February 9-11, 2018

Feb 09 07:45 #RandPaulShutdown is over
Feb 09 09:43 Rick Nolan's (surprise) retirement + Update + Stewart Mills considering
Feb 09 17:54 Democrats on the offense?

Feb 10 08:53 Tina Smith's grandstanding

Feb 11 03:33 Tina Smith's dog & pony show
Feb 11 11:54 Otto's victory, Nolan's retirement

Prior Months: Jan

Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

#RandPaulShutdown is over

The #RandPaulShutdown is officially over . This wasn't a Republican shutdown. It wasn't a Democrat shutdown. It was just another example of Rand Paul proving yet again that he cares more about spending than he cares about the military. He's a disgrace. He isn't a patriot. He's a principled idiot with bad judgment. First, it passed in the Senate:








Later, it passed the House:







Posted Friday, February 9, 2018 7:45 AM

Comment 1 by JerryE9 at 09-Feb-18 09:45 AM
So you are OK with a 13% increase in federal spending and trillion-dollar deficits that Obama was roundly and rightly condemned for? I can understand complaints about tactics and even "optics," but surely not with the principle?

Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 09-Feb-18 11:26 AM
Of course not. I'm even more not ok with not protecting ourselves, though.

Comment 2 by Chad Q at 09-Feb-18 08:23 PM
We can protect ourselves without a 13% increase in spending. Start pulling our troops out of countries where they are no longer needed or more importantly, wanted. Stop spending money on planes that won't fly or on machines or guns no one wants just so the pockets of defense contractor can be lined. The GOP was elected to cut the budget, not increase it. No sense in having control of all 3 branches if they are still going to spend like drunken sailors. Paul, Lee, and few others are the patriots whereas the rest are establishment hacks. Can't wait to find out the deals the GOP struck with the democrats to get this passed without anything for DACA.

Response 2.1 by Gary Gross at 10-Feb-18 01:58 PM
Just where were we going to get the 9 votes to pass the budget? Wishing wouldn't make it happen.

Comment 3 by JerryE9 at 10-Feb-18 10:26 AM
Chad, I strongly disagree. Defense is one function of the federal government they are uniquely qualified to do. Telling 300 million people what health care and how to pay for it is "right" for them, is simply not. Cut what government should not be doing or does not do well, and the spending problem goes away, as it must.

Rick Nolan's (surprise) retirement + Update + Stewart Mills considering

Rick Nolan's retirement has taken everyone by surprise. According to GOMN, "Minnesota's 8th Congressional District Rep. Rick Nolan has announced he will retire at the end of his term this year. The shock announcement was made Friday morning, with Nolan revealing in a press release his intention to see out the remainder of his term before stepping down. His district is one of the most closely-contested in the nation and will be a huge target for Republicans in the November mid-terms."

The DFL will have a difficult time defending their majority in the Minnesota delegation. They're already in trouble in southern Minnesota after Tim Walz decided to not run for re-election in MN-01 after winning by only 1.5 points in 2016. If Republicans win both seats, which is a distinct possibility, that'd put a serious hurt on Democrats recapturing the U.S. House.

Brian McClung has it right:



Here's Nolan's full statement:
To the great people of Minnesota's 8th District

With deep appreciation and thanks for allowing me to represent you in the Congress of the United States, I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for reelection, and will retire at the end of the current term.

The gratitude and affection I have for all of you here in Northern Minnesota is beyond my ability to express in words. Make no mistake - I love my work representing you in the Congress, and the decision to leave is agonizing to say the least - especially when thinking of all the many volunteers, contributors, party leaders, colleagues, supporters - and of course the voters - who have all meant so much to our success.



The fact is, I have spent 16 productive and exciting years in elective office, and far longer working behind the scenes in business, labor, community service, and the public policy arena. Good politics is about making a positive difference in people's lives, and together with all of you and a brilliant dedicated staff, we've made a real difference for the 8th District of Minnesota and our great Nation. Jobs are coming back. Wages are going up. The Iron Range and the 8th District are on the economic rebound, and our best days are still ahead.

