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You can use the feeds in this mix as the basis for a new mix - create a new mix from this mix.
Renzi Ends Career in Congress Quietly, under Cloud [New Window]
6 Jan 2009 // TUCSON - Members of the U.S. House will be sworn in Tuesday as the 111th Congress convenes, but Rep. Rick Renzi won't be among them.The Arizona Republican has ended a three-term career beneath the same cloud of suspicion that surrounded him during much of his last year in office, under federal indictment and facing a criminal trial in March. More
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 07:45:02 -0600 Preventing Frozen Pipes In FEMA Homes [New Window]
6 Jan 2009 // MARION - Contractors are busy in Marion these days, working on making the FEMA mobile homes better suited for the cold.When the units were delivered, it was the middle of a hot and humid summer."Right now we're just doing some insulation under the unit cause they didn't expect the cold either, or it to be this cold," said Dennis Evans, a contractor. More
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 07:43:01 -0600 Ill. Governor's Federal Security Clearance Revoked [New Window]
6 Jan 2009 // The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich's access to classified federal security information, officials said Friday. More
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 07:41:10 -0600 Early Hurdle in Senate Confronts Illinois Pick [New Window]
6 Jan 2009 // WASHINGTON Senate officials on Monday rejected credentials offered on behalf of Roland W. Burris, who nonetheless planned to arrive at the Capitol on Tuesday to be sworn in as the new junior senator from Illinois. More
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 07:39:12 -0600 Abbreviated Pundit Round-Up [New Window]
Your one stop pundit shop. Bob Herbert argues forcefully and persuasively against escalating our involvement in Afghanistan: The government we are supporting in Afghanistan is a fetid hothouse of corruption, a government of gangsters and weasels whose customary salute is the upturned palm. Listen to this devastating assessment by Dexter Filkins of The Times: “Kept afloat by billions of dollars in American and other foreign aid, the government of Afghanistan is shot through with corruption and graft. From the lowliest traffic policeman to the family of President Hamid Karzai himself, the state built on the ruins of the Taliban government seven years ago now often seems to exist for little more than the enrichment of those who run it.” Think about putting your life on the line for that gang. If Mr. Obama does send more troops to Afghanistan, he should go on television and tell the American people, in the clearest possible language, what he is trying to achieve. He should spell out the mission’s goals, and lay out an exit strategy. He will owe that to the public because he will own the conflict at that point. It will be Barack Obama’s war. Ron Chernow wants a "sweeping inquest" into how the current economic crisis came be, and says to look at Ferdinand Pecora's investigation into the causes of the 1929 crash for inspiration. Richard Cohen says that it's stupid to blame the current conflict on Israel, but that: The horrors of war are not to be dismissed or demeaned. In 2006, Israel accidentally killed 28 civilians in the Lebanese village of Qana when it attempted to take out a nearby rocket site. In Gaza, innocent Palestinians are being killed. The suffering is great and cannot be ignored. But what has been ignored is the series of events that led to this war. Anyone could see how it was going to start. As always, though, it's a lot harder to see how it ends. Kathryn Lopez is upset at the "orgy of abstinence bashing" after a study said that teens who take "virginity pledges" are as likely to have sex as those who haven't taken the pledge. William McGurn, while less colorful than Lopez, goes after the same study on teens and sex. E.J. Dionne Jr., on what the current fight to lead the Republican National Committee says: Right-wing loyalists can talk all they want about how President Bush's problem was that he wasn't "conservative enough," but the numbers show they are misunderstanding their party's problem. Obama and Kaine are appealing to a moderate country moving gradually in a progressive direction and have a party behind them prepared to grapple with the realities of politics now. Ben Lieberman is afraid the incoming Obama administration won't want to drill, baby, drill. Steve Calabresi and Michael Saks argue that justice requires twelve angry men, not six. H.D.S. Greenway says that the "times are too dangerous, both at home and abroad," to waste time trying to stop Roland Burris from being seated as the newest Senator from Illinois.
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 04:30:02 -0600 Team Obama dabbles in drama [New Window]
Bill Richardson! Rick Warren! Rod Blagojevich! Roland Burris! Talk about a ride through the fun house.
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 03:24:59 -0600 44 Buzz: Richardson replacement [New Window]
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was buzzed about as a possibility to replace Bill Richardson.
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 03:21:03 -0600 Open Thread for Night Owls, Early Birds and Expats [New Window]
At The Denver Post, Ed Quillen writes: One of the few positive media developments in 2008 arrived after the national political conventions, when Rachel Maddow got her own nightly hour on MSNBC. Not that I always concur with her politics, but unlike most such hosts, she doesn't badger, talk over or needlessly interrupt her guests. She might argue with them, but she always offers them a chance to speak. Nor is she full of herself like Keith Olbermann, who can elevate pomposity to stratospheric levels. Lately Maddow's show has offered a nightly feature called "Lame Duck Watch," which observes that George W. Bush is still president of the United States of America, and thus in position to issue regulations, pardons and executive orders that deserve scrutiny, especially when most eyes are focused on the impending presidency of Barack Obama. This got me to wondering about the origin of the phrase "lame duck." We use it to describe an office-holder whose replacement has been elected but not sworn in. It connotes a sense of being crippled, even though the lame duck still holds the full powers of office. ... The phrase did not originate in politics. According to my favorite bathroom reference book, "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable," the expression originally came from finance, and referred to "a stock-jobber or dealer who will not, or cannot, pay his losses" and has to "waddle out of the alley like a lame duck." It also applies to a defaulter on a loan, and goes back to 18th-century London. What Mister Bush and Richard Bruce Cheney defaulted on was not a loan but rather their oath of office. Scarcely a more appropriate pair of lame ducks in U.S. history deserve to be flipped the bird. • • • The Overnight News Digest is posted and includes the story Anti-apartheid campaigner Helen Suzman dies at 91.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:21:23 -0600 Franken Declares Victory [New Window]
At a press conference held just now outside his house, Al Franken declared victory in the Minnesota Senate race."After 62 days of careful and painstaking hand inspection of nearly 3 million ballots, after hours and hours of hard work by election officials and volunteers across this state, I am proud to stand before you as the next Senator from Minnesota," said Franken. "This victory is incredibly humbling, not just because it was so narrow, but because of the tremendous responsibility it gives me on behalf of the people of Minnesota.""I know that this isn't an easy day for Norm Coleman and his family," Franken added, "And I know that because Franni and I and our kids have had plenty of time over the last couple months to contemplate what this would be like if the election had turned out differently." But Franken applauded Coleman's hard work in public life, and hopes for a smooth transition. Good luck on that one.Franken also said that while he knows there may still be additional legal proceedings -- the Coleman campaign has indicated they will challenge the result, which will hold up Franken from being seated -- he is focusing now on going forward and getting to work for the people of Minnesota.He did not take questions from the crowd of reporters, who yelled to ask when he would be going to Washington. Franken's full prepared statement is available after the jump.Late Update: Here's the video: SAINT PAUL [1/5/09] - Al Franken:"It has been a remarkable couple of months. Our recount brought national attention to Minnesota, and what Americans saw is that we take our democracy seriously. Our recount process was long, it was fair, and it was thorough. We should all be proud of our state, and we should all be grateful for the incredible hard work and dedication of all of our elections officials, from the state canvassing board and the Secretary of State's office to the officials in the cities and counties and precincts of Minnesota."After 62 days, after the careful and painstaking hand inspection of nearly 3 million ballots, after hours and hours of hard work by elections officials and volunteers across the state, I am proud and humbled to stand before you as the next Senator from Minnesota."This victory is incredibly humbling - not just because it was so narrow, but because of the tremendous responsibility it gives me on behalf of the people of Minnesota."While the recount process played out, the challenges facing our state and our nation have only grown. With tensions in the Middle East reaching the boiling point, our economy facing its worst crisis since the 1930s, and Minnesota's middle class families being squeezed harder than ever, it's clear that we have a lot of important work to do."I want you all to know that I'm ready to go to Washington and get to work just as soon as possible. And I look forward to joining President-Elect Obama and Senator Klobuchar in getting our country moving in the right direction again."I know this is not an easy day for Norm Coleman and his family, and I know that because Franni and I and the kids have had plenty of time over the past two months to contemplate the possibility that this election would turn out differently. Norm has worked hard for this state and this country, and I hope to ask for his help to ensure that Minnesotans can continue to count on receiving excellent constituent services from their two Senators without interruption."I also know that this was a hard-fought victory, and that I didn't win the support of every Minnesotan. I'm going to have to earn it by being a Senator who fights for every Minnesotan, whether you voted for me or not. And I want every Minnesotan to hear me say: I work for you now. And I will work hard to earn your confidence."There may still be additional legal proceedings related to our recount. But I'm now in the business of serving the people of Minnesota. And the best way I can serve the people of Minnesota right now is to focus all my attention and all my energies on getting to work for them on the issues we'll be facing together."I would like to close by doing something I wish I'd gotten a chance to do properly on Election Night, and that is to thank some people. My amazing staff and supporters across the state who made this victory possible and stuck with us this whole way. All the volunteers who woke up the morning after Election Day and got right back to work to help our recount effort. Our state's dedicated elections officials, our tremendous congressional delegation, and our fantastic Senator, Amy Klobuchar, who continues to be a mentor and an inspiration. And, of course, my beautiful wife Franni and our amazing family."For our state, today marked the end of a long process that will forever be a part of Minnesota history. But today is also a beginning. The history of our country will be forever altered by what we do together to address the challenges we face together. So, with tremendous gratitude for the victory we have won, I'm ready to get to work."Thank you." Open Thread and Diary Rescue [New Window]
