to see what negative impact the sales tax increase would have on local governments and state government (local and state governments are not tax exempt). Rep. Solberg snarked "well if you want to look for a reason to vote against the Chamber of Commerce"to which Rep. Brod answered "no I am looking for a reason to vote for or against this bill based ON FACT!" Brava Rep. Brod.

The Lieder Amendment passed 98-34 mostly on party lines.

The debate has gone from transportation and into immigration so I am going to take a break.

Get Ready to Rumble!

OK - I have the video streaming up and running, the live blog of the floor vote of the Transportation Bill will commence as soon as the session is gaveled to order. Newer entries will be at the end of the post so keep refreshing and scroll down.

10:08am and Representatives are still meandering to their seats. At this rate, we should get a call to order in about 10-15 minutes.

10:37 and still no call to order. It looks like maybe 1/3 of the legislators are even on the floor so I suspect we will be waiting a little longer.

10:48 on the phone with an equally bored Gary Gross. At this rate, we might get a vote at about midnight? Seriously, do you suppose that there is some backroom negotiations going on and that may be the reason for the delay?

10:52 and a SLEW of legislators just walked in. Maybe, just maybe we will get started on this some time today.

10:55 FINALLY we have a call to order! Starting off with a prayer and a moment of silence in honor of the communities of Marshall and Cottonwood.

11:02 - the roll is closed and a quorum has been attained. It's time to get this show on the road! While you are waiting for the main show, swing over to MDE and read his post about the armtwisting that has been going on behind the scenes.

11:05 - FFA Day at the Capital. Introductions are made of some of the FFA reps in attendance and a proclaimation is read by various outstate representatives.

11:12 and it is time to rumble. HF2800 is on the floor. Rep. Lieder (DFL Crookston) calls it a "safer roads" bill? If there is money going to "transit" then it is NOT a roads bill! Roads and bridges, roads and bridges, roads and bridges....it's that simple guys!

11:16: Oooooo a $25.00 tax credit for the working poor to offset the increase in tabs and gas tax and the increased metro sales taxes. How generous. I'm sure that will buy a lot of food for the families of the working poor.....Oh wait - the tab fees will only increase if the vehicle is new or never registered in MN before? There goes the new car industry. I can see that there will be a rush on used car sales in MN if this is passed.

Speaking of the metro sales tax....NO REFERENDUM will be allowed on this. Does anyone remember the outcry when the legislature did this same thing for the Twins stadium? If we are going to increase the metro sales tax for anything it should be for metro roads FIRST. Remember, roads and bridges, roads and bridges, roads and bridges!

Rep. Heidgerken hits my point - no money will be raised if there is an influx of used car sales. He also talks about the increase in transit costs and who will bear those costs. The answer was that Hennepin County is on the hook for the cost over-runs for the Hiawatha line.

Rep. Eastlund brings up a point about the tab fees and how dealers would get hit the hardest by this because they are the ones that buy the out of state vehicles.

11:34 Rep. Marquardt (DFL- Dillworth) brings up the trope that this bill will create 30,000 new jobs A YEAR and that it will decrease property taxes! I would really like to see where he gets that data, because I know that our property taxes have not gone up due to transportation funding....it has been because of out of control spending on things like city halls and community centers....not making roads.

Rep. Kohls (R-Victoria) is asking Rep. Marquardt about some of his claims - like where this bill says that cities and counties will reduce property taxes! He wants to know where that dollar for dollar reduction will be! Rep. Marquardt gets the Joe Soucheray "B as in B S as in S" award for answering the question "What page is this on?" by saying that it is on "every page of this bill".

Oh goodie - we are getting into the LGA debate. I suspect we shall be hearing from Representative Beard soon enough.

Rep. Emmer (R-Delano) asked Rep. Lieder if he could guarantee the citizens of Minnesota would see a property tax reduction and the short answer was no....

Just a quick aside. I will be dropping off live blogging in about 5 minutes and jumping over to MidStream Radio where Jazz and I will be talking about the faux McCain adultery scandal and Rep. Lesche's breed ban bill. I hope you will tune in for a while.

