January 3-4, 2018
Jan 03 02:28 Turning the tables on the DFL Jan 03 08:05 Open letter to the PUC Jan 03 09:18 William Murchison's masterpiece Jan 03 16:44 The Democrats' flimsy argument Jan 04 06:29 Middle class keeps benefitting Jan 04 08:18 Wy Spano defends Franken Jan 04 22:22 Bentrud for Stearns County Sheriff
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Turning the tables on the DFL
Thanks to a little research help from some loyal readers of LFR and thanks to some clever thinking of my own, I've figured out a way to turn the tables on Gov. Dayton and Sen. Bakk. First, Sen. Fischbach needs to get sworn in as lieutenant governor the minute Tina Smith is sworn in as Minnesota's U.S. senator. Next, Fischbach needs to resign as lieutenant governor by the end of this week.
Thanks to some research from a loyal reader of LFR, I'm able to publish as fact that state statute 204D.19 subd. 2 says "The special election shall be held as soon as possible, consistent with the notice requirements of section 204D.22, subdivision 3(The county auditor of a county in which a special election is to be held shall direct the clerk of each municipality in which the election is to be held to post a notice of the special primary and special election at least seven days before the special primary and at least 14 days before the special election in the manner provided in sections 204B.33 and 204B.34.), but in no event more than 35 days after the issuance of the writ. A special election must not be held during the four days before or the four days after a holiday as defined in section 645.44, subdivision 5 (Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday(2/19/18), the third Monday in February)."
Notice that the statute says the special election shall be held as soon as possible. It doesn't say that it should be held as soon as possible. The instant that Fischbach resigns as senator, Gov. Dayton is obligated to call a special election "as soon as possible."
At that point, the Senate will have 33 Republicans and 32 Democrats. It will stay that way until the special election is held to replace Sen. Schoen in the Senate. If Karla Bigham wins, the Senate is tied with 33 Republicans and 33 Democrats. It's worth noting that this is the best the DFL can hope for. Things would get much worse for the DFL if Denny McNamara wins. That would give Republicans a 34-32 majority. When the special election is held to replace Sen. Fischbach, Republicans will win that seat handily. At that point, Republicans would either have a 35-32 majority or a 34-33 majority.
Either way, Republicans would have a majority going into the start of the 2018 session. At that point, Republicans could elect any DFL senator to be the President of the Senate. Presumably, Republicans could elect the most vulnerable DFL senator as the President of the Senate. At that point, the DFL wouldn't have a say in the matter. There's nothing to prevent Republicans from naming someone like Matt Little to be the President of the Senate. That means Little would assume the responsibility of being Gov. Dayton's lieutenant governor. Remember that this used to be Dave Thompson's seat. I'd think that'd give Republicans a fantastic opportunity of flipping that seat.
The DFL is intent on flipping the Senate from a Republican majority to a DFL majority. They've made that perfectly clear. Why shouldn't Republicans use this opportunity to their political advantage? That was the DFL's intent. If Republicans beat the DFL at their own game, that's the DFL's fault.
Posted Wednesday, January 3, 2018 2:28 AM
No comments.
Open letter to the PUC
This past fall, I wrote a ton of articles about the importance of building or replacing the Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline. I wish I'd had this information when I wrote those articles.
First, in the interest of full disclosure, I've been good friends with Terry Stone for quite some time. He's a top researcher and writer. When it comes to energy and transportation issues, Terry's on a par with Mike Beard and other expert former legislators. Simply put, when Terry talks about transportation or energy, I listen.
One of the first things that caught my attention was when Terry wrote "Moving oil by train can have consequences to human life that are almost never seen in pipelines. A 2013 crash of 72 oil cars in Quebec left 47 dead.
Moving oil by barge or tanker ship can be costly to clean up if something goes wrong and is environmentally unattractive. The total cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill ended up costing $630 per gallon. The average cost of an oil-spill cleanup in the U.S. is $18.11 per gallon. Pipeline spills cost even less because they are not typically driven miles by wind, and they don't kill clusters of riparian marine life. Pipeline leaks are small, fast to find, and seldom involve a risk to human life."
Here's a question for the environmentalists that sit on the board of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission that they won't like: why are you opposed to efficiently transporting oil from the well to the refinery? Anything other than ratifying the Line 3 replacement is unacceptable. We don't need to figure out whether the additional crude oil is needed. It is, especially with a growing economy. These statistics definitely caught my attention:
We have been hearing a lot about oil-train derailments, crashes, and fires since 2013. This is because from 2009 to 2012 the volume of oil shipped by rail increased from 11,000 to 230,000 railcars - up 2,200 percent. According to Forbes, more crude was spilled from rail cars in 2013 than in all the 37 previous years combined .