This evening's Rescue Rangers are Louisiana 1976, taylormattd, jlms qkw (pulling a double shift), dopper0189, and grog with shayera editing. joetex recounts how he and his neighbors got through the power failure following Ike in Hurricane: Saved by the Electric Mini? (Louisiana 1976) Vladislaw gives us a potpourri of science and science fiction news in Burt Rutan: "Houston, we have a problem." Kennedy Quote. Poll Results. (jlms qkw) Michael Alton Gottlieb writes an essay speculating what the future holds after the breakdown of the current international order: End of Empire: Beginning of Wisdom. (dopper0189) supak wanders through depression, chemistry and emotional demands in A Crock Full of Happiness. (grog) Schopenhauer Telescope contrasts his current teaching position and the children of a private school with his previous experience in a public one in The Educator Diaries, Part I: Educating the Elite. (Louisiana 1976) newfie53523 shares an easy way to make someone happy in Making a difference in the life of a child one birthday cake at a time. (jlms qkw) jotter has High Impact Diaries: January 4, 2009. Eddie C has Top Comments 01-05-2008 Sixty Years Ago Today Edition. Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 22:20:05 -0600 Bill O'Reilly Declares A Winner: Norm Coleman [New Window]
Oops: h/t: Media Matters
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:45:04 -0600 Obama's 'Dear Rod' letter [New Window]
Aides to Obama said there had been “no contact” between Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:15:42 -0600 On Israel, Palestine, and the U.S. [New Window]
In the following I make three claims, which I will state upfront in exaggerated terms, both to get the point across and so my errors are more visible. (1) The United States (or factions in it) has more of a stake in the outcome in the Israel/Palestine conflict than Israel does. (2) Israel does not need the U.S. (3) Understanding (1) and (2) is key to resolving the Israel/Palestine conflict. Or so anyway I want to try to argue. My argument will take the form of a discussion of a post from Juan Cole, although what I want to say is not primarily about Cole's post. On Sunday, Juan Cole posted a longish piece about Israel, Palestine, and the current fighting between them. Typically for a Cole piece, it provides a good bit of historical background and original thought. He makes a more-or-less elaborate argument about The Big Picture for the two peoples, to which I will get in a moment. The argument he makes is worthwhile and non-simplistic; but I think he overlooks or slides past an obvious point -- and I think that addressing that obvious point requires making the Big Picture, Bigger. As an aside, I am not here attempting to argue for a position in The Standard American I/P Debate. I have a position in the SAI/PD -- I largely agree with david mizner's recent diary -- but knowing my position in the SAI/PD is about as helpful, I think, as would be knowing my opinion of the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense in chess, if the real issue were that Sicily was burning down. Chess has nothing much to do with the flammability of Sicily, and The Standard American I/P Debate has nothing much to do with the problems in Israel and Palestine. The frame of the SAI/PD is all wrong. The debate misses the point. And what is "the point"? Well, (1), (2), and (3) above. I'll get to them. First, back to Cole. The next few 'graphs are about his piece. Cole argues that the fighting between Israel (or "the Israeli government" if you prefer, though at the moment Israeli opinion polls show that most Israelis support their government's actions, or did prior to the ground invasion) and Palestine, and more generally the ongoing and often violent dispute between Israel and her neighbors, is ultimately a war for global public opinion. How the conflict is resolved will depend crucially on what the world thinks about the players in the region. This is so, Cole argues, because Israel relies heavily on commerce, tourism, and immigration of Jewish people from abroad. Israel can win every battle, but if in doing so Israel disgusts the world so much that the world wants nothing to do with it, Israel will collapse. Israel knows this, and so do her neighbors. Cole writes: The Israeli leadership knew that it could not reply to Hamas's microwar without engaging in total war on the Gaza population, and that this step would be unpopular with the world's publics. But the Israeli leadership has successfully thumbed its nose and world public opinion so often and so successfully that this sort of consideration does not even enter into their practical calculations (except to the extent that they are careful to do a lot of propaganda for their war effort). Their estimation that they will suffer no practical bad consequences of attacks on civilians is certainly correct in the short to medium term. -- snip -- Israel will suffer no practical sanctions from any government. Egypt and Jordan are afraid of Hamas and are more or less handmaidens of Israeli policy toward Gaza. Syria and Lebanon are weak. Iran, for all the hype it generates, is distant and relatively helpless to intervene. European governments have largely ceded the Palestinian-Israeli issue to the US and Israel. -- snip -- War on them [the Palestinians], circumscribe them, colonize them all you like. They aren't going anywhere, and you can't keep them stateless and virtually enslaved forever, occasionally exterminating some of them as though they were vermin when they make too much trouble. That, sooner or later, will lead to boycotts by rising economic powers and by Europe that could be extremely damaging to Israel's long-term prospects as a state. It may still be 10 or 20 years in the future. But because of Israel's economic and demographic vulnerabilities, for it to lose the war of global public opinion may ultimately be more consequential than either macro-war or micro-war. As a related factor, Cole makes the sometimes stated but often overlooked point that the one of the real goals behind Hamas and Hezbollah rocket attacks is to scare Jewish people from immigrating to Israel, or to provoke Jewish moral condemnation of Israel's response -- in any case, to keep Jewish people from wanting to move there. Israel is small enough, the thought would go, that Hamas and Hezbollah can ultimately win even if they lose every battle, simply through demographic attrition. This seems like it should be a sobering thought for Israelis: no one wants to live in a place like the one the conflict creates, no matter who wins the conflict. In any case, let me restate Cole's conclusion: It may still be 10 or 20 years in the future. But because of Israel's economic and demographic vulnerabilities, for it to lose the war of global public opinion may ultimately be more consequential than either macro-war or micro-war. There is a curious and non-trivial lacuna in Cole's argument, here. As he surely knows, Israel has lost "the war of global public opinion." The people of planet Earth have made up their minds about this issue, even if America has not. March 2007 BBC report quoted at the University of Maryland's PIPA (PDF, page 5): Israel is viewed quite negatively in the world, possibly because the poll was conducted less than six months following the Israel/Hezbollah war in Lebanon. On average, 56 percent have a mainly negative view of the country, and just 17 percent have a positive view, the least positive rating for any country evaluated. In 23 countries the most common view was negative, with only two leaning towards a positive view and two divided. Unsurprisingly, the most negative views of Israel are found in the predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East, with very large majorities in Lebanon (85%), Egypt (78%), Turkey (76%), and the UAE (73%) having negative views. Large majorities also have negative views in Europe, including Germany (77%), Greece (68%) and France (66%). Indonesia (71%), Australia (68%) and South Korea (62%) are the most negative countries in the Asia/Pacific region. Brazilians (72%) are the most negative in Latin America. The two countries with mostly positive attitudes about Israel do so in modest numbers. Forty-five percent of Nigerians and 41 percent of Americans have positive views of Israel’s influence in the world, while nearly one-third in each country has negative views. Kenya and India have populations with divided views of Israel. This would seem to refute Cole's argument. World opinion is against Israeli actions towards her neighbors; the world takes Israel to be a belligerent nation. Yet, this fact is not, so far, doing anything like, in Cole's words, "lead[ing] to boycotts by rising economic powers and by Europe that could be extremely damaging to Israel's long-term prospects as a state." So that would seem to undermine the Big Picture being painted by Cole. But, why not? If I could ask a blockheaded question: why isn't Israel subject to more boycotts? After all, there have been more U.N. resolutions against Israel than any other country, both in the General Assembly and the Security Council, even if the U.S. tends to veto the latter. Well, it's obvious. Israel doesn't get boycotted because it is an ally of the United States. But that makes the following remark from Cole all the more interesting: "sooner or later, [Israeli actions] will lead to boycotts by rising economic powers and by Europe that could be extremely damaging to Israel's long-term prospects as a state." Cole is here imagining a future in which "rising economic powers" and "Europe" are willing to cross the U.S. This means we can't discuss the future of Israel or Palestine without discussing the future of U.S. dominance in the world. The three are, at the moment, inextricably entwined. I take it that this is the primary reason that we as citizens of the U.S. have such a hard time discussing the I/P conflict -- the range of acceptable opinion in the U.S. on this matter is even more restricted than it is in Israel itself. In a funny kind of way, the U.S. has an even bigger stake in the I/P conflict than Israel does. Hence, (1), my first claim in the first paragraph of this post. Now, (2): Israel does not need the U.S. Let me put this as strongly as possible, so it can be most easily disagreed with: The United States creates more problems for Israel than it solves, and it creates more problems for Israel than Palestine, or Hamas, or Hezbollah do. In exchange for military assistance, Israel is willing to play the part of the US's Western Bulldog in the Middle East; it is willing to make itself into practically a giant military base for US control of ME resources. This is a bad deal for Israel: it creates the illusion of necessity of conflict, strife, and ill feeling between Jewish and Arab peoples. It creates, and this is the devilish part, the illusion that Israel needs all that military assistance in the first place. Thus, we have a self-fulfilling prophecy, but one whose spell can be broken. Perhaps the longstanding dream of a U.S.-brokered peace deal between Israel and Palestine is itself just a trick, meant to keep us from seeing that what is really needed is for Israel to broker a peace between the U.S. and Palestine, and between the U.S. and the Middle East more generally. But in order to see things this way we have to readjust a lot of perceptions and biases -- perceptions and biases even deeper than the ones motivating the endless Standard American Israel/Palestine Debate. Dare I call those biases "racism against Arabs and Jews"? Sure, why not; this is just a blog post, and if I am accusing everyone in America of getting sucked into it then I am also accusing myself. Thinking about the good of Israel, as opposed to the good of the U.S., perhaps the best thing Israel could do is make its own peace, and tell the U.S. (or, as I say, factions in it) to piss off -- to abandon the bulldog deal. Now that would be giving peace a chance. And that would be (3), and my conclusion. I don't know if this is right, but I do know that engaging in the same old Standard American Israel/Palestine debate is no better. My suspicion is that the SAI/PD is not about Israel and Palestine at all (two peoples who would both do well to tell us to shove it), but about us, and the occasional American vanity -- even on the left -- of trying to rule the world while convincing ourselves we are saving it. Update 10:28 pm: further discussion of Cole's article is in Lefty Coaster's diary Juan Cole on Gaza the West Bank and global public opinion.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:00:05 -0600 Reid Spokesman: He Will Not Try To Seat Franken Tomorrow [New Window]