Having said that, there is a time and a purpose for everything and now is the time for me to pass the baton to the next generation.

To be sure, I'm really going to miss representing the 8th District, but it is time for me to spend more time with my wonderful wife, Mary, our four fantastic adult children and their terrific spouses, and our 13 remarkable grandchildren. They have been incredibly patient and supportive. Now it's time for me to respond in kind, and give them the attention they deserve and I want to give.

Despite the fact that our Nation is being challenged by some rather troubling politics, let's remember that our Founders foresaw difficult times and gave us the tools to see them through. Our Constitution is strong, our people are resilient, and the elections of 2018, 2020 and beyond provide continuing opportunities for progress, reform and necessary change.

Hopefully the timing of this announcement in this still young election year will provide prospective candidates with ample opportunity to present themselves to voters and activists at the many party county conventions to be held over the next several months throughout our region.

Fortunately, we are blessed to have a number of highly qualified people who have demonstrated the ability to win tough elections and govern effectively. With hard work and a broad base of support, one of them will win the seat, and serve with distinction in the next Congress.

Meanwhile, rest assured, with the better part of a year left in office, I will continue working for the people of Minnesota's 8th district and our entire Nation, energized and determined to finish strong.

History teaches us that there are no final victories in politics. There will always be powerful forces standing in the way of progress. So I will continue always to speak out for the common sense, progressive agenda I have spent a lifetime fighting for. But I will be doing so as a private citizen, privileged and grateful to be living here in the greatest Nation on earth.

Again, thank you so very much for choosing me to represent you.

Rick
UPDATE: This information might explain the motivation behind Nolan's surprise retirement:
He said the main factor in his decision was a desire to spend more time with his family, mentioning his wife, children, and grandchildren, hockey games and school plays. (Nolan's daughter, Katherine, is currently receiving treatment for lung cancer.) "It's time for me to go home and spend more time with them," he said. "It's been coming for a long time. I got back into the front line of politics to see what I could do to help with getting things turned around in the district and in the country: There's just a time and a season for everything."
Update II: This information should get everyone's attention:








If Stewart Mills gets into this race, that's a race-changer.

Posted Friday, February 9, 2018 4:45 PM

Comment 1 by Gretchen Leisen at 10-Feb-18 02:29 PM
I have been a supporter of Stuart Mills in the past 2 elections. I do have reservations this year, however, as I have been reading many articles about Pete Stauber, and what a great candidate he is for this district.

Having a contested nomination can be a good thing IF [and that is a big IF] the candidates do not bash each other and allow the Democrats to appear to be the good guy/gal in the fray. I will be watching this thing closely.

Democrats on the offense?

Democrats are going on the offense in their attempt to retake the US House. They're targeting 101 GOP House seats. The way things are going in Minnesota, they'd better target 150 seats because they're likely going to lose 2 seats in Minnesota.

When Tim Walz announced that he wasn't running for re-election so he could run for governor, that seat was all-but-officially lost for the DFL. The DFL's bench is virtually nonexistent while Republicans have 2 quality candidates who are ready to rock.

Today, Rick Nolan surprised people by announcing that he isn't seeking re-election in MN-08. That immediately threw that race into toss-up status. Early this afternoon, Stewart Mills announced via Twitter that he's considering jumping into the race:








Then there's this:




Other new DCCC targets include South Carolina's 5th Congressional District, where Democrat Archie Parnell outperformed expectations in a special election last year and is running again; New Jersey's 4th Congressional District, represented by veteran GOP Rep. Chris Smith; Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District, held by Rep. Sean Duffy; and Maryland's 1st Congressional District, which includes the state's conservative Eastern Shore, where Democrats initially planned to have their retreat.


The DCCC can target Sean Duffy if they'd like but it's a waste of time. Further, with the economy getting stronger and the tax cuts getting more popular, Democrats won't be able to stay on the offensive much longer.



Once the ads start running showing every Democrat voting against the tax cuts, Democrats will be in God's little acre -- east of the rock, west of the hard place.