That's astonishing. What's the environmentalists' argument for saying no to replacing the Line 3 pipeline? It certainly can't be to protect the environment. That 'ship' sailed with these statistics. These statistics, too:
According to Enbridge, the replaced pipeline will be able to take 10,000 rail cars off the tracks or 24,000 tanker trucks off the highways - daily. Enbridge is a bit generous with its figures. Actually, since both the trains of railcars and the trucks hauling oil need to drive back across the country empty, burning diesel, the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project would equal a total of 20,000 rail cars off the road daily or 48,000 tanker trucks daily. That should sound like Christmas every day to every environmentalist.
Do environmentalists think that we'll replace fossil fuels sometime soon? If they're thinking that, they'd better find better researchers. Further, with technology improving virtually monthly, there's no reason to think that fossil fuels won't become cleaner, more efficient and more reliable.
We won't stop using fossil fuels anytime soon so the environmentalists should just deal with that fact. Next, the environmentalists should accept the fact that pipelines will be a necessity for at least the next 20-30 years. Hating fossil fuels won't make the pipelines disappear. It's time to put an end to this stupidity:
Posted Wednesday, January 3, 2018 8:05 AM
No comments.
William Murchison's masterpiece
William Murchison's article is a masterpiece, a tribute to John Maynard Keynes and Art Laffer and, above all, a lesson in the awesome power of unleashing free markets so they can do what they do best.
Murchison's article features, front and center, a sassiness that's invigorating. For instance, Murchison wrote "Is all this about tax cuts? Not quite all, say Times writers Binyamin Appelbaum and Jim Tankersley. 'In the administration and across the business community, there is a perception that years of increased environmental, financial, and other regulatory oversight by the Obama administration dampened investment and job creation -- and that (Donald) Trump's more hands-off approach has unleashed the 'animal spirits' of companies that had hoarded cash after the recession of 2008.' To which analysis I believe the indicated response is: Duh. Ya think?"
I'm not an economist but I certainly understand that the Obama administration's policies didn't unleash capitalism's potential. To put it Mr. Murchison's way, "When it comes to commercial activity, the prospect of gain excites enormously. It moves people off sofas, gets brains to whirring, and, a bit farther down, builds plants and offices, hires workers, passes out paychecks."
It unleashes things like this :
CINCINNATI, OH- U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today visited Sheffer Corporation, a premier cylinder manufacturing business based in Cincinnati, to tour the facility, meet with employees, and take part in the announcement of the business's reinvestment into its workers. Sheffer Corporation announced that all 126 employees will be given $1,000 bonuses with the money the business expects to save as a result of the recently-signed tax reform law.
To Ms. Pelosi, I'll simply say this: If this is Armageddon, sign me up. I'm a willing warrior in that fight. To Sen. Schumer, I'd simply ask this question: when will Republicans rue the day that they unleashed this economic revival? Coming to think of it, I'd probably ask these politicians why they don't understand capitalism.
Sen. Schumer and Ms. Pelosi should notice this CEO's reaction, then cringe:
"It was truly an honor to host a visit today from Senator Rob Portman," said Sheffer Corporation President & CEO Jeff Norris. "Senator Portman, along with his colleagues and President Donald Trump, have been instrumental in bringing forward historic and new tax relief for American companies and for the American people. For many years, business owners have voiced concerns about the burdens associated with high taxes and over-regulation. It is my hope that others will follow and show support for Senator Portman and President Trump as they fight to lower our tax burdens and reduce regulations."
If the goal is to make people's lives better, then President Trump, Chairman Hatch, Chairman Brady and other Republicans have pushed families towards prosperity.
This unleashed those animal spirits:
[Video no longer available]
Let's hear the Democrats brag how they voted unanimously against unleashing the economy. Think about that. The Democrats, many of whom represent tons of blue collar workers who need a pay raise, voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act without hesitating. Rather than representing their constituents, they did what Sen. Schumer and Ms. Pelosi told them to do.
Posted Wednesday, January 3, 2018 9:18 AM
No comments.
The Democrats' flimsy argument
The Democrats' flimsy argument that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act wouldn't help the middle class is getting flimsier by the minute. This article reports that "U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of U.S. Bank, announced Tuesday that it is handing out a $1,000 bonus to nearly 60,000 employees. The bank also plans to increase its minimum wage for all hourly employees to $15 per hour."
