Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 3, Issue 24 - 12/21/2007
Publisher's Note
Happy Holidays from the crew at Politics in Minnesota, Sarah Janecek, Betty Folliard, Ricé Davis, Dan Feidt, Peter Bartz-Gallagher (the intellectual captain of our Morning Report team), Nick Lambert and Pam Steinle. More so than in recent years, we're in especially good cheer. Must be that snow on the ground with more expected before Santa loads his sleigh.
Our most important story is our first one: Betty has been offered an opportunity too good to pass up. [Whether we'll find a DFL pinch-hitter for her has yet to be determined.] Be sure to scroll down for Betty's interview with House Speaker Margaret Kelliher (DFL-Minneapolis).
We won't be publishing a Weekly Report next Friday, December 28th; we'll resume Friday, January 4th, and name our PIM Legislator of the Year. Thanks to everyone who has made nominations, we've received some surprisingly good and thoughtful ones. We're still taking nominations (confidentially) at staff@politicsinminnesota.com.
We will be publishing Morning Reports, however, the next few weeks. We'll publish these December 26-28 and January 2-4. As you get together with family and friends to celebrate the holidays, don't forget to tell your political junkie friends that anyone may subscribe for FREE to our Morning Report by going to our website, www.politicsinminnesota.com.
Betty Signs Off For Now
I have greatly enjoyed the role of contributing writer for PIM over the past three months bringing a different perspective to the public dialogue regarding state affairs. This week I step off my perch for three months to fulfill a promise to a friend and favorite Congressman. It is my great honor to have been invited to serve in the office of Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN5) for the next two-and-a-half months. CD5 state director Brian Elliott is leaving for 10 weeks on paternity leave. (Best wishes, to Brian & Jeri!) Brian's job will be temporarily parceled out to Asst. State Director Darlynn Benjamin, and staffers Aaron Neumann, Alison Harris and me. My duties will include spearheading the 5th Congressional District Arts Competition, covering the Arts Community, as well as providing community outreach to the cities of Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Golden Valley -- a geographical area in which I have strong knowledge.
What a joy it is to have been gifted with the PIM bully pulpit. It's also amazing how friendly and accepting the PIM audience is of my non-journalistic shortcomings. Special thanks to my friend Sarah Janecek and to all the gang at PIM. Working with Sarah has been a real delight. We get on like a house afire and have that rare commodity: the ability to agree without being disagreeable! (Of course the wine and food helped, ...)
But seriously folks, here's wishing happy, healthy holidays to all. I look forward to sharing more with you all upon my return.
Warring Eyes On The Prize
We've written before how vested the Star Tribune has become in trying to win a Pulitzer or two from the paper's coverage of the I-35W bridge collapse. To summarize, it's unlikely (God willing) that our state will ever again suffer such a freak accident and tragedy in public infrastructure where 13 lives were lost. The paper, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, did extraordinary work under the leadership of then-managing editor Scott Gillespie, who directed the Star Tribune to "flood the zone" in its coverage.
At first blush, winning a Pulitzer would seem to be good not only for the home town state, but also for the state of that paper. But not for Republicans, particularly those serving in Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Administration, like MnDOT Commissioner Carol Molnau and her top staff. As we've also written before, some reporters at the paper have crossed civil lines in trying to find the bridge equivalent of Watergate's Deep Throat.
But that's not the only quibble MnDOT has with the Star Tribune's bridge collapse coverage. The Department has been keeping a highly documented file of every fact that it deems the Star Tribune has gotten wrong. As we understand it, the file has become inches high...and that MnDOT plans to make sure the Pulitzer Prize Board receives it.
PIM staff called the Pulitzer Prize office at Columbia University. We were told that there isn't any formal mechanism for challenges against winning a Pulitzer, but the Pulitzer committee asks the newspapers to include challenges and complaints about their coverage with the exhibits they submit to be considered for prizes. We were told by a unidentified staffer that "That's part of our rules, and challenges are intended to be presented to the judges alongside the offered articles."
The operative language in the Pulitzer Prize submission forms reads: "Any significant challenge to the honesty, accuracy or fairness of an entry, such as published letters, corrections, retractions, as well as responses by the newspaper, should be included in the submission." [Emphasis ours.]
One reasonable interpretation of this requirement would seem to preclude the Star Tribune from having to submit the MnDOT "error" file. We trust MnDOT will appeal directly to the Pulitzer Board, the members of which determine the recipients of the prizes.
There's another interesting wrinkle for the Star Tribune in next year's Pulitzer awards. Former Star Tribune editor, now Miami Herald executive editor Anders Gyllenhaal, still sits on the Board, and will be voting on the prizes.
[Note on the Pulitzer links: They only have one link for the whole site.]
"Lobbying" campaigns against Pulitzer awards, by the way, are not unprecedented. A few examples are here, here and here.