Quick update - Rep. Buesgens is making a great point about how this bill is not about more money for roads and bridges if we are saying that the bill will reduce cities and counties spending on roads and bridges!

Not Welcome

While the Transportation Bill is the talk of the day, Rep. John Lesch is still moving forward with his plan to dictate making thousands of loving pets unwelcome in the state of Minnesota. The local media is again reporting on the fact that Rep. Lesch plans to introduce (soon) his bill that would make 5 breeds of dog illegal in the state of Minnesota. To Rep. Lesch, it does not matter if the individual dog in question has or has not bitten anyone, it only matters that the dog exists. Well today I read a story that broke my heart and doubled my resolve to fight this egregious reach of big government.

From K9, a British dog magazine, one of the best arguments against breed-specific legislation I’ve ever read, in the form of one animal control officer’s life-changing experience with Britain’s pit bull ban. Her name is Celine Jacobs, and she told this story:

The other day I had to do something that went against everything I have ever strived for, I took a lovely, young, healthy dog to the vets and I had it put to sleep, the reason for this was that he had been identified by an expert as being a Pit Bull type.
When the expert identified the dog yesterday I thought my heart would break, without an owner to fight the dog’s case the law says we have to destroy them. For seven years I have been a dog warden and for seven years I have never put a dog to sleep that wasn’t on the advice of a vet due to illness or injury.
Red was a stray. He couldn’t help the fact that his genetics and appearance categorised him as dangerous. He was young, healthy and apparently very friendly.

Red showed no signs of aggression with people or other dogs, and yet England’s breed specific laws against pit bull-type dogs meant he had to die. The morning of his death, Celine took him out of his kennel, took him for a five mile walk, and let him run and chase a ball in a secure field until he was exhausted, after which she took him out for a junk food meal. Then she held him in her arms while he was killed.

When we went in to the vets his tail was still wagging and he sat there licking my face and licking the tears of my face, he didn’t know I was going to have him killed. I held him all the time and he slipped away in my arms quietly, I held him even when he was dead and sobbed my heart out.
Now I feel empty, I feel like I have finally been beaten and that all I have ever tried to do has been broken, I wanted to dedicate my life to saving dogs and now I have killed a fit, healthy, happy dog and I don’t think I can live with it or continue to work as a Dog Warden.
I know a lot of people think dog wardens enjoy killing dogs, I have never been so miserable or felt that what I was doing so wrong. Now I feel that I hate people, I hate the law and I hate my job. The only small thing that has kept me from falling completely apart over this is the fact that at least I know no one can hurt him now, he will never be thrown in a pit and ripped to pieces and no one will ever abuse him or beat him. I hope he enjoyed his morning with me before he went. I know that I had to do this as it is the law and it is what my job entails, as a dog lover however it is heart breaking.

Celine's grief is evident in this article, as is the grief of every owner of a loving pit who has ever had their dog siezed by the government for no reason other than the fact that the dog "could" bite. Well you know what Rep. Lesch....I have herding dogs. Their job is to use their teeth to make their "flock" go where it wants it to. In my dog's case, their flock is any human, squirrel, rabbit or cat that crosses their paths. Because of that, the Junior Logician (I will give full credit where it is do - the dog training is HIS project) has worked very hard to train his dogs so that they know that biting humans is absolutely 110% unacceptable! However, according to Rep. Lesch's reasoning, a dog that could bite should be banned. Does that mean hearding dogs are next on the list of breeds to be banned?

And that gets us to the bottom line of this debate. As a responsible dog owner, I have to make certain that my dogs are good citizens of the community. They are licensed and leashed and trained to make sure that they behave in a socially acceptable manner and that is what the government needs to focus on. If Rep. Lesch is serious about protecting kids in his district from dangerous dogs, then the onus needs to be put ON THE OWNER and not on the dog. The owner is the one who is responsible for the training and restraint (or lack thereof) of their dog and they should be the ones to bear the brunt of the consequences should their dog bite someone. Make owners of dogs that have been deemed dangerous undergo training with the dogs, make the carry special insurance, make them take special fencing precautions.....fine. But do not punish me or my dogs because someone else can't be bothered todo the right thing by their dogs, their neighbors and their family.