Posted Friday, February 9, 2018 5:54 PM

Comment 1 by Mining Supporter at 09-Feb-18 09:46 PM
Nothing against Stewart Mills but overlooking CD8, Pete Stauber has a better chance considering his union background and area location. People on the range are conservative in general but are slow to change in response to what the Democratic party has become. It no longer supports farming or labor when looking at its national policies. The Democratic party supports funding sources over balanced environmental policy which would benefit farming and labor. It is obvious, accepting that is extremely difficult for die hard DFL supporters. The far left controls that party now and that is the reality which is painful to swallow.

Tina Smith's grandstanding

Today, Tina Smith will be in St. Cloud for the latest stop in her grandstanding tour . Nothing says grandstanding like hearing that "U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer will meet Saturday in St. Cloud with local leaders, economic development officials, and some Electrolux employees and union representatives to discuss the company's plans to close its St. Cloud manufacturing facility. The meeting, which will be closed to the public, is set for 1:45 p.m. at St. Cloud City Hall. Smith, Emmer and others are expected to be available for questions from the media after the meeting."

It isn't that Electrolux employees don't have questions. It's that those questions are best answered by the people who deal with this every day. (Unfortunately, Minnesota is getting too good at this.) What's stunning is that the meeting is closed to the public. What's being told to these workers that can't be discussed in public?

One thing that might've hurt Minnesota is the skilled workforce issue. Years ago, a study was commissioned that said this:




Robert Ady was a longtime executive of Deloitte & Touche/Fantus Consulting, a leading site location firm. He is said to have assisted more site locations than any living person. He concludes that it is the quality of the work force, not low wages, that is decisive in the site location decision: "The single most important factor in site selection today is the quality of the available work force . Companies locate and expand in communities that can demonstrate that the indigenous work force has the necessary skills required by the company or that have the training facilities to develop those skills for the company." (Ady, 1997, p. 81).

- A report from the Higgins Labor Studies Program, University of Notre Dame, March 2011


The truth is that many of the workers didn't have the required skills. That required Electrolux to hire extra workers, which drove up labor costs.








Tina Smith's empathy is situational. She hasn't lifted a finger to help create mining jobs at Twin Metals or PolyMet but she's willing to secretly meet with employees in St. Cloud. What a farce.

Posted Saturday, February 10, 2018 8:53 AM

No comments.

Tina Smith's dog & pony show

Saturday, Sen. Klobuchar, Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Emmer brought their dog and pony show to St. Cloud to talk with Electrolux employees. This isn't a criticism of Electrolux employees. It isn't even a criticism of the federal government, though I'm not thrilled with the fact that Sen. Klobuchar and Sen. Smith voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

It's mostly a criticism of the Dayton administration and the DFL. The DFL are the idiots who've created a hostile environment for companies. The DFL raised taxes. The DFL implemented unreasonable regulations. The DFL put in place systems that give special interests multiple bites at the same apple in terms of granting permits.

I can blame Sen. Klobuchar for wanting to accept more refugees than Minnesota can handle. That matters because of this information:




There's also a segment of Somali workers, about one-quarter of the Electrolux workforce, Klobuchar said. One of the workers who spoke in the meetings is part of that community. Many of them don't have a high school degree or came here for this job. "This is their whole life, the life they've known," she said "Losing that community of the people you've worked with forever, you're not going to be able to replace that and that was really heartbreaking."


It was utterly predictable. Why would a company stay in a place and accept workers who weren't considered part of a well-trained workforce? South Carolina has a better tax environment, a more skilled workforce and it's a right-to-work state. Why would Electrolux choose to deal with union negotiations when it doesn't have to?

[Video no longer available]

Companies (and wealth) have been fleeing Minnesota for a couple decades. The DFL keeps pretending that everything's just fine when things aren't fine. It's time for the DFL to finally admit that their policies aren't pro-growth policies.

Posted Sunday, February 11, 2018 3:33 AM

Comment 1 by Chad Q at 11-Feb-18 08:20 AM
It's the DFL dream. A state of poorly educated and low skilled immigrants who are dependent on the government welfare programs to survive and in return, those low skilled workers keep voting for the DFL.