Reflections Of A Speaker
As the year end rapidly approaches it's time to pause and reflect on noteworthy moments of the year, and who better to do this with than one of the three most powerful decision-makers in our state. The woman who is just completing her first year of service in the post, the Honorable Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (Speaker MAK). We met in her office for a warm, friendly chat.
The question: as Speaker of the Minnesota House, what are the accomplishments of which she is most proud? Speaker MAK replied that there have been lots of accomplishments, beginning with the fact that the Legislature got their work done on time and within budget. According to Speaker MAK, this was the first time in eight years that the Legislature has come within budget during a budget year. Effectively working with a dynamic caucus of 85 democratic members to begin restoring bi-partisan working relations was a real accomplishment. Also helping to create "Green Collar" job investments through passage of the renewable energy law and passing the climate change and conservation measures was huge - making Minnesota a premier state on environmental issues. And in Higher Education stopping double-digit tuition increases and implementing steps to better connect workforce development to higher education was a major coup. She praised Senator Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) and Representative Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia), as chairs of the Higher Education committees, for their stellar work; noting that some folks herald passage of that law as the most significant Higher Ed bill in 20 years.
We talked about surprises/disappointments, and Speaker MAK said that the state has faced huge challenges we did not expect. Two tragedies beset Minnesota within two weeks: the 35W bridge collapse and the flooding disaster. "It made us all more aware of how decisions on the policy front and on the funding front directly impact lives, and made it more personal." Another surprise was that Speaker MAK thought that Governor Tim Pawlenty would govern differently after declaring in his 2007 Inaugural Speech that he'd heard the message from the electorate in the aftermath of the 2006 Democratic sweep and would now embrace a "spirit of civility," a "new path," and a blending of perspectives" (Star Tribune 1/03/07, not available online), but that didn't happen. Though she believed he had good intentions, "He fell back on old behaviors" when it came time to compromise. Speaker MAK was also disappointed that after passing property tax relief twice (the first would have provided property tax relief to up to 90% of Minnesotans) the Governor vetoed both bills.
In leadership there are sometimes colleagues within one’s own party sniping and nipping at your heals; and when asked how that was going for her, Speaker MAK replied that it is important to have open communications at all times. "I believe in the continuous improvement model, and that we can all be open to improving our processes. People should have high expectations of their leaders. Leaders should be open to changing behaviors that are not working for them." (That goes for some of her fellow leaders on both sides of the aisle as well.)
It is oft said that the Governor proposes and the legislature disposes and the Governor gets about 90% of proposals in his budget. When asked what work has transpired behind the scenes over the past few months to ensure that the Governor's proposals reflect the values of all Minnesotans, not just of the Republican Party, Speaker MAK explained that in the situation (with the House leading by 85-49) she believes that the Legislature is more responsive to the needs of average Minnesotans. Speaker MAK pointed out though that the Governor recently had his office draw up a scorecard - the 83-point checklist - in response to criticism of his work that got mention in Patricia Lopez's article for the Star Tribune. Speaker MAK chuckled, "If an initiative didn't happen, he claims the Legislature blocked it; if it did happen, he claims it was the Governor's idea. The fact is that we have to do the work together. The Governor can't pass laws, he can only sign them. Of course he makes recommendations in his budget proposal, but a powerful amount of work is done in-between, when legislators do amazing work reflecting the views of Minnesotans across the state, before it ever comes to the desk for a signature."
Looking forward to the next Session in February, what is (as Billy Crystal would say) 'the one thing' Speaker MAK would most like to accomplish? "The one thing", she answered, "is to make investments in our infrastructure. And we can do it in two significant ways. First, invest in our physical infrastructure - handled through the transportation committee, the capital investment committee; second, investing in our human infrastructure - through improved health care access and affordability, investments in early childhood all the way up through higher education, and with Research & Development to grow jobs across this state. I call these the hard goods (physical investments) and soft goods (human investment)."
Now that she has gone 'mano-a-mano' with the Governor, will she consider running for the top job in 2010? Speaker MAK replied, "Right now I am focused on the 2008 Session. Doing well by Minnesota is my #1 priority."
And Madame Speaker asked me to mention that, since her counterpart in the DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller goes golfing and the Governor runs, she has in the last few months embraced a new health regimen, taking up regular exercise and losing a lot of weight. She added that she is joined in this initiative by two members of her immediate staff - Executive Director of the House Mike Charboneau and Legislative Assistant to the Speaker Dianne Ruppert. The new, leaner (but not meaner), more focused Speaker quipped, "Between the three of us, we've already lost a person."
When asked, is the job all that she expected? Speaker MAK reflected, "Yes. And more."
Merry Christmas From Politics in Minnesota
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through St.Paul
Not a story was stirring, not even a scrawl.