Governor Pawlenty goes to Vegas to make new global warming friends

More from Logical Lady Sue Jeffers

Minnesota has a growing budget deficit combined with an out of control governor and legislators who continue to regulate, mandate, tax and fee its residents. This legislative session promises much more and will continue to be the driving factor for the increased costs for food, gas, energy, health care and education for all Minnesotans.

Last years Renewable Energy Standards bill provided funding and courage to mandate and regulate unsustainable, unproven, unreliable and costly sources of energy. Environmental buzz words make politicians feel good but this type of legislation costs a lot of our tax dollars to pay for these useless good intentions. It should come as no surprise that our legislators, with the help of our governor, are not done yet.

In the State of the State speech Governor Pawlenty proudly proclaimed that Minnesota already ranks near the top in E-85 pumps, wind energy, renewable energy and recycling. We do. Governor Pawlenty said more must be done to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, producing cleaner energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our republican governor called on Minnesotans to continue to “Americanize” energy production, grow green collar jobs and keep America from becoming an energy hostage.

If we the people aren’t willing to go green on our own, not to worry, the governor and the legislators will “help” us. One of the governor’s suggestions included another costly mandate; increasing the diesel fuel soybean mandate from 2% to 20% by 2015. In the first week of the session House Representatives Hortman, Tschumper; Faust; Hornstein; Liebling; Murphy E.; Loeffler; Morrow; Brynaert; Knuth; Davnie; Hilstrom; Slocum; Bly; Greiling; Paymar; Kahn; Ruud introduced HF 863 calling for the California vehicle emissions standards to be adopted, and updates provided to comply with the federal Clean Air Act.

Not to be outdone, and regrettably not up for reelection, the Minnesota Senate introduced SF 481 authored by Senators Marty; Carlson; Skogen; Doll; and Rummel calling for the similar mandates. Also introduced was SF 2818 calling for establishing principles of a cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, establishing a climate trust fund, requiring studies and appropriating money from the general fund. Yes, THAT $34.5 Billion general fund which could also be used to pay for oh maybe…. roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

The $650 per year out of pocket costs we can expect from this year's gas tax increase will be nothing compared to the legislation signed into law last session and is being considered this session. And just think of all the new ideas that Governor Pawlenty and Harry Reid can come up with together in Vegas with this group.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty will travel to Las Vegas next week to be a keynote speaker at a renewable energy conference that also will feature U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Pawlenty will address the Power-Gen Renewable Energy & Fuels conference on Tuesday afternoon. More than 3,000 leading players in the renewable energy industry are expected to attend.

Repeat After Me...

I turn things over to Logical Lady Sue Jeffers.

Repeat after me, Roads and Bridges FIRST!

Ask yourself the following question. Will the proposed transportation bill eliminate or reduce congestion and make our roads and bridges safe?

The answer is no. This is not a transportation bill, it is a transit bill. This transit bill will cost families thousands of dollars in out of pocket costs, provide billions of dollars for transit and much lesser funding for roads and bridges. Funding allocations throughout the entire bill provide 50% to transit for the metro area and for greater Minnesota. Transit will not eliminate congestion, reduce pollution or improve safety on our roads and bridges.

The description of the Senate Transit bill passed yesterday provides clues as to the real purpose of the bill: The bill appropriates money for: transportation activities, provide funding for highway maintenance, debt service, local roads, funds for the emergency relief related to the I-35 bridge collapse, establishing a trunk highway bridge improvement program, requiring study of value capture to reduce the public costs of large transportation infrastructure investment, authorizing sale and issuance of bonds for highways, modify motor vehicle registration and motor fuel taxes, establishing annual adjustment of motor fuel taxes, create a motor fuels tax credit, allocating a motor vehicle lease tax revenues, providing for local transportation sales taxes, modifying county state aid highway fund revenue allocation, prohibiting tolling or privatization of existing transportation facilities.