Andy Cecere, the president and CEO of U.S. Bancorp, said "We believe that tax reform is positive for the U.S. economy because it provides an immediate opportunity to benefit our employees, our communities and our customers. We are proud of our people and their commitment to our customers and communities. We felt it was important to reward their hard work and dedication with this special bonus, the minimum wage increase and the health care enhancements."
Nancy Pelosi famously characterized the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as "Armageddon." Sen. Chuck Schumer, said that Republicans "will rue the day" they passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Both look like idiots now. It's foolish for them to declare that the Republicans' tax cuts aren't helping the middle class. That argument hasn't just been discredited. It's been utterly demolished. This is just one of the Democrats' idiotic statements about the GOP tax cuts:
[Video no longer available]
What type of buffoon thinks like that? It's frightening to think that she's part of the Democrats' leadership team. Let's talk about whether the Republicans' tax cuts have helped the middle class like Republicans promised. I'd love hearing Pelosi or Schumer argue that it hasn't helped them. Multiple companies have announced that they're raising their minimum wage to $15/hr. in their effort to retain good workers. Further, multiple companies have announced $1,000 per employee bonuses.
We didn't hear about things like this during the Obama administration. Thus far, the Trump administration has charted a dramatically different track than Obama took. The results have been dramatically different.
Posted Wednesday, January 3, 2018 4:44 PM
No comments.
Middle class keeps benefitting
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office put out a less-than-comprehensive list of companies that are either paying their employees bonuses, increasing their hourly wages or adding to their employees' 401(k)s. The question I have is simple. How long will this list get?
For instance, the report says that "American Airlines Group Inc : and peer Southwest Airlines Co" will "give their employees a $1,000 bonus in light of the recent tax reform bill." Later, the report states that "Aflac makes the following commitment to our U.S. workforce: 1. Increase the company's 401(k) match, from 50% to 100% on the first 4% of employee contribution, while making a one-time contribution of $500 to every employee's 401(k) plan and 2. Offer certain hospital and accident insurance products to all employees free of charge, as the company currently does with its core cancer insurance product." ( Aflac, Press Release, 12/28/2017 )
I'm just getting started. The list isn't comprehensive but it's quite extensive. Another company getting in on the action is IAT. "IAT Insurance Group ownership and management announced today the company will pay a $3,000 bonus to all non-executive employees on January 15, 2018. The additional bonus comes in response to the newly passed tax reform bill - the tax savings will be shared with approximately 700 employees." ('IAT Insurance Group Announces $3,000 Tax Reform Bonus for Employees,' Fox8, 12/22/2017)
It's frightening to think that this tax relief was brought to these workers all across the nation by the Republican Party. It didn't come from Republicans and Democrats because every Democrat in the House and Senate voted against the Republicans' tax cuts . That means 'bipartisan' Joe Manchin, Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly voted against the tax bill that's bringing relief to hundreds of thousands of non-executive employees.
Then there's this:
FIFTH THIRD BANK : 'Fifth Third Bancorp will pay more than 13,500 employees a bonus and raise the minimum wage for its workforce to $15 after the passage of the Republican tax plan that will cut the bank's corporate tax rate.' ('Wells Fargo, Fifth Third Bancorp Unveil Minimum Wage Hikes After Tax Bill Passage,' CNBC, 12/20/2017)
Whichever way you cut this, it's great news for employees. Each day, the list of people who are directly benefitting from the corporate tax cuts gets longer. Promises to invest in the companies' personnel keeps growing, too. At some point, it's going to become obvious that Sen. Schumer and Ms. Pelosi either don't know what they're talking about or they're just liars.
[Video no longer available]
Let's pound this point home. Democrats put a higher priority on fighting President Trump than they put on helping taxpayers. The evidence keeps mounting proving that. It's time for Democrats to just admit that they screwed up in voting unanimously against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. They accomplished part of their mission in that they achieved solidarity within their ranks. Unfortunately for the American people, that's failing because the Democrats' purpose is to help the American people. On that, they failed miserably.
America, the choice is simple. Do you want people running the House and Senate who don't do what's right for the people? If that's what you want, vote for Democrats. If you'd prefer electing politicians who listen to the people and who do the right thing, the only right thing to do is voting for Republicans. Yes, they stumble and fail at times. They aren't perfect. Still, they're the people who listen and do the right thing.
Posted Thursday, January 4, 2018 6:29 AM
No comments.
