Comments on: Molnau Ensnared In Another Major Scandal http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/ Tracking Minnesota Politics Since 2005 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:48:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: amuseinc http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13514 amuseinc Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:59:23 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13514 Molnau is a crook... Sorry guys but that is what it is when you personally benefit from your position in government. sure that road needed improvement, but are you sure that a project in Duluth or Hibbing shouldn't have been done first? What strings were pulled and how many other details were swept under the rug? I think the operative here is that we expect our government to open and transparent. We expect our representatives to NOT use their position to unfairly profit from their decisions. But then unlike our Republican friends, I believe in good government. Molnau is a crook… Sorry guys but that is what it is when you personally benefit from your position in government. sure that road needed improvement, but are you sure that a project in Duluth or Hibbing shouldn’t have been done first? What strings were pulled and how many other details were swept under the rug?

I think the operative here is that we expect our government to open and transparent. We expect our representatives to NOT use their position to unfairly profit from their decisions. But then unlike our Republican friends, I believe in good government.

]]> By: IoannesMagnumus http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13513 IoannesMagnumus Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:17:35 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13513 Did anyone else notice the timing of her being named as Pawlenty's running mate and the sale of the farm? Because the farm was sold and she bought another one in a different district, she couldn't have continued to serve in the legislature. Did anyone else notice the timing of her being named as Pawlenty’s running mate and the sale of the farm? Because the farm was sold and she bought another one in a different district, she couldn’t have continued to serve in the legislature.

]]> By: George Hayduke http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13516 George Hayduke Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:02:22 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13516 This story has been circulating for years but evidently the capitol press whores were too lazy to chase it down until now. And even now, it looks like it took some real reporters instead of the lapdogs that cover the legislature. Now, when will the spineless DFL majorities give Molnau the boot? This story has been circulating for years but evidently the capitol press whores were too lazy to chase it down until now. And even now, it looks like it took some real reporters instead of the lapdogs that cover the legislature. Now, when will the spineless DFL majorities give Molnau the boot?

]]> By: rm http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13528 rm Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:32:04 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13528 Zack and this blog call this a scandal. But they conveniently overlook Terri Bonoff and her fudged resume. It would be a scandal if she bought the land while the negotiations were going on. To be fair to Carol Molnau everybody and their brother knew that her family owned land in that area. I agree with DTM. Zack and this blog call this a scandal. But they conveniently overlook Terri Bonoff and her fudged resume.

It would be a scandal if she bought the land while the negotiations were going on. To be fair to Carol Molnau everybody and their brother knew that her family owned land in that area.

I agree with DTM.

]]> By: Scott Dier http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13515 Scott Dier Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:22:30 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13515 Reinforcing the idea that insiders knew a long time ago: "Her own family benefited from real estate transactions concerning the family farm adjacent to the right of way of the new Highway 212 in Chaska." http://northstar.sierraclubaction.org/showalert.asp?aaid=171 Since it references governor-elect, its from a /long/ time ago. I think this is just the strib dusting off the old stories they didn't publish or were thinking of publishing and finding it more relevant today than it was when it was first known. Minnesota Daily published an excerpt of the Sierra Club notice in 2003: http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2003/03/14/38286 Reinforcing the idea that insiders knew a long time ago:

“Her own family benefited from real estate transactions concerning the family farm adjacent to the right of way of the new Highway 212 in Chaska.”

http://northstar.sierraclubaction.org/showalert.asp?aaid=171

Since it references governor-elect, its from a /long/ time ago. I think this is just the strib dusting off the old stories they didn’t publish or were thinking of publishing and finding it more relevant today than it was when it was first known.

Minnesota Daily published an excerpt of the Sierra Club notice in 2003:

http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2003/03/14/38286

]]> By: Scott Dier http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13519 Scott Dier Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:13:19 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13519 Honestly, from what I know, insiders had a good angle on this a long time ago. It wasn't a leap to figure out that the 212 extension was close to land owned by the Molnau family and that her political activities may have affected the land value. I'm pretty sure I've heard of this before and while interesting, it won't land a resignation. However -- there /has/ been major armtwisting about who could/couldn't vote on Northstar due to 'conflict of intetrest'. Rep Abeler (R-Anoka) and Rep. Dittrich (D-Champlin) have been beaten about the head and shoulders on this issue. My feeling is that those who do vote anyways do disclose interests and if it becomes an issue next election it becomes an issue. Many politicians do have major land interests in their home communities and should their constituents be hamstrung for choosing someone with those accomplishments? I like to gauge these sorts of issues against the goal of having more non-conventional politicians, in the hope that getting away from the all-lawyers-all-the-time (yes, I do still like lawyers, but that shouldn't exclude non-lawyers from politics) will bring better representation (or at least a less ultra-partisan diversity of opinion) in the end. Honestly, from what I know, insiders had a good angle on this a long time ago. It wasn’t a leap to figure out that the 212 extension was close to land owned by the Molnau family and that her political activities may have affected the land value. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard of this before and while interesting, it won’t land a resignation.

However — there /has/ been major armtwisting about who could/couldn’t vote on Northstar due to ‘conflict of intetrest’. Rep Abeler (R-Anoka) and Rep. Dittrich (D-Champlin) have been beaten about the head and shoulders on this issue.

My feeling is that those who do vote anyways do disclose interests and if it becomes an issue next election it becomes an issue. Many politicians do have major land interests in their home communities and should their constituents be hamstrung for choosing someone with those accomplishments? I like to gauge these sorts of issues against the goal of having more non-conventional politicians, in the hope that getting away from the all-lawyers-all-the-time (yes, I do still like lawyers, but that shouldn’t exclude non-lawyers from politics) will bring better representation (or at least a less ultra-partisan diversity of opinion) in the end.

]]> By: Virtually Speakinig http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13518 Virtually Speakinig Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:03:17 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13518 She coulda / shoulda donated the land to her church to avoid the personal profit pitfall from expanding a metro US highway while the state roads that support the movement of produce from farm, forest and factory went without maintenance. She coulda / shoulda donated the land to her church to avoid the personal profit pitfall from expanding a metro US highway while the state roads that support the movement of produce from farm, forest and factory went without maintenance.

]]> By: DanTheMan http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13517 DanTheMan Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:58:09 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13517 Because we all know that land values shoot up six times the second a major road project is announced. Give me a break. Because we all know that land values shoot up six times the second a major road project is announced.

Give me a break.

]]> By: lojasmo http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13527 lojasmo Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:29:13 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13527 Haha...She sold the land a week after the thing was a done deal, and made a sixfold profit. Yeah, she should have disclosed. This is a HUGE ethical lapse. I love the republican appologistia who habitually pop up here. Haha…She sold the land a week after the thing was a done deal, and made a sixfold profit.

Yeah, she should have disclosed. This is a HUGE ethical lapse.

I love the republican appologistia who habitually pop up here.

]]> By: DanTheMan http://mnpublius.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13526 DanTheMan Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:24:05 +0000 http://s23139.gridserver.com/2008/02/molnau-ensnared-in-another-major-scandal/#comment-13526 Good question, MRW. If there was a formal procedure or disclosure law that she clearly should have followed in this case, I would have to change my opinion. Good question, MRW. If there was a formal procedure or disclosure law that she clearly should have followed in this case, I would have to change my opinion.

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