Read bill at:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2521.1.html&session=ls85

The short version of this bill includes.

A 8.5 cent gas tax increase.

A half cent sales tax increase for 7 county metro area without a voter referendum: 50% to transit, 25% to local roads and 25% to a flex fund. Greater MN can impos a sales tax increase with a voter referendum.

Vehicle registration cap removed and $20 fee imposed. 50% to Greater MN transit, 25% to Metro transit and 25% to local roads.

A gas tax increase is opposed by about 60% of the taxpayers. Tax revenues will be impacted by more efficient fuel standards for automobiles and government mandates to use more ethanol and biofuels. Our legislators will not find the gas tax increase, the motor vehicle tax revenue, nor will the metro wide sales tax will provide the funding needed for safe bridges and roads. It will unfortunately provide a very generous revenue source for transit.

The most damaging part of this transit bill is the metro wide sales tax increase for the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington. County boards must pass by resolution. Does anyone believe County Commissioners will ask the voters what they think of a metro wide sales tax increase?

Also included in this transit bill is the creation of several new funding sources and programs that do not belong in a transportation bill including DOT building repair, parks, brain and spinal cord injury data bases, ineffective economic growth promises, removing capitol operating expenses for the Hiawatha transit line from Hennepin County and developing additional transit lines. The transit bill passed in the Senate does provide the vehicle to obtain federal funds to rebuild the I 35 bridge providing funding for 2008 and 2009.

This is a transit bill. This bill does not eliminate congestion or make our roads and bridges safe. Repeat after me, Roads and Bridges First!

THIS Is One Reason Why Local Elections Matter

While most people focus (almost exclusively) on Presidential elections, your local City, School Board and County Elections can have an even bigger impact on your day to day life. Here is a classic example of why...

Bob Vogel is going to use his presidency of the Scott County Board to talk about
the commissioners' per diem payments.
In addition to making $44,943 last
year, a figure that was upped to $47,010 this year, the commissioners collect a
$40 per diem for attending board meetings and other committees.

Remember....these are supposedly part time jobs.

A lot of focus has been put on the state legislators per diem claims. The Belle Plaine Herald decided to look at the county level and made some startling discoveries.

According to the Belle Plaine Herald, this is what each
commissioner collected in per diem payments last year:
- Jon Ulrich,
$5,320;
- Jerry Hennen, $5,280;
- Barbara Marschall, $5,080;
- Joe
Wagner, $1,720;
- and Vogel, $760.
Vogel did not take per diems for
attending the county board meetings nor for in-county committee
assignments.

It should be noted that the county commissioner who lives the closest to the county government center (Jerry Hennen of Shakopee) collected the second highest amount of per diem payments and the county commissioner who lives the furthest away (Vogel from New Prague) collected the least!

This, in a nutshell, is why your local races are just as important as the Presidential elections. These local officials might not get the same amount of press that the national officials do, but the money that they waste, combined with that of the state and federal governments add up to real dollars.....dollars that come out of your pocketbook and mine!

No State Has EVER Taxed or Borrowed Its Way to Prosperity

Tax hero Rep. Mark Buesgens had a guest commentary in the Feb. 14 Shakopee Valley News (link currently unavailable) that will rock the world of all of you first principles conservatives.