The Capitol was quiet, no scandal or shame
The PIM Weekly Report was looking pretty lame.
'Cause Governor Pawlenty was getting along
with Kelliher and Pogemiller despite their past wrongs.
And Molnau is lying low, as is Mark Ritchie
Other news is big news (at least temporarily).
When in the PIM office, there rose such a clatter
"What's wrong?" We asked Sarah, "What is the matter?"
Sarah responded with panic and fear
"We have nothing to write about for the rest of the year!"
"The Weekly Report has a reputation to uphold
We need some content - something vibrant and bold."
The staff thought it through, "Let's do a spoof!
It's fun and creative and idiot-proof."
Sarah pondered the idea, with glee she was rife
as she declared to the office, "It's a Wonderful Life."
"We'll feature political groups as our George Bailey
and illustrate the outcome if they were nary."
"We'll poke fun at both sides, we'll include politicians too
In an effort to garner a positive comment or two."
"On Ricé Davis and Betty Folliard, Pam, Nick and Dan,
This issue will be great, what a fabulous plan!"
So we wrote out this issue with creativity and wit
Sarah approved the edition and hit the button "transmit."
She sent us home for a week to enjoy holiday cheer
"Merry Christmas to all, see ya next year!"
So, picture the angel Clarence helping PIM get our wings, instead of George Bailey....
It's A Wonderful Life: Clarence Presents A Minnesota Without The Taxpayers League
First, let's travel to the Capitol. Yes, it’s December, but everyone's in town. There was no Republican House majority during Jesse Ventura's tenure, so Minnesota now has a year-round legislature. And, by everyone, I mean our 600 legislators who each now sit on four dozen committees and working groups, thanks to the creativity of Speaker Margaret Kelliher and the House DFL majority.
Without Governor Tim Pawlenty, we see Roger Moe in his second term of office as Governor-for-life. Larry Pogemiller is Moe's Lt. Governor. Pogey not only serves as Lt. Governor, but also as Commissioner of Education. But wait! The Department of Education was renamed. He's now Commissioner of the Department called... "It's All About the Children, All the Time."
Anyway, there they are, at a press conference. Hillary Clinton is naming Moe as her Vice Presidential candidate. If Hillary is elected, Pogemiller, of course, becomes our Governor. As Governor, Pogemiller has vowed to work with Congressmen Jim Oberstar and Tim Walz, to run light rail to Duluth, Rochester, Mankato, Moorhead, Bemidji and International Falls.
Meanwhile, Tim Pawlenty is on the second floor of the State Office Building, where he has been since 1994. He's right there in the office next to Steve Sviggum, who is still the Minority Leader. The House Republican Caucus easily fits onto one floor, which is most unfortunate, because after every Tax Committee hearing, everyone can hear Phil Krinkie sobbing. Every now and then, someone tries to tune out Krinkie and his crying by cranking up the radio... where David Strom can be heard .... reading the traffic report during Nick Coleman's Liberal Power Hour.
Minnesota now has three brand new stadiums: the MoveOn.org Vikings Stadium, the George Soros Twins Stadium and the Greenpeace Gophers Stadium. There was a movement to name the Gophers Stadium after Phyllis Kahn, but there weren’t enough 12-year-olds around to vote on it.
Smoking is now illegal in Minnesota. Anyone caught lighting up is now subject to a "health impact fee," .... which goes to finance research on the medicinal use of marijuana. Actually, that’s not quite correct. If you are on welfare, you can still use your welfare checks to buy cigarettes...and trans fats.
Education Minnesota, which now sports glassy offices in the top floor penthouse of the Graves 601, has passed another round of referendums. They were needed. Class size is no longer an issue. Each student has his or her own personal teacher, weight loss trainer, life coach and all-around gofer.
Michelle Bachmann didn't run for Congress. She is still in the State Senate trying to repeal the Profile of Learning – and she clutches Governor Moe's arm after every State of the State speech.
John Kline didn’t run for Congress either. So he’s had plenty of time to perfect the art of spitting on his Marine Corps boots .... so he can afford to shine them on his $20 a month military pension.
On the national scene, President Al Gore just made headlines by announcing his "Freezer Fridays" initiative. Now, on Fridays, every family -- including every gay family, every lesbian family, every bisexual family and every transgender family – must open their freezer doors on Friday. In this way, Al thinks we can win the war on global warming.
Without Republicans, the nation... and Minnesota... looks like Pottersville.
It's A Wonderful Life: Clarence Presents Minnesota Without The Left
Without the reality-based community meddling around, imagination takes flight and the impossible becomes profitable! No Mike Ciresi, No Al Franken: Big Tobacco has seized control of the state with their vast coffers of money. Without Ciresi's big bite, their lobbyist swarms got cigarette machines placed in every high school. The "Git 'em While They're Young" campaign is a huge hit all around Minnesota, and kids flock to the Twins' new "Joe Camel Stadium." They're puffing death sticks like pale French writers in Left Bank cafes.