In a statement given to Election Central, Harry Reid's office says that he will not attempt to seat Al Franken in the Senate tomorrow -- though they are reiterating Reid's call for Norm Coleman to concede the race rather than drag it out.The statement from Reid spokesman Jim Manley:"Now that the bipartisan state canvassing board has certified Al Franken as the winner, we hope Senator Coleman respects its decision and does not drag this out for months with litigation. Shortly after Election Day, Coleman criticized Mr. Franken for wanting a recount and wasting taxpayer money. Now that it is clear he lost, Coleman should follow his own advice and not subject the people of Minnesota to a costly legal battle."However, there will not be an effort to seat Mr. Franken tomorrow."Late Update: Reid separately told the Politico that Coleman has lost and "will never ever serve" in the Senate -- he can only stall things.But for now, it appears that Coleman is stalling quite successfully. Say It Isn't So HuffPo [New Window]
A post at HuffPo jumps the megladon. Now admittedly, I don't know much about the site. But most of the articles I've read there were decent. Which makes this one all the more out of place for a premier website like Huffington Post: So, no one needs to say the words "climate" and "change" in the same breath -- it is assumed, by anyone with any level of knowledge, that climate changes. That is the redundancy to which I alluded. The lie is the suggestion that climate has ever been stable. For starters, the author spends several previous grafs implying that changes in climate contributed to everything from the fall of Rome to charred witches. From which he then, somehow, draws the curious conclusion that climate change is an oxymoron, and then goes on to make the even froggier leap that it's a big lie and should therefore be casually dismissed. It manages to go downhill from there. The writer, I'm sad to say, lives in my beloved hometown of Austin. A cursory search reveals he runs talkingabouttheweather.com, which is a non stop tirade of wingnut catnip, antiscience buzzwords employing every transparently dishonest trick in the fossil fuel lobby's big black oily book. I gotta assume this nitwit doesn't represent the views of HuffPo, in which case we have to wonder why his incoherent screed shows up under the 'green-as-in-environment' tab. Is it flamebait looking for links, sloppy editorial control, or some kind of too clever by half attempt to portray the right in the most unflattering light possible? Beats me. But none of those possibilities reflect particularly well on HuffPo. Because, there really is such a thing as credibility. And this kind of crap is a big step on the road to losing it. Further discussion and debunking is going on in A Siegel's recommended diary.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:34:13 -0600 Transition donors give less [New Window]
Obama's transition fundraising has fallen off its earlier pace and may just squeak by in reaching its target.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:05:40 -0600 Reid says it's over for Coleman, but Franken stays in Minnesota [New Window]
After two months of counting and recounting every eligible ballot in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, Al Franken has won fair and square and will be the state's next U.S. Senator. Nonetheless, he won't be in DC tomorrow as the rest of his class gets sworn in because Norm Coleman is vowing a legal fight to delay the inevitable. Lest there be any question over how this will turn out, Harry Reid has flatly stated that it's over for Norm Coleman. "Norm Coleman will never ever serve [again] in the Senate," Reid told Politico’s Manu Raju. "He lost the election. He can stall things, but he'll never serve in the Senate." ...Reid added that he will not be trying to seat Franken in the Senate on Tuesday. When asked if Franken would be sworn in tomorrow, Reid said: "No." In his victory statement today, Franken said he was "ready to go to Washington and get to work just as soon as possible." But a Franken campaign spokesman said he has not yet made plans yet to travel to Washington. Despite the fact that Al Franken is still in Minnesota, RNC chairman Mike Duncan is accusing Franken of having stolen the election. Fortunately, Duncan is on a bitter little island of his own. Nobody (outside of the far right) who's looked at the situation thinks that Coleman won the election. It might not cause that much harm to humor Norm Coleman for a short period of time, but Democrats need to spell out Coleman's legal wrangling for what it is: petty, obstructionist tactics from the GOP in the middle of a national economic crisis.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:56:13 -0600 Biden on economy: 'We're at war' [New Window]
Biden likened the country’s economic crisis to the attacks of 9/11in a private meeting on Capitol Hill.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:51:06 -0600 Congress lines up behind stimulus [New Window]
Obama wins a bipartisan pledge from Congress that it will approve an economic recovery bill by mid-February.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:35:00 -0600 Richardson blames investigation length [New Window]
Richardson said he dropped his bid for commerce because a federal probe went on longer than expected.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:11:49 -0600 Obama Debuts and the Numbers Game Begins [New Window]
On the first day after any congressional recess, the mood in Washington tends to be genial and relaxed, with reporters and aides swapping more vacation stories than legislative strategies. But today was different. The souring economy focused intense attention on the closed-door meetings that Barack Obama conducted with lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol. After Obama emerged for his second public availability of the day, taking no questions, both Democratic and Republican leaders emerged to put their spin on what transpired. And while Harry Reid referred to the need for an economic recovery bill costing between $800 billion and $1.2 trillion, Mitch McConnell mentioned only one number: 40%, the share of the package that the Obama camp has said would go toward tax cuts.But during the leaders' meeting with Obama, McConnell said, "there was no discussion about the overall size of the package. I don't think it's been determined."The tactic is one familiar to savvy members of Congress: If they can delay public agreement on an issue, they win more time to shape it to their liking. The longer Republicans delay in accepting the size of the bill, the greater chance they have of shrinking it. For now it appears that Obama's team is unruffled by the numbers game taking place. On Wednesday, when the House Democratic steering committee holds its first public forum on the recovery package, we'll be listening to see whether Republicans are finally ready to reveal the price tag they can live with -- and whether the new administration is ready to agree.In six weeks, anyone want to bet that Republicans profess their alarm at the Democrats' hijacking of the process to promote profligate government spending?Late Update: Here's the video of McConnell's remarks: One president at a time? [New Window]
Obama likes to say there’s only one president at a time, but it doesn’t look that way this week.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:55:41 -0600 Paving Paradise [New Window]
Because it's not good enough to set up drillling rigs in the sightline of national treasures, or poison more water, or gut the endangered species act, BushCo is upping the potential permanent damage one more notch. In a massive FU to the people of Montana and Senators Tester and Bingaman (who've been battling this effort for months), former timber lobbyist and current Forest Service chief (for just 15 more days, thankfully), is granting Plum Creek timber company one of its fondest desires. The shift is technical but has large implications. It would allow Plum Creek Timber to pave roads through Forest Service land. For decades, such roads were little more than trails used by logging trucks to reach timber stands. But as Plum Creek has moved into the real estate business, paving those roads became a necessary prelude to opening vast tracts of the company's 8 million acres to the vacation homes that are transforming landscapes across the West. Scenic western Montana, where Plum Creek owns 1.2 million acres, would be most affected, placing fresh burdens on county governments to provide services and undoing efforts to cluster housing near towns. In one of his many visits to Montana during the campaign, Obama took aim at the Bush administration over this very proposal: "At a time when Montana's sportsmen are finding it increasingly hard to access lands, it is outrageous that the Bush administration would exacerbate the problem by encouraging prime hunting and fishing lands to be carved up and closed off." Hence, Rey's rush to push this last effort through, despite united opposition in local and state government. Missoula County, the entity that would have to provide all those services to would-be mountain residents, has strongly objected to Rey's proposal, and has demanded to see all of the documents relating to this decision, documents which still haven't been released, and won't be, if Rey has anything to do with it, which, of course, he does. Rey suspects Missoula County's request for documents is a tactic - "an attempt to run out the clock." Because if a decision is not made before the Bush administration - and along with it, Mark Rey - leaves office, then perhaps the amendment push will falter. "They're hoping they'll get a different legal decision from a different administration," Rey said, adding that "elections are meaningful in that way." McCubbin, however, insists "you cannot amend a document that you haven't identified and they still haven't identified the documents. We made our request six months ago and they've just now made what they themselves call a ‘cursory review of the documents?' This isn't Missoula County delaying anything." According to McCubbin, the Forest Service recently identified 176,000 documents that are "directly relevant" that have not yet been provided. Rey said he remains committed to providing all relevant information needed to make an informed decision, which is not the same as providing "every last scrap of paper." Like most of BushCo's midnight efforts, this one will inevitably end up in court, because there's no way Rey is not signing the easement that would allow Plum Creek's development. Missoula County has substantial ground to sue, and will very likely do so. So this is essentially an obnoxious and arrogant exercise in futility, likely to do nothing more than secure Mark Rey an extremely healthy salary with some timber interest in the not too distant future. But it's also placing a large financial burden a small Montana county that has plenty of other demands for its resources. Update: Breaking news on this issue, via MTMofo in the comments. Plum Creek is inexplicably doing the right thing here: Plum Creek Timber Co. is abandoning a controversial deal brokered with Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, citing strong public opposition. "Although we continue to believe that the easement amendment would be beneficial to the general public, given the lack of receptivity, we have decided not to go forward with the amendment," Plum Creek President and CEO Rick Holley wrote Monday, in a letter to Missoula County. They probably don't want to have their legal department tied up in knots for the foreseeable future.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:40:04 -0600 Poll: Caroline Kennedy's Support Collapses [New Window]
The last month's publicity hasn't been kind to Caroline Kennedy, with a new survey from Public Policy Polling (D) showing that she's now being trounced by state Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo as the choice of New York voters.Cuomo now leads Kennedy 58%-27% as the one that voters would like to see Gov. David Paterson appoint to the Senate, with a 54%-34% spread among Democrats only. In last month's poll, which tested Democrats only, Kennedy had a 44%-23% lead. So a 21-point Caroline lead among Democrats has turned into a 20-point Cuomo advantage.Ouch. If Paterson is in any way using the polls as a guide for who he should pick, this is not exactly good news for Caroline. Election Central Morning Roundup [New Window]