This year, legislators will spend most of the session pondering which taxes to increase, debating how much money to charge the state’s credit card, and a countless variety of new laws, (i.e.: Is a sheltie more dangerous than a terrier?). However, if this legislature truly wants to make a long-term difference in people’s lives, we should devote the vast majority of our time to dealing with the economy.
It is easy to forget that a year ago we had a budget surplus that topped $2 billion. Liberal spending policies and misguided priorities burned through the entire surplus with little regard for what effect it would have on taxpayers or the economy as a whole. We will now have to deal with a $373 million budget deficit that in all likelihood will get even deeper once session begins.
As the deficit grows, the consequences of mismanaging the surplus are coming into sharper focus. We’re losing jobs, the economy is heading south and our wallets are squeezed even tighter.
So already we hear talk about more borrowing and alleged stimulus plans from state politicians who apparently cannot fathom that tax relief will stave off impeding economic doom. Perhaps if they had heeded our call for tax relief last year none of this would be necessary. Don’t count on borrowing for a solution either.
Our well-respected and nonpartisan state economist even said borrowing “provides no significant stimulus to an ailing economy.”
The facts are simple: No state has ever taxed, or borrowed, its way to prosperity. The surefire way to improve the economy can be summed up in one word: Growth.
Our economy grows when taxes are low for businesses that want to create jobs. We have to compete for jobs in a global economy, but we don’t even score well against neighboring states when it comes to a jobs-friendly tax climate. Chances are you’ve heard the radio commercials boasting about what a wonderful place South Dakota can be for a business. South Dakota doesn’t tax personal or corporate income; we tax both at some of the highest rates in the country, and for the most part higher than our neighbors. As a state we currently rank 37th in job growth. No wonder we are suffering more in this current economic climate than most around the country.
Here is another scary fact: In 1972 the top three job providers in the state of Minnesota were 3M, Honeywell and Dayton-Hudson; today three of the top five employers in the state are the State of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota and the federal government. Such a dramatic change offers up two points. The first illustrates that government sprawl has gone on unchecked for far too long. Second, look at the names of those economic titans. 3M is still here, but excessive regulation threatens to drive some of their best jobs over seas. Honeywell is long gone while Dayton-Hudson is more familiar to us now as Target. It should sound a clear warning when none of these economic titans, or other business both large and small, can keep up with expanding government payrolls and the taxes we impose to afford it.
Besides low taxes, the legislature should spend time reviewing all of the regulatory burdens placed on businesses using a thorough cost-benefit analysis. We need to realize that excessive regulations produce costs that result in stagnant wages and higher costs for consumers. Eventually, business growth is stifled and, ultimately, businesses will move to a friendlier environment.
If we want this legislative session to have a long lasting, positive impact on Minnesota’s future, we must first focus on nurturing a strong economy. Failing to do so will only extend and deepen our current downturn, putting into jeopardy all the necessities and niceties that we’ve come to take for granted.

Disclosure time. Rep. Buesgens is one of the fine House Representatives from my district - 35 (Mike Beard being his seat mate and my rep). However, even if he was not one of our fine representatives, I would be singing the praises of this op-ed. Rep. Buesgens covers, in one setting, all of the things that many of us here at True North have been saying needed to be changed.

1) Mixed up priorities. This can be said of the Democratic leadership in St. Paul AND DC. Instead of releasing the $200 million of federal emergency dollars, we are debating banning certain breeds of dogs. Instead of fixing our ailing infrastructure, the Legislature is spending money on bike paths and preferred parking for hybrid cars.

2) So-called stimulus packages. The federal government is going further into debt in order to send every person in America (everyone who does not earn over $100,000 a year that is) a check for $300.00. Rather than meaningless gestures, the government should (as Rep Buesgens suggests) look at the regulation and taxation that makes it harder and harder for businesses to do business in this state and country!

3) The fact that the number 1 (2 and 3) employer in the state of Minnesota is government! Government does not produce ANYTHING so the last thing that this state needs is for the government to employ more people!

The excessive taxation that will be required to sustain the type of growth in government that our friends in the DFL want will be an economy KILLER, not savior. We need more clear headed thinkers like Rep. Buesgens in the legislature to continue to drive home this point. Then maybe we will actually have a government that serves the people, rather than having a people who are in indentured servitude to the government.

