The Senator assures me he wasn’t digging for food, or trash that he might treasure, or even aVulnerable GOP Incumbent’s Guide to Distancing Yourself From The Iraq War While Still Looking Tough On Terror.
Monthly Archive for January, 2007
Page 2 of 5
From WashingtonPostBlog, Sleuth:
I forgot to post this but a couple of nights ago WCCO’s Pat Kessler “Reality Checked” the President’s State of the Union address. As always, it’s worth a look.
As longtime readers of this blog know, I’m a bit of a Walz nut; in fact, you might as well call me an addict. So, it was with much jubilation that I discovered that Congressman Walz will be joining Tim Penny on the air every month. Congressman Walz will be on former Rep. Tim Penny’s radio show the last Friday of every month for the last half hour of the show. Here’s the pertinent info:
KOWZ AM 1170
9:30 - 10:00 AM CST
Last Friday of every month (tomorrow)
Unfortunately the broadcast area only reaches the 1st CD; so I’ll have to find some other way to feed my Walz withdrawals… sigh.
Bill Name: HF0224
House Authors: Kahn; Urdahl; Hilty; Jaros; Hausman
Short Description: Poet laureate appointed, and appropriation of gift or grant money specified.
Bill Text:
H.F. No. 224, as introduced - 85th Legislative Session (2007-2008) Posted on Jan 18, 2007
House Authors: Kahn; Urdahl; Hilty; Jaros; Hausman
Short Description: Poet laureate appointed, and appropriation of gift or grant money specified.
Bill Text:
H.F. No. 224, as introduced - 85th Legislative Session (2007-2008) Posted on Jan 18, 2007
1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to the state; appointing a poet laureate; appropriating gift or grant money
1.3 received; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 138.
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [138.99] POET LAUREATE.
1.6 Subdivision 1. Appointment.
1.7 The Gov’ shall appoint a state poet laureate,
1.8 Who shall serve for a four-year term.
1.9 Because this appointment will always be great,
1.10 There’s no need for the Senate to confirm.
1.11 In appointing a poet for the public good,
1.12 And to ensure there’s no unjust omission,
1.13 The governor shall consider, if he would
1.14 Thoughts of the Humanities Commission.
1.15 Subd. 2. Removal.
1.16 The poet will be free to write rhyming lines,
1.17 With removal only for cause,
1.18 But we trust that the bard will promptly resign,
1.19 If the verse reads as badly as laws.
1.20 Subd. 3. Compensation.
1.21 ‘Twould be fair to provide some just recompense
1.22 As reward for the poet’s tribulations,
1.23 But because at this time we haven’t the cents
1.24 We’re afraid there is no compensation.
1.25 But we ask as the poet travels the state,
1.26 And the people their ears they lend,
2.1 That our learned Commission take the position
2.2 To provide the poor poet a stipend.
2.3 Subd. 4. Gifts and grants.
2.4 To provide the support that needs to come
2.5 To support our new laureate,
2.6 Gifts and grants received of a generous sum,
2.7 We hereby appropriate.
I got the releases, here’s how it actually went down.
DFL sends out wrong release:
DFL corrects release:
Brodkorb posts as if the correction doesn’t exist:
Then MDE puts up this post, not citing that the Strib Checked itself and Diaz wrote the opposite story, noting Norm’s backflip, which I pointed out here.
Weak. I think it’s important to note that the point of all this is to distract from the massive debacle of Michelle Bachmann’s SOTU clutching at Bush, and Coleman - you guessed it - voted against the resolution telling the President his escalation plan is complete bunk. Norman created the opening for himself to worm through by offering an amendment drawing a distinction between escalation in Baghdad and Al-Anbar province. Coleman knew it would fail, offered it anyway - Why? - so he could vote with Bachmann’s Beau Bush 
“The Iraqis don’t have a blank check on American blood and treasure,” Coleman said prior to the vote on his amendment. “Our patience is wearing thin, certainly with the public and the Congress. But I’m not prepared to have a resolution which says we will disregard the advice of our commanders on the ground, when they say they need something which may even mean an increase in a given area. Iraq is a mess,” Coleman said, but added, “I’m not ready to pull the plug.”