Today: Minnesota To Certify Franken's Victory -- But Lawsuit AwaitsThe Minnesota state canvassing board will be meeting at 3:30 p.m. ET today to certify their results showing a super-thin Al Franken win for Senate, currently at 225 votes out of over 2.9 million. But Franken will not be able to receive an official certificate of election -- and therefore probably won't be able to take his seat -- because the Coleman campaign has indicated that they will challenge the result in court.Report: Obama Economic Plan To Include Huge Tax CutsThe Wall St. Journal reports that Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats are preparing a tax cut package totaling $300 billion over two years -- a larger dollar figure per year than anything George W. Bush ever did -- as part of his potential $775 billion stimulus package. The move could make it easier to win necessary support from Congressional Republicans.Obama In Washington, Working On EconomyBarack Obama is meeting on Capitol Hill this afternoon with the Congressional leadership from both parties, with his economic plan expected to be the top order of business. He will also hold a meeting with his own economic team, at his D.C. transition headquarters.Biden Speaking At Pell Funeral, Then Heading To WashingtonJoe Biden will be speaking this morning at the funeral of former Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) in Newport, Rhode Island. He will then head down to Washington to join Barack Obama's meeting with Congressional leaders. He will also be in Delaware tonight, for a "Salute to Governor Ruth Ann Minner" event, sending off the state's departing Democratic governor.Burris Heading To WashingtonRoland Burris is heading to Washington later today, as he seeks to be seated as the new Senator from Illinois against the backdrop of the Blagojevich scandal. "We are hoping and praying that they will not be able to deny what the Lord has ordained," Burris told a send-off event last night at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.Bobby Rush: Refusal To Seat Burris Is "Plantation Politics"At the sendoff event for Roland Burris last night, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) continued to present the controversy around Burris' appointment in strictly racial terms. Rush declared that the resistance of the Democratic leadership to seating Burris was "the last bastion of racial plantation politics in America."Obama To Hold "Neighborhood Inaugural Ball"The Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced that Barack Obama will hold a first-ever "Neighborhood Inaugural Ball" at the Washington Convention Center, with a portion of the tickets set aside just for D.C. residents.Tim Kaine To Be DNC Chair, But At First Only Part-TimeBarack Obama is expected to announce soon that he has picked Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who had endorsed his candidacy in early 2007 when it looked like a long shot, to be the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Kaine will only serve on a part-time for his first year, until his term as governor expires, with former Obama campaign strategist Jennifer O'Malley running the day-to-day operations. Reports: Panetta to CIA [New Window]
Several outlets are reporting this afternoon that Leon Panetta, former chief of staff to Bill Clinton, is Obama's pick to head the CIA.Panetta is considered more of a budget expert than an intelligence specialist, but he has a strong progressive background and has eloquently argued against Bush era spying tactics. Panetta also served on the Iraq Study Group in 2006 and formerly chaired the Center for National Policy.We have calls in to the Obama transition office as well as the Panetta Institute, his current home at California State University, and will update as soon as we hear more.Late Update: Despite Panetta's lack of nitty-gritty intel experience, his selection is a welcome sign after some reports that current CIA chief Mike Hayden might be asked to stay on. Panetta's fiscal expertise could mean good things for the long-neglected task of intelligence spending reform, a herculean task that involves merging competing fiefdoms of powerful lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee. It also appears that Dennis Blair, the naval admiral long tipped to become Director of National Intelligence, will be unveiled as a nominee alongside Panetta. Reid To Coleman: It's Over. Concede. [New Window]
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Sen_Majority_Leader_Harry_Reid_Calls_on_Coleman_to_Concede'; In a statement given to Election Central, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has called upon Norm Coleman to concede defeat in the Minnesota Senate race. Reid also reminded Coleman of his own calls early on in this process for Franken to concede and not waste taxpayer time and money:I believe that tomorrow the bipartisan state canvassing board will certify Al Franken the winner. After all, early on Senator Coleman criticized Al Franken for wanting a recount and wasting taxpayer money. I would hope now that it is clear he lost, that Senator Coleman follow his own advice and not subject the people of Minnesota to a costly legal battle.One major caveat: Even if Reid wants to get Franken seated immediately, there will almost certainly be a filibuster from the GOP against it, while Coleman pursues his expected legal challenges. And the reality is that there isn't really anything Reid can do to force the desired outcome if the Republican caucus stays united. McConnell Moving Goalposts on Obama Stimulus Plan [New Window]
As the Obama team prepares an economic recovery package geared to win as many as 80 votes in the Senate, it's worth looking at the Republicans' counter-strategy. Their conference has grown more conservative since Election Day, so winning 20+ members from Mitch McConnell's squad will inevitably require concessions to his logic.And where does McConnell think the stimulus negotiations should start? He gave an interesting answer yesterday to Stephanopoulos ...If we want to do a bill immediately, again, my recommendation is the omnibus appropriations bill. It's ready. These were nine bills that were not passed by October when they should have been passed. They're ready to go. They've already been vetted by both sides, would pass on an overwhelming, bipartisan basis, and much of that spending, George, would be on things similar to what the president may be asking for in that package.This is a classic down-field shift of the goal posts. The remaining nine appropriations bills from last year only keep projects funded until this coming autumn, and they don't represent a substantially larger amount of spending than what was already in the continuing resolution. Also, where was McConnell in September when the Bush administration threatened to veto any appropriations bill that exceeded his preferred price tag?As the Politico reported today, helping to finish last year's appropriations bills would be a gesture of good faith for Obama "outside the stimulus". But using undone spending bills as a benchmark for the economic recovery package is a canny play to slow things down. Minnesota Supremes Reject Coleman Lawsuit, Clearing Way For Franken Win Later Today [New Window]
Norm Coleman's last chance to stop Al Franken from winning the Minnesota recount today just came to an end, with the Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously denying his lawsuit seeking to count an additional 650 absentee ballots that local election officials had thrown out.The court's ruling upheld the local officials, and told Coleman in no uncertain terms that if he wants to continue to fight this one out, it will have to be in a post-recount election contest:The record before us with respect to petitioners' motion demonstrates that local election officials have acted diligently and in accordance with our orders, and together with the candidates have agreed upon more than 900 rejected absentee ballots, which have now been opened and counted by the Secretary of State's office....Because the parties and the respective counties have not agreed as to any of these additional ballots, the merits of this dispute (and any other disputes with respect to absentee ballots) are the proper subjects of an election contest under Minn. Stat. ch. 209.The big problem now for Coleman is that an election contest proceeding places the burden of proof on the losing candidate who is now challenging the outcome. During all the litigation in this case, it was 100% clear that neither campaign wanted to have to go into court post-recount, knowing fully well that that the odds would be heavily stacked against them.Late Update: Lead Franken attorney Marc Elias has released this statement:"Today, the Supreme Court once again affirmed the validity of the rules under which this recount was conducted. Minnesotans have waited a long time for a winner to be declared in this race, and today, with the last attempt to halt the counting process now having failed, Al Franken will be declared the winner."Late Late Update: The Coleman campaign has released a statement that among other things reiterates that they will challenge the election in court:"Today's ruling, which effectively disregards the votes of hundreds of Minnesotans, ensures that an election contest is now inevitable. The Coleman campaign has consistently and continually fought to have every validly cast vote counted, and for the integrity of Minnesota's election system, we will not stop now." Franken Officially Wins Minnesota Senate Recount -- But It's Not Over [New Window]
The Minnesota state canvassing board has officially certified the election results showing that Al Franken is the winner of the Minnesota recount -- by a nose. And it is far from over.The numbers: Franken at 1,212,431 votes, Coleman at 1,212,206 votes. Including the large number of votes for third-party candidates, plus ballots that didn't include a vote in the Senate race, this is a margin of 0.0077% out of over 2.9 million ballots cast.Officially, next legal step is for Gov. Tim Pawlenty to sign a certificate of election, and for Sec. of State Mark Ritchie to co-sign, within the next seven days. But that probably won't happen -- the Coleman campaign has said they will file a challenge of the election in court, which under state law delays the issuing of that certificate until the proceeding is settled.Coleman does not have much a chance in such a proceeding, as we've noted before. But it could be a while, bottling up Franken's win for weeks or maybe even months.Late Update: Al Franken has scheduled a press conference at his house for 5 p.m. ET, according to The Uptake. Note that this is not simply Franken's press people or Franken's lawyer holding a presser, but Franken himself -- and at his home, no less. It seems like we may be getting a declaration of victory, taking on the mantle of Senator-Elect.Meanwhile, Coleman's lawyers reaffirmed at their own press conference that they will challenge the election results. Schumer: Franken Has Won Senate Race [New Window]
Chuck Schumer has put out this statement, in his capacity as the outgoing chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, declaring that Al Franken has won the Minnesota Senate race and should be seated:"With the Minnesota recount complete, it is now clear that Al Franken won the election. The Canvassing Board will meet tomorrow to wrap up its work and certify him the winner, and while there are still possible legal issues that will run their course, there is no longer any doubt who will be the next Senator from Minnesota. Even if all the ballots Coleman claims were double counted or erroneously added were resolved in his favor, he still wouldn't have enough votes to win. With the Senate set to begin meeting on Tuesday to address the important issues facing the nation, it is crucial that Minnesota's seat not remain empty, and I hope this process will resolve itself as soon as possible."NRSC chairman John Cornyn has declared that the Republican caucus will filibuster any attempt to seat Franken while Norm Coleman challenges the election result in court. Unless Coleman and/or the Republican leadership back down, this could turn into one of the first big partisan fights of the new Congress. And it looks like the Democratic leadership could be ready to battle it out. Coleman Attorney: Victory Is "Conceivable" -- But Not Likely [New Window]