Wy Spano defends Franken
It either takes a friend or a biased partisan to defend Al Franken's behavior. Wy Spano, a longtime DFL operative and liberal crank, might be both. His op-ed offers an insight into the DFL mindset about Franken. It isn't pretty.
First, Spano said that "Franken got hosed." Then he admitted that "the women of the Senate were complicit in the hosing." Wy, they weren't complicit in the hosing. They threw Franken under the bus because they put their presidential ambitions ahead of everything else. These were Democrats throwing Franken out. Further, they admitted that they planned the attack. If Spano is upset, he should tar and feather Democrats. Criticizing Democrats without calling them Democrats is the coward's option.
Earlier in the op-ed, Spano said "Because I think Al Franken got a bum rap and was driven from office by members of his own party. We had the most effective Democratic senator on women's issues and on helping to elect Democrats, and then we didn't." Later, he said that Franken "led on women's issues."
My only question about that last statement would be whether Franken led on women's issues like Ted Kennedy, Harvey Weinstein and Bill Clinton led on women's issues. What Spano doesn't seem to understand is that Franken was a pervert through and through.
This statement jumps out:
Franken's military escort on the tour said he was with Franken every minute and didn't see what she described.
I question whether this statement is accurate. First, I wonder if Spano knows the name of Franken's military escort. If he doesn't, I'd question whether Spano is accepting Franken's word or whether Spano confirmed it independently. I'm betting it's the former. That isn't true verification. That's accepting gossip.
Then there's this:
What about the other seven accusers? We'll never know if their experience with Franken rose to the level of harassment. Individual women became victim, prosecutor, judge and jury.
It's true these cases never got tried in court. That isn't the accusers' fault. That's the fault of female Democrat senators with political ambitions. Spano is a slick operator in that he skillfully directs the accusations at Franken's accusers even though they've done nothing wrong.
In Lindsay Menz's case, was she supposed to let Franken put his hand on her ass? Finally, does this look like a guy telling the truth?
[Video no longer available]
Posted Thursday, January 4, 2018 8:18 AM
Comment 1 by eric z at 04-Jan-18 08:28 AM
How about the latest Bannon? Ivanka dumb as a brick?
And yet on dumbness, Bannon was a Roy Moore man from the start of Luther Strange's strange political comeuppance.
With all that, why are you obsessing over Franken? The news now is Tina Smith; and the Michele Bachmann possible candidacy. Franken chose to step down, did, and Smith is Minnesota's junior Senator. Move on.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 04-Jan-18 09:20 AM
I met Bannon in 2011. He's a disgusting human being. I wouldn't trust anything he says but that's just me. As for Smith, she's a typical Metrocrat that doesn't care about blue collar workers. You haven't noticed that the DFL has morphed into the white collar party, filled with public employee unions, nonprofits & other entities that rely on big government connecting with big business. The DFL isn't the Party of Wellstone anymore. The DFL doesn't side with the miners & construction workers anymore. Instead, the DFL consistently sides with the check-writing environmentalists.
BTW, that's why Trump's president & Hillary isn't. BTW, Smith is filling in now but that seat isn't her exclusive property.
Bentrud for Stearns County Sheriff
This morning, I received this announcement from the Dave Bentrud for Stearns County Sheriff campaign. In the interest of full disclosure, I've known Dave and his family for 20+ years. I'll admit that I've got a pro-Dave Bentrud bias. That being said, it also gives me the ability to verify some of the statements included in Dave's statement.
For instance, Chief Bentrud mentioned taking "a lead role in Central Minnesota in the battle against human trafficking and the victimization of young girls and women." That isn't surprising to me. Before he got the title of Waite Park Chief of Police, Bentrud was a member of the St. Cloud Police Department. One of the things I spoke with him about back then was how St. Cloud could get ahead of the problem St. Cloud was starting to experience at the time.
The problem then was with Twin Cities gangs driving to St. Cloud and looting. It didn't take long for that problem to get addressed, then solved. When Chief Bentrud says that he wants to take a lead role "in the battle against human trafficking and the victimization of young girls and women", rest assured that he'll figure it out. In fact, count on that happening sooner rather than later.
I'm strongly encouraging you to visit Dave's campaign website so you can get to know him. I can attest to the fact that Dave is who is able to work with everyone because he's a professional first. This office is a nonpartisan office. Having known Dave all these years, I'm confident that he'll respect that part of the job if elected.
Posted Thursday, January 4, 2018 10:22 PM
No comments.