Of course it doesn't stop there. Ciresi's Senatorial-hopeful counterpart Al Franken was also never with us. The Left is totally ignorant of that big fat idiot, Rush Limbaugh; Man of the People Norm Coleman, with 90% approval ratings, replaced Dick Cheney as Vice President of the United States last year.
Without Education Minnesota's lobbying might, the state found it much more productive to invest in football stadiums, security cameras on every corner, and Bridges to Nowhere. Without the teachers' incessant "what about the children" guilt tripping, legislators could actually get stuff done quickly. Unable to find cut-rate teachers, the geniuses at the new Comcast Charter Schools, Inc. made our schools the most technologically advanced - and outsourced - in the country. Our students are now taught, via satellite/HDTV, by the finest teachers Bangalore has to offer, at a fraction of the price.
Since R.T. Rybak and his sometimes-sputtering electric car never gained citywide prominence, Minneapolis Mayor Michael Brodkorb (MinnesotaDemocratsExposed.com) rolls around I-594, I-294 and I-794 in his well-polished Ford Excursion.
All that trendy green design went out the window, since the left lacked Thomas Friedman's pithy little axioms; it's Segways on the sidewalks and coal furnaces instead of windmills.
Without the left to stop Jesse Ventura's Big Plan, it now fills its own warehouse on Highway 280. In front of the warehouse, a giant bronze statue of Jesse reads aloud "Ain't Got Time To Bleed" while pivoting to face the sun, a leader worship motif first developed in Turkmenistan.
Without the left, the powerless trial lawyers have become very good at asking, "Do you want fries with that?"
Bits & Pieces
A trio of prominent endorsements this week for DFL U.S. Senate candidate Mike Ciresi...a "My Three Sons à la Ciresi. They are DFL Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, former DFL Sen. and gubernatorial candidate Ted Mondale and former DFL Secretary of State candidate and ASI Communications executive Skip Humphrey. [Father and former DFL Attorney General Skip Humphrey has to sit this one out as head of the Minnesota AARP.] Also joining the Ciresi endorsement roster is former DFL House Speaker Harry Sieben.
Al Franken announced endorsements from The Council for a Livable World and the St. Paul Fire Supervisors.
PIM Staffer Pam Steinle literally bumped elbows with Jim Safley, partner at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., over the cheese plate at a Ciresi fundraising event on December 12th. Safley admitted he was a Republican (suddenly I didn't feel so alone), and went on to describe how adamantly Ciresi was against the war from the get-go. Safley and Ciresi were in Naples when the war began, and he recalled how even then, before Ciresi was running for office, Ciresi clearly and eloquently stated his anti-war sentiments.
Mark your calendars: The Minnesota Women's Consortium, an organization that connects 160 women's organizations across the state, will be celebrating its 28th Anniversary Party with a splash at the Science Museum of Minnesota on January 31st from 6:30-8:30 pm. This years theme is "Dreamers & Doers," and they will recognize outstanding achievement of change agents past and present. Call Bonnie Watkins or Jen Pederson at 651-228-0338 or visit www.mnwomen.org.
The final ballot is set in Senate District 25. Former house member Ray Cox (R) with 2029 votes, emerged victorious on the December 18 primary election over former New Prague school board member Rod Tietz (649 votes) and Henderson mayor Keith Swenson (363 votes). According to Shannon Fiecke, reporter for the Jordan Independent, Tietz is throwing his support to Cox and has even offered to help the Cox campaign. Tietz's nine-day campaign garnered over 20% of the vote - an admirable accomplishment - and PIM anticipates we will hear his name again. On January 3rd, Cox will go up against DFL endorsed Kevin Dahle (Northfield teacher and union president), and independent candidate Vance Norgaard (Northern Pipeline Construction). According to Fiecke, Norgaard is working on attaining the Independence Party endorsement.
5th Congressional District Communications Director Rick Jauert sent out his holiday photo this year featuring a family photo with 'the better half' of The Jauerts, Al Franken. Huh? Apparently every year at this holy season Rick sends out his greetings in the form of "Rick's Rant" - a diatribe on politics past, present, and future. Who says you can't mix politics and religion? This year he features his favorite political candidate á la family photo. (We also noted that at the bottom of the page there is a "Hillary for President" button. Whoo-Hoo!).
Hearty congrats go out to longtime Democratic organizer and Sen. Mark Dayton staffer Heidi Kraus as she takes up the role of State Director for the Hillary Clinton for President Minnesota campaign. No better woman! We also wish her speedy healing from her car accident a week ago. A little TLC and R&R for the holidays will help.
Lobbyist Watch
From the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board:
Morning Reports