Norm Coleman is expected to file a legal challenge to Al Franken's victory in the Minnesota recount, after the state canvassing board certifies the numbers this afternoon. But does his campaign actually think they have anything more than a very long shot at this?Check out what lead Coleman attorney Fritz Knaak told the Star Tribune, emphasis ours:"It's conceivable, I'm not saying probable or likely, but conceivable that in a ... [court] contest, we could see these numbers change by hundreds on both sides," he said. "Everything is on the table and it's a different game." Burris: "Why Don't You All Understand" That My Appointment Is Legal? [New Window]
While speaking to reporters earlier today, after the Secretary of the Senate rejected his certificate of appointment, Roland Burris seemed dumbfounded that there's so much controversy."Why don't you all understand that what has been done here is legal?" said Burris. "That's legal, I am the junior senator from Illinois and I wish my colleagues and the press would recognize that. All the drama, I guess it keeps you all in a job."Burris is probably right -- this does appear to be legal. But the circumstances of an appointment by Rod Blagojevich mean that people will be looking for every loophole they can.Here's the video: The 111th Begins -- And So Do I [New Window]
Today marks the official start of the new Congress as well as my official start here at TPM. It's an honor to join the team as its Capitol Hill eyes and ears -- and with this many storylines unfolding before most members come back to town, there should be no shortage of things to talk about. Any questions/suggestions/inspirational sayings to guide TPM's congressional coverage? My email is elana (at) talkingpointsmemo.com. Report: Obama To Give Big Economic Speech Thursday [New Window]
Barack Obama will reportedly give a major speech on the economy this Thursday. No further details are known at this time, but it would seem reasonable to assume that the speech will be part of his push for a stimulus package.More details have been starting to emerge about the package, such as the inclusion of about $300 billion in tax cuts over two years combined with the public works expenditures we already knew about. This means the package will have something to please everybody along the political spectrum -- and conversely, something to annoy everyone.Meanwhile, the Republican-friendly Chamber of Commerce already has this statement out, praising the inclusion of tax cuts -- and asking for more:While the devil is always in the details, we are encouraged by this latest development. We urge Congress and President-elect Obama to consider including other tax-related measures in the stimulus package, including an investment tax credit for home purchases, repatriation of foreign earnings to help companies refinance debt, and a temporary suspension of income tax on cancellation of debt. Late afternoon/early evening open thread [New Window]
What you missed on Sunday Kos .... It was an unusual Sunday in that we were treated to three stellar reviews: Devisltower reviewed Steven Johnson's The Invention of Air, a look at Joseph Priestly and the discovery of oxygen. MissLaura reviewed Milk, proclaiming it a winner: "Its representation of a politics at once pragmatic and radical, suffused with seriousness of purpose but open to fun, pushing hard from outside and in, makes it a valuable primer on movement politics for anyone tempted to believe elections and legislation are all." Adam B brought us insight into Frost/Nixon, with the observation: "The achievement of Frost/Nixon, and of the actors involved, is that you may not look at another political interview the same way ... or, perhaps, may finally recognize how you've been subconsciously watching them all along." Additionally, we had a retrospective of the Bush administration's constant denial of problems as we headed toward economic crisis in Jed L's The Bush Recession In His Own Words. And finally, we looked to the future with brownsox's rundown of upcoming electoral hotspots in Next Year's Model: New Hampshire Through Ohio, and Trapper John's brilliant and passionate call to arms in Why the Employee Free Choice Act Is So Important: The Power of Organization.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:15:05 -0600 IL-05: Blagojevich Sets Primary and General Election Dates for Special Election [New Window]
With Rahm Emanuel having resigned from Congress to become Chief of Staff to President-elect Barack Obama, embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has quickly set the special-election date for Emanuel's Chicago North Side seat. Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) announced today that he has set April 7 as the date for the special election to fill former Rep. Rahm Emanuel’s (D) 5th district seat. ... Blagojevich represented the north Chicagoland seat before Emanuel, who was re-elected to his fourth term on Election Day. Even with scandal-ridden Blagojevich still in office, the district is expected to stay in Democratic column. The seat should be safe for whatever Democrat manages to win the nomination. With one blip on the radar (the 1994 election of Republican Michael Flanagan after the incumbent, Ways and Means chairman Dan Rostenkowski, was indicted on corruption charges) the seat has been in Democratic hands since time immemorial, and sports a PVI of D+18. The primary is only two months away, on March 3, and is almost certain to draw a host of competitors: In a statement from his official office, Blagojevich designated a special primary election for March 3, 2009. "I am pleased to set these election dates so that the people of the Fifth Congressional District can have a representative in Congress as quickly as possible," Blagojevich said in a statement. "With our nation in a recession, we need to ensure that Illinois’ voice is being represented in Washington D.C. to get our economy back on track." With so little time before the primary, the advantage goes to the candidates who can raise the most money in the shortest amount of time, and have the greatest name recognition. However, given that the primary could be won with 25% of the vote or even less (as there are expected to be as many as 10-12 Democrats running), it's by no means a certainty that the more established candidates will win. With such a big field, the race for the nomination is wide open.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:45:04 -0600 Whitman testing waters in California [New Window]
Whitman is signaling she may join the field of candidates vying to replace Schwarzenegger in 2010.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:31:59 -0600 Examining the stimulus package [New Window]
The NYT, WSJ, and Paul Krugman take a look at the emerging details surrounding President-elect Obama's stimulus package, particularly the roughly $300 billion in proposed tax cuts. Overall, the package will cover a two-year period with a price-tag of $675 billion to $775 billion, $270 billion to $310 billion of which would be spent on tax cuts. The balance -- $405 billion to $465 billion -- would be spent on infrastracture, health care, and other programs. One thing to keep in mind is that in early 2008 Congress passed a $131 billion tax cut stimulus plan covering one year. Therefore, while $300 billion over two years might seem like a lot, it's actually the same level of spending as we saw in 2008. The problem, of course, was that the 2008 tax cut stimulus didn't do much, if any, good. Since the tax cut portion of the stimulus will more or less be a continuation of the 2008 tax cut stimulus, the real change from 2008 will be the $405 to $465 billion in spending on infrastructure, health care, and other projects. On an annual basis, this is about $203 to $233 billion dollars in actual stimulus spending. In 2007, the U.S. GDP was roughly $13.8 trillion, so that means the "new" part of the stimulus package will be about 1.5% of GDP.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:00:04 -0600 Hey, Steny: Stop doing the GOP's work for them [New Window]
So Steny Hoyer goes on FOX News Sunday, and here's the headline he's rewarded with: Hoyer Says Don’t Expect Stimulus Package Soon Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House majority leader, expressed doubt on Sunday that the Jan. 20 goal set by some for getting a stimulus package before the new president could be met. "It’s going to be difficult to get the package together that early," he said. Instead, he told "Fox News Sunday," lawmakers hoped to have it to the new president by mid-February. [Like the others appearing on the day's talk shows, Mr. Hoyer made his comments before it was known that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson had withdrawn as the Commerce nominee.] Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, was more cautious about any deadline, saying simply, "We will work this just as quickly as we can." As to the amount of a stimulus package, he said only, "It’s whatever it takes to bring this country back on a fiscal footing that’s decent." But Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, agreed with Hoyer that the Jan. 20 goal was impractical. Put aside the question of whether Hoyer should have gone on FOX for a second. The issue here is that on the first major legislative agenda item for the Obama Administration, the second-ranking Democrat in the House is already unilaterally declaring that it won't be ready on time. Whether Hoyer intended to or not, the message he sent is that Democrats don't think the legislation is all that important. Instead of talking about delay, Hoyer should have focused on the urgency of getting something done quickly rather than his estimation that it will take longer than we originally thought. (He should have been more like Harry Reid, who was actually reasonably good on the stimulus package.) Aside from the fact that Hoyer undercut the sense of urgency surrounding the stimulus bill, he failed to adequately explain the most likely source of the delay: Senate Republicans. In fact, if Hoyer would have just kept his mouth shut, it's quite possible that the headlines would have focused instead on Mitch McConnell, who signaled his intent to drag out the process as much as possible: Throughout the full interview, McConnell spoke in very partisan terms, and consistently called the stimulus plan a $1 trillion plan. That should be a wakeup call to Democratic strategists. First, no matter how much Democrats talk about bipartisanship, they are never going to get it from Mitch McConnell. Instead of playing an inside game for McConnell's support, it's much smarter to play an outside game and to try to steal 6-10 moderate Republicans like the Maine senators by delivering a popular bill that they can't refuse. Second, the only reason to cap the stimulus plan at $775 billion is if that is the amount of money they believe will do the job. If they are trying to avoid having Republicans call this a $1 trillion stimulus plan, that boat has sailed. Returning to Steny Hoyer, the problem here isn't so much the substance of what he said, but rather the fact that he blew the opportunity to advance the narrative that the stimulus plan is the top priority in Congress, and that the only thing slowing it down is the GOP. The fact that yesterday Mitch McConnell, through his vows of partisan roadblocking, was probably a better spokesman for the Democratic Party yesterday than was Steny Hoyer tells you all you need to know. :::: Update (2:32PM): Today, President-elect Obama sounded a far more urgent note than either Hoyer or McConnell: Obama predicts quick OK on economic rescue plan WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama declared the national economy was "bad and getting worse" Monday as he began crisis talks with congressional leaders on emergency action. He predicted lawmakers would approve hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending and tax cuts within two weeks of his taking office. "The economy is very sick," Obama said before meeting with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. "The situation is getting worse. ... We have to act and act now to break the momentum of this recession." Obama, whose inauguration is two weeks from Tuesday on Jan. 20, said he expected quick approval of rescue legislation by the new Congress. "I expect to be able to sign a bill shortly after taking office," he said. Pressed on the timing, he said, "By the end of January or the first of February."
