Did you miss "Become a Citizen Journalist" on July 21, 2007? Click above to see Eric Black's speech to mnpACT!
Garrison Keillor
Minnesota Network for Progressive Action
Our Mission
The mission of mnpACT! is to build a progressive community based upon the core values of respect, dignity and opportunity, by educating people about progressive ideas, advocating for progressive issues, and electing progressive candidates to local, state and federal offices.
“The Secretary of the Senate felt that we were now in ‘lawyer land’ “. Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem
How does one get to "Lawyer Land"? Well the GOP Senate caucus is taking us there whether we like it or not. And we go there without a clue as to why. Leader Senjem thinks we should just move on....leave this mess behind us. But that's not just "lawyer land"....that's Fantasy Island.
This whole mess hangs over the Senate like a dark cloud. And it isn't just about the Koch . . .
You have to somewhat admire the audacity of the power grab.
Minnesota's Republican legislature has decided to move their agenda with blitzkreig speed; in the face of declining public opinion, around the DFL governor, and in spite of scandals and leadership division.
It's like they have decided to gorge themselves in the face of their last meal....or checking off all the items on their bucket list -- all at once.
This feverish pace of Constitutional amendments, spit in their eye rhetoric, and nose thumbing at the Governor leaves us all kind of breathless....including . . .
Among the myriad of potential amendments being floated around by the GOP legislature is a "right to work" amendment. A not so veiled attack on unions in Minnesota.
The conservative think tank, the Center for the American Experiment released a study that, they say, proves that right to work states do better and that Minnesota would have increased per capita income by $3,000.
The author of the study puts it this way...
"If you provide an economic environment that is pro growth, that is . . .
And the votes are in. PUC Chairwoman Ellen Anderson is out and the utilities rates are now safe again and will never go up.
At least I think that is why the Republicans in the Senate voted to not confirm her.
Senator Joe Gimse put it this way...
“It’s not a payback. I resent that implication,” Gimse said. “It’s purely about rate payers in Minnesota and job creation. It had nothing to do with Ellen Anderson personally.”
Anderson has only been chairwoman since last . . .
I sat down with 37B DFL candidate Jeff Wilfahrt and his campaign manager, Phil Sterner, last week to get introduced and see how things are starting out. Jeff is an impressive individual.
A loose translation of Jeff's German last name is "the Journey" and that is precisely what he is embarking on. More than once he dubbed himself a "reluctant candidate" and a first impression is that Jeff would rather be working for a candidate than being one.
But he doesn't shrink from a challenge either. And he is going to . . .