Comment 2 by John Palmer at 11-Feb-18 10:49 PM
That golden goose (Tax payers) are leaving the state and it is getting harder and harder to raise enough money to keep all the DFL groups happy. Low wage workers don't pay income taxes nor do they have money to spend. Unlike California Minnesota does not have fat cat entertainers to pay for government excesses.

Otto's victory, Nolan's retirement

Don Davis's article puts forth an interesting question with multiple ramifications. In the article, Davis wrote "On Tuesday night, Feb. 6, Democratic precinct caucus attenders in the 8th favored State Auditor Otto 1,072 to 729 in a governor race straw poll. It may have been the only congressional district U.S. Rep. Tim Walz did not win in his effort to become governor (the party reported Friday with most, but not all, votes counted that Walz led Otto by three votes in the 6th District, in the northern Twin Cities suburbs and northwest to St. Cloud). From all accounts, many of the DFL caucus sites were heavy with environmentalists who backed Otto. The same type of liberal may not be as happy with Nolan, who supports mining in the district."

Had he not retired, Nolan would've faced a primary challenge from Leah Phifer. It's clear from Ms. Phifer's environment page that she's a hardline environmentalist. It says "Minnesota has a complex, layered practice of permitting and protections designed to safeguard the public, the economy, and the environment. It is a process of which Minnesotans should be proud and one that Leah will fight to protect. Similarly, the federal government has due process - a system built upon three coequal branches that provide checks and balances to one another, protecting citizens from exploitation and unfair application of our laws. Leah has seen the crucial importance of due process throughout her career and opposes the use of legislative power to circumvent the role of the judicial or executive branches."








It then continues, saying:




For these reasons, Leah opposes H.R. 3115, a bill that passed the U.S. House in early December 2017 to push through a land swap needed for the completion of the PolyMet mine in Hoyt Lakes. Enacting this legislation will void four pending lawsuits on the matter, preventing Minnesotans from questioning the legality of the land swap and eliminating the judicial branch's role. Leah also opposes the MINER Act (HR 3905), which will prevent the completion of a two-year Forest Service study related to economic and environmental issues associated with mining near the Boundary Waters. It also designates Minnesota as the only state in the nation unworthy of public lands protections, requiring Congressional intervention into decisions regarding public lands in Minnesota. Leah believes politicians should not use their legislative power to place their thumbs on the scales of these important projects, as it prevents the regulatory process from working as intended and erodes our system of due process. She will fight to preserve Minnesotan's trust in our procedural systems and work with all Minnesotans to build a strong, sustainable economy for many years to come.



Pipeline Removal

Minnesota has two petroleum refineries and an extensive system of pipelines transporting crude oil and refined petroleum across the state. Some of these pipelines contain deteriorating infrastructure, causing companies to seek their replacement. Leah supports exercising corporate responsibility through the removal of decommissioned pipelines where appropriate and requested by landowners. In addition to respecting individual property rights, such removal could have significant positive impacts on Northern Minnesota's economy. A current proposal for the removal of Enbridge's Line 3 has the potential to create 8,000 jobs and a inject over a billion dollars into the local economy. Furthermore, Leah will ensure discussion surrounding pipelines includes and respects Native American voices, a community that is disproportionately affected by the location of these pipeline routes.


Phifer doesn't support rebuilding the Line3 Pipeline. She supports decommissioning and tearing out the Line3 Pipeline. Then, to throw a little pandering into her politicking, she said "Leah will ensure discussion surrounding pipelines includes and respects Native American voices, a community that is disproportionately affected by the location of these pipeline routes."



I'll expand on Ms. Phifer's campaign later today.

Posted Sunday, February 11, 2018 11:54 AM

Comment 1 by Chad Q at 11-Feb-18 02:47 PM
She'll get elected because the former metro-crat tree huggers with their expensive homes/cabins in the 8th outnumber those who actually grew up, work, and live there.

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