Another School Shooting

Another school, another "gun free zone" and another free fire zone. This time in the backyard of my childhood home....DeKalb Illinois. I will not claim to be an expert on the weapons that the shooter carried. Rather, I would like to take a look at some of the background things that you need to know about Illinois as you take this tragedy into account. First (as I said earlier) NIU is a "gun free zone" (HT Leo)

Students may not have or keep any firearm on their persons, in their quarters, or in their motor vehicles at any time while on university property except with the permission of the chief security officer of the university.

Second the shooter, Stephen Kazmierczak (kaz-mer-chak) was apparently off of his unspecified medications that caused him to act "erratically" in the last few weeks.

Third, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bla-goy-a-vich - trust me....you have to be a homey to pronounce this!) signed a bill last year that supposed to keep people LIKE Kazmierczak from getting a Firearms Owners ID (FOID) card as a result of last year's Virginia Tech shootings. Given what is leaking out about Kazmierczak and his being off of his meds, it sounds like this young man would have been a candidate for the ISP database and yet he was issued a FOID card and allowed to legally purchase those guns last week (HT Gateway Pundit).

The point that I am getting to here is that no amount of "gun control" legislation is going to stop someone bent on doing a crime. No amount of "gun free zone" signs is going to keep a determined gunman from shooting up a school. The ONLY thing that will stop someone like that is the possibility that someone else in the room (a teacher or appropriately trained student) might be equally armed and ready to defend themselves. It is that simple.

Oh and one last note of irony, also via Gateway Pundit, from Kazmierczak's NIU ACA biography/candidacy for ACA Treasurer.

VICE-PRESIDENT: Steve Mazmierczak (sic). Steve served as an undergrad teaching aid for Sociology 388 (corrections) and 488 (juvenile delinquency) inspring, 2004. He has strong interests in justice reform and, as an oldersociology/criminal justice major, he brings experience and ideas to the group.My name is Steve Kazmierczak, and I'm a 3rd year student here at NIU. During my sophomore year I served as an aid for the SOCI170 web-board and last semester, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be a team leader for SOCI488-Juvenile Delinquency. Since attending NIU, I've worked very hard as a student, and I know that I would be able to forth the same effort as an officer of the ACA. I feel that I'm committed to social justice, and if elected as treasurer I promise to serve the NIU chapter of the ACA to the best
of my ability.

It's Going To Be A LONG Year...

You know it's going to be a long year for Democrats when it starts out like this.....

Just 15% of American voters say that Congress is doing a good or an excellent job. A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 46% now give Congress a poor rating. Bleak as those figures are, they reflect a modest improvement from a month ago when just 13% were willing to give the legislators
good or excellent marks for their efforts.

It's not just a national phenomenon either. Locally is almost as bleak according to this KSTP/SurveyUSA Poll.

9 Asked of 700 Adults
Margin
of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.8%

Do you approve or disapprove of the job being done by the Minnesota state
legislature?

29% Approve

50% Disapprove

20% Not Sure

Of course, when you have things like this dogging you like Majority Leader Kelliher does, it is no wonder the legislatures approval rating is so low.

(Speaker) Kelliher doesn’t want the Legislature’s Transportation Contingency
Appropriations Group (TCAG), an eight-member group she co-chairs, to authorize
MnDOT to spend nearly $200 million in federal funds that was sent from Congress
following the I-35W bridge collapse. This is after she reneged on a December
agreement saying she would call a January meeting to review MnDOT’s financial
status.
We’re now in February, and MnDOT’s still waiting for the authorization to spend $200 million of additional federal transportation funds. That means $55 million in construction projects across the state will soon be delayed. Kelliher says decisions by an eight-member committee of lawmakers should be reserved for emergencies.
The $200 million that arrived from Congress comes from a fund called the "Emergency Relief Program.” Don’t you think a funding decision regarding the collapse of a bridge carrying 141,000 vehicles a day qualifies as an emergency?

A lot of Minnesota voters are asking the same question. We have a bridge that needs to be built and yet the Senate and House Majority leadership is more concerned about raising our taxes than they are raising up a new bridge. How low will the approval ratings have to go before the DFL Majority "gets it"? If Republicans are lucky maybe it will take until November for them to get the hint.