This is another perfect example of Norman’s recently perfected backflip - not flipping lest he flop. Why? Well, I agree with the commanders on the ground, but later when I’m running for re-election, I’m going to go ahead and pull the plug.
Huh?
This ‘what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger’ style of rhetoric simply will not fly under the scrunity of a high profile Senate race, Minnesotans have a longer memory and are a hell of a lot smarter than Norman thinks.
Why is Governor Pawlenty handing out $8.7 million in state dollars (in the form of a tax break) to a publishing company in Eagan?
ST. PAUL (AP) - A Minnesota company mulling a $100 million expansion would be exempt from paying sales tax on the project, under a proposal in Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s budget that administration officials refused to discuss Tuesday.
Administration officials declined even to name the company . DFL legislators familiar with the project identified it as Thomson West, a legal publishing and software giant based in Eagan.According to budget documents,
the tax break would cost the state treasury an estimated $8.7 million over the next four years . The documents say the company is considering two other states for the expansion. It could lead to 2,000 well-paying jobs on top of the 6,800 workers currently housed on the company’s 264-acre campus. [AP]
Surprised as you may be, I’m a pretty pro-free-market type of guy and it always makes me a little suspicious when one specific company is singled out for huge exemptions. What other companies will demand this treatment?
UPDATE: The AP has more info:
“You don’t get many opportunities like this to have a major global competitor do a major expansion in your state,” Minnesota Revenue Commissioner Ward Einess told a Senate panel.
“This is a rare opportunity. We want to seize it.” Einess said Ohio and Texas were also in the running for the project.
Einess said the expansion outlined Wednesday is part of a two-phase project. If Thomson selects Minnesota for both phases it would mean up to
5,000 new jobs , he said.
And Thomson West has released a Press Release on the subject. Analysis to follow.
I’ll be on Air America’s “Minnesota Matters” with Mark Heaney this afternoon around 5:00 for a good chunk of time to discuss the President’s State of the Union address and how it will affect Minnesota. AM 950 is the station but if reception isn’t ideal where you are they have a fool-proof internet broadcast available here.
Republican hit man Michael Brodkorb is over at MDE trying his best to turn Al Franken’s SNL days into a national tragedy. There are some things that I’m sure that the older, wiser Al wishes he hadn’t said or done in those crazy days but I’m pretty sure impersonating Mick Jagger isn’t on the list. Yes, that’s right, Brodkorb is trying to make Franken embarrassed about this:
I post this because I’m sincerely curious: does this video really make you think differently about Al Franken’s Senatorial possibilities? (comment!) I’m not just trying to defend big Al here, I honestly could care less that the man is a brilliant comedian as long as he’s an equally smart politician (something which he still must prove). Want evidence that I really don’t think this is a big deal? I wouldn’t repost the video if I thought that it’s damaging.
Watch the video. Seriously, her clutching goes was past appropriate - definitely beyond bizarre - borderline frightening. Listen to the Channel 5 News team, they can’t help but crack up…
[5NEWS - “MN congresswoman can’t keep her hand off Bush”]: “Newly-elected Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann got quite a bit of face time with President Bush after his State of the Union Speech Tuesday night.
While the President was signing autographs for members of Congress after the speech, the sixth-district Republican put her hand on Bush’s shoulder. However, it wasn’t just a tap. After he signed an autograph for her, Bachmann grabbed the president and did not let go for almost 30 seconds.
After signing the autograph for Bachmann, the president turns away, but Bachmann doesn’t let go. In fact, the video shows her reaching out to get a better grip on him.
Bush then leans over to kiss another congresswoman, but Bachmann is still holding on. Bachmann then gets more attention, a kiss and an embrace from the president. A few seconds later, Bachman’s hand finally comes off the presidential shoulder.”
People Are Shouting
RSS