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:29:48 -0600 Mr. Burris Is Coming To Washington [New Window]
Roland Burris heads to Washington today, hoping to be sworn in tomorrow as the newest Senator from Illinois. He'll do it without a certificate of election signed by the Illinois Secretary of State, without the approval of the Illinois Senate, and in the face of overwhelming opposition from the Democratic leadership, but according to Burris, he does have one powerful ally on his side: "They can't deny what the Lord has ordained." Hallelujah.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:00:05 -0600 Franken certified winner of Senate race; Coleman vows lawsuit [New Window]
It's official: the Minnesota canvassing board has certified Al Franken as the winner of November's U.S. Senate election in the great state of Minnesota. Nonetheless, despite having virtually no chance of victory, Norm Coleman is vowing to file suit in an attempt to drag out the process of Senator-elect Franken's victory. Now is a good time to remember what Norm Coleman said about this exact situation two long months ago: "Yesterday the voters spoke. We prevailed," Coleman said Wednesday at a news conference. He noted Franken could opt to waive the recount. "It's up to him whether such a step is worth the tax dollars it will take to conduct," Coleman said, telling reporters he would "step back" if he were in Franken's position. The key difference between Franken and Coleman: Franken won, and he did it without a cherry-picking legal strategy. At this point, Coleman is a sure loser, his only flicker of a hope is dependent on the success of a "count my votes, but not his" legal strategy that is doomed to failure.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 15:30:55 -0600 Texas State House: Democratic-Led Coalition Deposes Speaker Tom Craddick (R) [New Window]
Sometimes the good guys win, sometimes justice is served, and sometimes the bad guys get what's coming to them. It appears the Texas State House, ruled with an iron fist for nearly six years by Republican Speaker Tom Craddick, is prepared to cast aside the last vestiges of the Tom DeLay era and remove DeLay's faithful lieutenant from the Speakership. Attempts to oust Craddick as Speaker have been frequent since the fall of 2006, so this was perhaps inevitable given recent Democratic gains. Still, it must be immensely satisfying for Democrats to see the archconservative, take-no-prisoners partisan style of Speaker Craddick (best exemplified, perhaps, in the controversial mid-decade redistricting aimed at taking out the state's longest-serving House Democrats) receive its well-deserved comeuppance. AUSTIN – With a promise to end partisan clashes, newcomer and moderate Republican Joe Straus of San Antonio is poised to become the new Texas House speaker after toppling 40-year veteran Tom Craddick of Midland. In a meteoric rise, the two-term lawmaker won overwhelming support from 72 Democrats and 16 Republicans who said they were seeking a less combative atmosphere in the Capitol. Straus released a list Sunday night of 88 lawmakers – out of the 150 House members – who have pledged to vote for him when the Legislature convenes Jan. 13. While Straus, the new Speaker, is still a Republican, and the House will remain under Republican control for at least another two years, the difference between Straus and Craddick is striking. When he ascended to the Speakership in 2003, Craddick was the first Republican to occupy that office since Reconstruction. Unfortunately, his autocratic and hyperconservative style made him sufficient enemies on both sides of the aisle that he finds himself a far-right Republican backbencher once again, just as he did when Democrats controlled the House. In a prepared statement, Straus commended Craddick for serving with distinction but pointedly said that a strong majority of his colleagues were looking to Straus "to restore civility, fairness and transparency" to the House. "The needs of special interests and partisanship will take a back seat to doing what is right for our state at this critical time," Straus said. "It is time for a new tone and an atmosphere of trust in the Texas House of Representatives." The defeat of Craddick, a social conservative who became the first Republican to lead the House in 130 years, followed three acrimonious sessions. In 2007, some Republicans yelled at him from the House floor for his claim of "absolute power." Democrats famously broke a 2003 quorum by fleeing to Oklahoma to avoid being steamrolled with a GOP redistricting plan. Straus' ascension to the position of Speaker does carry some risk for Democrats, and for Straus himself. Needless to say, the Craddick loyalists (and there are still many within the Republican caucus) are not pleased at Straus' treachery, and he can expect to face a great deal of opposition from within his own caucus over the next two years. He only needs to maintain the support of a few Republicans, of course, if he can keep all the Democrats on his side, but it will escape no one's attention that Straus was elected with far greater support from Democrats than from Republicans. For Texas Democrats, getting rid of Craddick is no doubt exciting, but it's possible it may actually compound the problems they face in trying to retake the Texas House. While Democrats are only two votes shy of a majority in the House, they have no shot at retaking the Texas Senate, and the Governorship (assuming the GOP nominates Kay Bailey Hutchison) is also likely out of reach. So the House represents Texas Democrats' best chance to gain control in even one branch of government - and have a seat at the table during redistricting. This is no small issue, given the expertly gerrymandered Congressional map of today, and the likelihood that Texas will gain as many as four seats after the next census. And Craddick's controversial style may have helped Texas Democrats in their efforts to retake the House, giving them a big target to run against in the same way Democrats used George Bush for federal elections in 2006 and 2008. If Joe Straus is serious about running the House like an adult, the backlash against Craddick Republicanism (which helped Democrats gain seats the last two cycles) may subside, and perhaps prevent the needed two-seat game to pass the Speaker's gavel over to the Democratic side. (Burnt Orange Report's Phillip Martin, however, downplays this possibility). Still, any concerns can wait for another day. For now, all Texans and all Americans who hoped that 2008 would truly usher in a new era in American politics, can revel in the downfall of former House Speaker Tom Craddick. The venerable Burnt Orange Report has been covering the Speaker's election for weeks, in far more detail, and is the place to go for further analysis.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 15:20:05 -0600 Obama to Pelosi: Stimulus 'can't wait' [New Window]
President-elect Obama meets with House Speaker Pelosi about his stimulus plan and predicts a "sobering job report" at week's end.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 11:12:40 -0600 My Minnesota: Double Down? [New Window]
Now is not the time to double down on the failed policies of the past 20 years.Now is not the time to sell our public assets at an after Christmas sale. In times of greatest crisis the way forward is to work together to invest in the common good and through shared sacrifice to gain purchase of a better future for all of the people.
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:52:54 -0600 Rangel Statement at Odds with Record [New Window]
5 Jan 2009 // NEW YORK, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Congressional records show a huge firm asked Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., for a tax cut after he asked for a donation to a school named in his honor. More
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:56:29 -0600 Rep. Charles Rangel Denies He Made Inappropriate Pitch for Funds [New Window]
5 Jan 2009 // Rep. Charles Rangel vehemently denied any impropriety Saturday following a newspaper report chronicling how he sought a donation for a public service center built in his honor from a firm with business before his committee. More
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:11:52 -0600 Rangel Pushed for a Donation; Insurer Pushed for a Tax Cut [New Window]
5 Jan 2009 // On April 21, 2008, Representative Charles B. Rangel met with officials of the American International Group, the now-troubled insurance giant, to ask for a donation to a school of public service that City College of New York was building in his honor. More
Mon, 5 Jan 2009 08:40:27 -0600 MN2020 Report: New Fees in the Era of "No New Taxes" [New Window]
During the era of "no new taxes," Minnesota is primarily addressing rising budget shortfalls by cutting much-needed aid to local governments and jacking up regressive fees on Minnesota families. Relying on these policies alone to resolve the $5.5 billion deficit would have disastrous repercussions for our state.
Sun, 4 Jan 2009 15:16:37 -0600 Richardson Withdraws Name as Commerce Secretary-Designee [New Window]
4 Jan 2009 // New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name from consideration as commerce secretary for President-elect Barack Obama, citing an ongoing investigation about business dealings in his state. More
Sun, 4 Jan 2009 10:44:30 -0600 A Donors Gift Soon Followed Clintons Help [New Window]
3 Jan 2009 // WASHINGTON An upstate New York developer donated $100,000 to former President Bill Clintons foundation in November 2004, around the same time that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton helped secure millions of dollars in federal assistance for the businessmans mall project. More
Sat, 3 Jan 2009 10:51:10 -0600 Melanie Sloan discusses Illinios Senate Appointment on Lou Dobbs Tonight [New Window]
Fri, 2 Jan 2009 09:41:40 -0600 Schools Brace For Financial Troubles [New Window]
With a projected state revenue shortfall closing in on $6 billion, lawmakers are likely to be chary when eyeing funds for Minnesota's overburdened and underfunded schools.Leaders in schools across the state, who have been trying to make ends meet even though state school funding has dropped 13 percent since 2003, are already planning for the inevitable budget troubles. For some school leaders, that means planning for budgets with no increase to meet inflationary costs for items like fuel and health insurance. For others, that means budget cuts that will lead to teacher layoffs.
Fri, 2 Jan 2009 08:28:20 -0600 Minnesota 2020 Journal: Don't Sell the Airport [New Window]
Selling the Minneapolis-St Paul airport, a state-owned capital asset, to buy down the projected biennial budget deficit, is a bad idea. More importantly, it's poor public policy.This proposal, first publicly articulated by State Representative Laura Brod and State Senator Geoff Michel, was referenced by Governor Pawlenty last week. He warmly embraced selling state assets as a budget resolution solution.
Fri, 2 Jan 2009 08:24:34 -0600 Happy New Year from Minnesota 2020! [New Window]
For many Minnesotans, 2008 was a tough year. Despite the worst recession since World War II, layoffs, a gas price bubble, a farm commodity price bubble, a farm land price bubble, skyrocketing mortgage foreclosures and a broad sense of policy direction disquiet, Minnesotans haven't lost faith in themselves.We are proud to be Minnesotans. We believe in building a better future and we're not hesitant about investing in ourselves.
Thu, 1 Jan 2009 08:38:03 -0600 Your Take: Speaking Out Against Privatization [New Window]
It might be New Years Day, but your comments are here in Your Take. This week you sounded off against ideas to privatize MSP airport.
Thu, 1 Jan 2009 08:34:26 -0600 Green & Local Food in Red Wing [New Window]
Closing out 2008, most Minnesotans have been forced to look at both public and private responses to the bad economy by pondering what can be cut, what can we do without, and how we, to use a frontier expression, might "circle the wagons."There are folks in the Mississippi River communities around Red Wing, however, who are taking a different approach to 2009 and the economic problems we are inheriting in the new year. They are pondering what they might do differently, what they might to better, and how what they do in the coming year might be of greater benefit to their community.
Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:24:11 -0600 Pushing against the achievement gap [New Window]
By James SannaTC Daily Planet (MN2020 Partner)The high schoolers in Claire Hypolite's chemistry class are clustered in little knots of desks, heads down and pencils flying as they grapple with packets of homework problems. They toss solutions and gossip back and forth in English, Somali, and Hmong while they work. Watching this entirely generic classroom scene, it's hard to believe more than 80% of these kids were failing this class only a few months ago.
Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:23:16 -0600 Historical Lessons in Privatization [New Window]
Privatizing the publicly owned and operated Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport appears headed for a prominent place on the 2009 Minnesota Legislature's agenda as policymakers look for ways to erase a record projected two-year state government budget deficit of $5.5 billion. Before hastily jumping on the privatization bandwagon, a history lesson is in order.Privatizing the publicly owned and operated Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport appears headed for a prominent place on the 2009 Minnesota Legislature's agenda as policymakers look for ways to erase a record projected two-year state government budget deficit of $5.5 billion. Before hastily jumping on the privatization bandwagon, a history lesson is in order.
Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:15:17 -0600 Quick Poll: Sell the Airport? [New Window]
Governor Pawlenty has suggested that Minnesota sell public assets to reduce the state's budget deficit without raising taxes. Conservative lawmakers have specifically suggested selling the Minneapolis-St Paul airport.
Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:13:17 -0600 Declining Values and Rising Property Taxes [New Window]
Many Minnesota homeowners are a bit befuddled these days. Why, if the value of my house is declining, are my property taxes going up?Of the approximately 200,000 Minnesota homesteads that saw a decline in their taxable market value from 2007 to 2008, about three-quarters saw a reduction in their property taxes. The remaining one-quarter of homesteads with declining values experienced a growth in their property taxes. (Final property tax data for 2009 is not yet available.) How do we explain the growth in property taxes among homesteads with declining value?
Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:27:25 -0600 My Minnesota: Wisdom in Spare Change [New Window]
I thought offering empty seats for free was encouraging and a good first step. I think we need to take this much further.I hope we will add a 2% tax on new clothing and dedicate those funds to pre-school and higher education fees. I'd like to see us do something significant in re-claiming MN as the "education state." College tuition and fees are out of control and students need help. While all education is important, pre-school and college education can be life changing. I'd like to see us use this tax revenue to provide quality pre-school education and college education for those most in need.
Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:32:53 -0600 Minnesota 2020 Journal: We Happy Few [New Window]
I stood outside recently, entranced by the crisp night sky. It's been stunningly cold so I didn't pause for more than a minute or two but long enough to be awed.Growing up on southwestern Minnesota's prairies, I loved staring at the winter stars because it taught me to see the possible. Even today, living in Saint Paul, where the urban light island blinds all but the brightest stars, I look up and find myself humbled.
Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:29:48 -0600 Holiday Greetings from Minnesota 2020 [New Window]
Since launching 18 months ago, Minnesota 2020 has substantively contributed to Minnesota's public policy debate. We couldn't do this without your help.Our mission is to move Minnesota's public policy debate forward by focusing on what really matters: education, health care, transportation, and economic development. Reader response affirms our mission commitment. We know that, through new and traditional media platforms, Minnesotans are embracing our state's policy debate, demanding a better, stronger, growing and more promising future.
Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:05:50 -0600 Nonprofit Fundraising and Economic Outlook [New Window]
Despite treacherous road conditions and frigid temperatures, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) addressed a packed room in St. Paul to unveil a detailed report on the recession's impact on nonprofits statewide. MCN's presentation included a mixture of disheartening statistics, hopeful predictions, and strategies to address the ominous reality.
Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:33:59 -0600 Minnesota's Unemployment Fund: Trouble Ahead? [New Window]
By Sheila Regan TC Daily Planet (MN2020 Partner)Minnesota's unemployment rate is going up. The unemployment compensation trust fund will most likely go into deficit during the first quarter of 2010, according to Lee Nelson, the Chief Attorney for the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:28:37 -0600 Quick Poll: Did you shop locally? [New Window]
Did you make an effort to shop locally this holiday season?
Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:28:56 -0600 Neither a 'Naughty' nor 'Nice' Holidays for Minnesota [New Window]
Community leaders all across Minnesota are making lists, checking them twice, and it hasn't anything to do with Christmas or Hanukkah.This holiday season, city and county officials are looking at what services can be cut, what human needs can be ignored, and what ongoing budget items can be made to look like "projects" to qualify for hoped-for federal funds early in the new year.
Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:28:30 -0600 Community College Offers Imperfect Solution to a Difficult Problem [New Window]
It's an imperfect plan, but Normandale Community College is willing to go ahead with it anyway.The Bloomington college is embarking on a plan that, while it goes against the traditional college payment strategy, could help unemployed Minnesotans learn new careers. NCC is offering open seats in classes at no cost to new students who can prove that they receive unemployment compensation.
Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:16:18 -0600 My Minnesota: The Receiving End of Aid Cuts [New Window]
I'm mayor for our city and if our city council did our budget like the State government does its, we'd be put out of office! We include inflation when budgeting for the next year's disbursements and underestimate our revenues so we know we'll be able to make ends meet.
Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:08:28 -0600 Pawlenty's Conservative Attack on Minnesota [New Window]
Given the choice between conservative public policy priorities and moving Minnesota forward, Governor Tim Pawlenty puts ideology ahead of Minnesota's interests.Governor Tim Pawlenty's budget deficit solution, unilaterally cutting $271 million in local government aid, higher education and healthcare/human services programs, places one more obstacle in front of families seeking strong schools, affordable healthcare, safe roads and a growing economy.
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:55:16 -0600 2009 Property Taxes in Context [New Window]
Property taxes are going up.Based on preliminary levy information from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, total property taxes for all Minnesota counties, cities, school districts, townships, and special taxing districts will increase by 6.6 percent from 2008 to 2009. Preliminary property tax levies for local governments were set in September 2008. Additional referendum levies approved in November are included in the 6.6 percent increase.This statistic by itself might lead taxpayers to conclude that local governments are flush with cash. However, as with all things involving the Minnesota property tax system, the truth is more complicated.By state law, local governments can lower their preliminary levy amount, but they cannot raise it. Thus, the final levy of a local government can be less-but not greater-than its preliminary levy. With the probability of state aid cuts in the near future, it is unlikely that many local governments will opt to reduce their preliminary levies.
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:15:37 -0600 Minnesota 2020 Journal: End Conservative Social Engineering and Save Big Money! [New Window]
Minnesota's policymakers face difficult budgeting choices. Everyone knows this. From Governor Pawlenty to Walnut Grove's most junior city councilmember, Xiong Yang, belt-tightening, service reductions, program elimination, hiring freezes, lay-offs and budget cuts are governments' watchwords.Conservative public policy leaders always piously declare that government must "cut the fat." I agree. It's time to eliminate bloated, vaguely defined, inadequately monitored state government programs. Specifically, it's to time to walk away from failed conservative social engineering masquerading as responsible public policy.Let's cut Q-comp right now and save ourselves $75 million dollars.
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:33:29 -0600 More Bad News for Minnesota Jobs: Share Your Comments [New Window]
The Department of Employment and Economic Development released Minnesota job information today and it was more bad news. Minnesota's unemployment rate jumped up one half percent from 5.9 percent in October to 6.4 percent in November. This is the highest unemployment rate in Minnesota since the first half of 1984. The number of unemployed in Minnesota reached 188,925, the highest level since March of 1983.
Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:16:17 -0600 What New Agriculture Leadership Could Mean for Minnesota [New Window]
Rural Minnesotans, like people associated with food and agriculture everywhere, learned late Tuesday that former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was announced as Agriculture Secretary-designate for the incoming administration.Not bad, on the surface, for Minnesota. An Iowan succeeding another neighbor, from North Dakota, as head of a department that has direct impact on the lives and fortunes of so many rural Minnesotans and on the food supply for all Minnesotans.
Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:05:00 -0600 Your Take: PhotoCop Interrogated, Working Miracles, and a New Medical Home [New Window]
Lots of response to Minnesota 2020 reports this week. We appreciate you reading and welcome the feedback (both praise & criticism). That's what Your Take is all about. Now, your letters.
Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:59:07 -0600 A Home for Health Care [New Window]
Your child is sick. Maybe it's since they were born, or maybe it's some evil ailment that reared its head later in life. All you know is that now your life revolves around doctors, pharmacies, and insurance claims. The mailman has ceased to be your friend. You may have even had to quit your job or alter your hours to accommodate the never-ending parade of appointments. The lists only amplify the stress and tedium that accompany this life. Lists of medicines to make sure that the different specialists don't prescribe conflicting drugs with potentially fatal side effects. Lists of different therapies from different doctors that might counteract each other.
Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:47:56 -0600 Budget Threat Not Slowing the Plows...Yet [New Window]
More than a foot of snow has fallen on the Twin Cities this season, but Minneapolis and St. Paul have yet to declare a snow emergency. And some metro freeway stretches were pretty slippery during Monday's morning commute. What's up with that? Is a looming government budget crisis affecting the clearing of icy and snowy roads.Not so far, officials say.
Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:42:58 -0600 Another Minnesota Miracle? [New Window]
Education is a long-term investment. School initiatives can sometimes take decades to reach fruition. However, the payoff is well-worth the investment. While educators have been asking for the tools they need to give our children opportunities to succeed, the state has been near silent, abrogating their fiscal responsibility to local property taxpayers to pick up the tab. A new idea gaining steam at the capitol, would not only reverse this trend, but could also create conditions for another "Minnesota Miracle."
Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:16:58 -0600 Quick Poll: How are the schools? [New Window]
Has your community`s school quality improved, declined or stayed the same over the past six years?
Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:15:15 -0600 Photocop: Common Sense to Save Lives [New Window]
A new study from Texas confirms what Minnesotans already know, but have chosen not to take advantage of: Automated traffic signal enforcement systems at crash-prone intersections significantly reduce accidents, along with their heavy health and economic costs.These devices, known as red-light cameras or the trade name PhotoCop, collect photographic evidence of vehicles running traffic signals. They allow authorities to enforce frequently flouted traffic laws at a small cost, leaving budget-strapped police departments free for other duties.
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:31:04 -0600 My Minnesota: Insanity [New Window]
One definition of insanity is... continuously repeating a behavior that's had negative results before, all the while expecting different results this time. Of course it's not that Gov. Pawlenty's previous behavior has had nothing but negative results. If you only look at the results from his selfish, personal perspective, his behavior has won him acclaim from his inner circle of advisers (the same invisible ones who tightened his leash, forcing him to reverse his position on the increase in the gas tax just a few days after the 35W bridge collapse).
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:23:47 -0600 Science Teachers: Education Quality Plummets as Class Sizes Rise [New Window]
While state leaders tout recent science test scores, Minnesota teachers in the trenches say their class sizes have gone up 20 percent in the last five years, which has caused the quality of science education to go down and has raised safety fears.More than 57 percent of science teachers who took an on-line poll conducted by Minnesota 2020 and the Minnesota Science Teachers Association said their class sizes have gone from an average of 25 students per class in 2003-04 to an average of 30 students per class this year. They said science classes should have no more than 24 students.
Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:38:58 -0600 Minnesota 2020 Journal: Crisis Mustn't Reinforce Poor Policy Choices [New Window]
If crisis offers opportunity, Minnesota should bet on itself. It shouldn't double down on failed public policy. Given state policymakers' ominous hints regarding slashing or eliminating Local Government Aid payments, that's clearly what's at risk.Today, Minnesota is staring down a projected $5.5 billion deficit, fully factoring inflation. The real kicker though is the $426 current biennial budget shortfall. That's the cash required to meet current budget obligations. But, it gets worse.
Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:31:11 -0600 State's Economic Development Strategy Failing [New Window]
Against the backdrop of Minnesota's declining economic performance, it's time for state economic development strategies that work. Minnesota's JOBZ program, essentially an enterprise zone program, and the Department of Employment & Economic Development's (DEED) Enterprise Network System (ENS) tool represent a top-down, targeted industrial policy with an emphasis on selling Minnesota as a low-tax economy and influencing business location decisions with tax subsidies. Most academic research shows that enterprise zones have no positive impact on employment or income or only temporary positive impact.
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:23:55 -0600 Your Take: Bad Budgeting, Bad Policy [New Window]
After letting a week of bad budget news sink in, Minnesota 2020 readers have had it with conservative public policy. Today they let it rip in Your Take:
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:20:57 -0600 "Gifts of Impact" Appropriate this Holiday Season [New Window]
The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches has a great idea for this holiday gift-giving season that was made all the more important by this past week's dismal state budget and employment reports.The appeal from the faith community comes as lawmakers and government officials at state and local levels look at cutting social services to cope with budget deficits, and as unemployment, bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings continue to mount.
Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:19:18 -0600 Minnesota's Environmental Education Tradition [New Window]
Minnesotans have a historically strong relationship with the natural environment. We are the land of 10,000 lakes and even passed a constitutional amendment raising sales tax rates, in part, to protect our countless wildlife, cultural heritage, and natural areas along with our precious water sources.However, with more than fifty percent (and rising) of the state's population living in the Twin Cities metro area, there is a growing disconnect between us and the surrounding nature. It will become ever more important to increase awareness of and concern for our natural resources, especially among today's youth. Environmental education aims to do exactly that through understanding the natural and social systems we are a part of and the connections between them.
Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:41:02 -0600 Pawlenty Contradicts His Own Budget Data [New Window]
After last Thursday's November budget forecast, the Governor held a press conference to spin his usual mantra that government spending is causing Minnesota's budget woes. To support his claim, the Governor produced a table (PDF) comparing total state and local government spending in each of the fifty states to the rate of job growth over the last five years. The Governor's only problem was that his data contradicted his assertion.
Tue, 9 Dec 2008 10:29:57 -0600 Quick Poll: Solving the Shortfall & Moving Forward [New Window]
What steps should state policymakers take to resolve the budget crisis and put Minnesota back on the road to growth?
Tue, 9 Dec 2008 10:26:59 -0600 Now is Precisely the Time to Invest in Education [New Window]
As Minnesotans digested Thursday's news of a state revenue shortfall, they experienced the distress that those in the education community have felt for years. Like education funding, Minnesota's financial situation is bad and will take true leadership to get the state moving again.The state promised to fully fund education early this decade. It hasn't kept that promise. Don't believe what you hear about a four percent increase one year or a two percent increase in another - Since 2003, state education investment has dropped an inflation-adjusted 14 percent.
Mon, 8 Dec 2008 10:39:25 -0600 My Minnesota: Leadership in the Shortfall [New Window]
When last the state legislature faced a major shortfall in 2003, its reaction under the leadership of newly-elected Gov. Pawlenty, was to cut a number of vital programs, including the state education budget. With the leadership of the Minnesota House in Republican hands, legislators even flat-funded education the following year, at that 2003 level.
Mon, 8 Dec 2008 10:37:23 -0600 Minnesota 2020 Journal: Budget Deficit is a Leadership Failure [New Window]
The state budget deficit is, adjusted for inflation, $5.5 billion. It represents profound leadership and policy failure.This problem has been building for years.In 2002, the State House of Representatives Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty cut a deal with his State Senate counterpart, removing the inflation calculation from state spending while including it for revenue projections. This created an illusory half-billion dollar cushion, papering over a difficult spending policy question in favor of short-term political appearance gain.
Fri, 5 Dec 2008 10:08:50 -0600 Minnesota Revenue Loss Pushes State $5.5 Billion in the Red [New Window]
The State of Minnesota is expecting a $5.5 billion structural budget deficit for the upcoming FY 2010-11 biennium, up from the approximately $2 billion deficit that was projected at the end of the 2008 legislative session. State Economist Tom Stinson warns that we could be in the midst of the worst economic situation since World War II. The mushrooming of the state deficit from the May projections to the November forecast is the result of declining state revenue.
Thu, 4 Dec 2008 16:14:40 -0600 Dealing with Budget Deficit Will Require a Balanced Approach [New Window]
Minnesota is holding its breath in anticipation of the bad news that will come in the State's November forecast, to be released later today. According to the Star Tribune, the November budget forecast to be released later today "will show streams of revenue falling further and faster than at any time in recent memory." While the newspaper did not give specifics regarding the collapse in state revenue, they characterized the likely public reaction in a single word: shock.
Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:27:26 -0600 Your Take: The Budget & Ed. Head [New Window]
It's November Forecast day, but it's also Thursday. Time for your comments.
Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:24:50 -0600 Ensuring Quality Early Childhood Care [New Window]
Family members, education professionals, and community agencies all play a role in nurturing our children from infancy until they are ready to enter kindergarten. Parents have a wide range of options when choosing an early learning environment that best meets their family's needs. With these choices, however, comes the challenge of regulating a wide range of providers in order to ensure that all Minnesota's children receive high quality care during developmentally critical early years.
Tue, 2 Dec 2008 14:39:07 -0600 Quick Poll: Estimating the Revenue Shortfall [New Window]
About how deep will the state's revenue shortfall be?
Tue, 2 Dec 2008 10:33:36 -0600 Responsible Budget Forecasting Should Acknowledge Reality [New Window]
Back in 2002, House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty and Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe were gearing up for runs for the governor's office. However, a looming budget deficit anticipated for the upcoming biennium was a liability for both leaders. Neither man wanted to run for the state's highest office with the state's long-term budget deep in the red.The bipartisan solution was politically shrewd but fiscally imprudent. They decided to ignore inflation's impact on most state expenditures, thereby artificially reducing spending so that in no longer exceeded revenue. Through this accounting maneuver, the state budget for that upcoming biennium was balanced. Mission accomplished.
Mon, 1 Dec 2008 09:22:43 -0600 My Minnesota: Investing in Minnesota [New Window]
Now is not the time for disinvesting in Minnesota. While conservatives see these economic troubles as an opportunity to cut expenditures along with taxes the reality is that the Minnesota economy needs a government stimulus now more than ever. I'm not talking about giveaways to the general public in the form of rebates but of real increases in public infrastructure and education spending, investments that have always paid a handsome return to our state and certainly have increased economic and business activity.
Mon, 1 Dec 2008 09:17:02 -0600 Minnesota 2020 Journal: Turkey Hash Leadership [New Window]
Saturday morning, strong coffee at my elbow, I flipped open the Pioneer Press' business section and discovered, on the front page, above the fold, right column, Associate Press writer Tom Raum's analysis article, "Lack of Leadership is Stalling Recovery."I almost choked.When the Associated Press' Washington Bureau starts agreeing with progressive public policy think tank Minnesota 2020, change is in the wind.
Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:40:29 -0600 Your Take: Buying Local & What Really Matters [New Window]
Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:36:25 -0600 Turkeys are Great; Jobs are Even Better [New Window]
Not all Minnesotans can share in this, but for most of us the greatest cause for celebration this Thanksgiving is having a job.That is the dark cloud hanging over this Thanksgiving week as we prepare to gather on Thursday for our annual celebration to give thanks. It is a dark cloud hanging over Friday as well, the day after Thanksgiving when the annual holiday gift-buying season usually has its unofficial start.
Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:01:51 -0600 Crashing to the Bottom of the Country [New Window]
We all know that Minnesota is the state where absolutely nothing is allowed, a benighted place in oppressive thrall, to quote a recent online post, to "all this busybody namby-pamby Big Brother regulation."But let's check that conventional wisdom against reality, starting with a new report that found the Gopher State's traffic safety laws tied for fourth loosest in the country. According to the Emergency Nurses Association, 44 states and the District of Columbia - among them Alabama, Mississippi, Wyoming and even the "Live Free or Die" state of New Hampshire -- are more restrictive of liberty than Minnesota in pursuit of reduced carnage on public roads.Laws in this large majority of the states actually force drivers to buckle their seat belts, wear helmets when motorcycling and strap their small kids into car booster seats. Oh, the horror!
Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:58:21 -0600 The Ten Most Popular Minnesota-Made Gifts & Retailers [New Window]
Since launching our second annual "Made in Minnesota" Report and Gift Guide on November 16th, the buy local movement has gone viral. Media outlets in the Twin Cities, Rochester, Mankato, St. Cloud, Moorhead, Bemidji, and Worthington, just to name a few, have all covered this great way to help our local economy.We're experiencing record site traffic! We're updating the gift guide daily. (Our apologies for the lag in posting; we're inundated with new ideas and referrals). This week, as the holiday shopping season takes off, we're featuring the ten most popular local items/retailers, based on web traffic, since the 16th. Be sure to check out these, and the more than 400 ideas on the Made in MN Gift Guide.
Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:51:57 -0600 Paid Sick Days: Help in a Tough Economy [New Window]
It's no secret that times are tough for working families right now. Family budgets are dangerously tight even though parents are working more hours than ever. And while they're working hard just to hold onto their jobs, family responsibilities still await them when they get home at the end of the day. |
