January 5-7, 2018
Jan 05 07:09 Democrats vs. MoveOn.org Jan 05 09:36 DeSantis running for FL governor Jan 05 10:23 Democratic spin from Chamber of Commerce Jan 05 15:37 Keith Ellison, Braying jackass Jan 06 01:32 Otto wins environmental support Jan 06 08:53 Who are Trump's betrayed voters? Jan 06 17:08 Michelle Fischbach's resignation Jan 07 06:37 PolyMet to open soon ... if Jan 07 15:39 Broton, DFL vs. McClung in 2018
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Democrats vs. MoveOn.org
Thursday, pundits were insisting that Democrats had leverage over Republicans on the issue of immigration. Specifically, they said that Democrats could use that leverage in budget talks to get relief for DACA-protected illegal immigrants. Apparently, there's more than a little heartburn in Progressive Nation on the subject. Progressive Nation, aka MoveOn.org, is " threatening to champion primary challenges against incumbents who don't fight hard enough for these young immigrants."
It's difficult to exercise leverage with MoveOn.org's gun pointed at one's head. This makes the Democrats' demands predictable and unreasonable. Simply put, Democrats can't compromise on this issue, which will make them look unreasonable. To the average person, granting permanent legal status to illegal immigrants in exchange for building the border wall sounds like a perfectly reasonable trade-off. To MoveOn.org or La Raza, that's the sound a traitor makes.
About a month ago, Nancy Pelosi held an event to update people about negotiations on the Dream Act. Rather than getting to update them fully on where negotiations stood, immigration activists and illegal immigrants disrupted the event:
[Video no longer available]
It's pretty clear that these activists and illegal immigrants stick to a pretty hard line. If they're willing to call Minority Leader Pelosi a liar, that indicates that they aren't willing to sacrifice anything during immigration negotiations. The definition of negotiations is "mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement." By comparison, the definition of dictating is "to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally."
It's clear that the mob isn't interested in negotiations. They're insisting on dictating unconditional terms to Democrats. If Democrats don't cave to their demands, they should expect a primary challenge this year. This isn't good news:
The liberal organization CREDO is pledging to block campaign cash from uncooperative Democrats. The pro-immigration United We Dream is preparing a new wave of camera-friendly protests at the Capitol and outside congressional Democrats' offices nationwide. "The unity and trust between the grassroots and elected Democrats is rapidly eroding. It could turn ugly if this goes on any further," said Ben Wikler, MoveOn's Washington director.
If Democrats agree to President Trump's terms, they'll likely get primaried after their offices get filled with protesters. If they don't accept President Trump's terms, Democrats in swing districts will look unreasonable. They're in a damned-if-they-do-damned-if-they-don't situation.
That's hardly sitting in a position of leverage.
Posted Friday, January 5, 2018 7:09 AM
Comment 1 by eric z at 06-Jan-18 11:26 AM
Primary challenges can be helpful. Bannon seems poised on one side; progressives on the other. Classic Republicans, whichever party they are in, may experience interesting phenomena.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 06-Jan-18 01:37 PM
Bannon's toast. His ego got too big. His 'clients' are distancing themselves from him.
DeSantis running for FL governor
Rep. Ron DeSantis will likely be Florida's next governor. This morning, Rep. DeSantis officially filed the required paperwork to run for governor. The title of the Palm Beach Post's article is "Praised by Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis enters Florida governor race."
Appearing on Fox News this morning, DeSantis said "As somebody who's a military officer, Iraq veteran, a proven conservative and then with the support of the president, I'm in a position to exercise the leadership that can build on the great work that Gov. Rick Scott has done to advance economic opportunity, reform education and drain the swamp in Tallahassee, which needs to be drained just like Washington."
The article starts by saying "With a virtual endorsement from President Donald Trump and a finance team packed with national heavyweights, Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis is entering the 2018 race for Florida governor." From there, it adds heft that's meant to intimidate potential challengers from running against him:
A week after Trump's tweet, DeSantis announced a finance team that includes Republican megadonor and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, former Trump deputy campaign manager David Bossie and Rebekah Mercer, the daughter of hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer and head of a foundation that dispenses millions to Republican and conservative causes.
Rep. DeSantis apparently will have a primary challenge from Adam Putnam but I can't think that DeSantis won't win that primary. Here's the video of Rep. DeSantis' announcement:
[Video no longer available]
Posted Friday, January 5, 2018 9:36 AM
No comments.
Democratic spin from Chamber of Commerce
When I read BS like this , I immediately get disgusted. Why shouldn't I think that the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is working together with the DFL?
For instance, the editorial says "New Americans are significant and substantial contributors to the development and growth of Minnesota's economy. They play critical roles as workers, entrepreneurs, consumers and linking Minnesota to the world economy. Immigration reform will help our new Americans contribute more than they now do and propel our state's economy forward."
First, until they're here legally, they aren't "new Americans." They're illegal immigrants. Period. Second, the key to "development and growth of Minnesota's economy" shouldn't rely on importing illegal immigrants. I've written frequently about the outmigration of students to our neighboring states. How can the Chamber look at that situation and not think that that's the real problem? Until people of all ages stop leaving Minnesota in numbers greater than the people moving into Minnesota, Minnesota's labor shortage will continue.
This is BS, too:
Our current immigration system has not been overhauled since 1986. That's the same year, coincidentally, that our federal tax system had a major revision. It's time overdue for Congress to design an immigration system that aligns with today's economy.
Our immigration system wasn't overhauled in 1986. Approximately " 2.7 million immigrants " got green cards as a result of the Simpson-Mazzoli Act. What's needed in 2018 is a big beautiful border wall to prevent additional illegal immigrants from crossing the Tex-Mex border.
[Video no longer available]
A DACA fix is definitely possible. An easy-to-see deal is waiting to be made. All that's required is for Democrats to say yes to ending chain migration, funding the border wall and to end the immigration lottery. Once that's agreed to, a DACA fix will become reality. Without that, a DACA fix is impossible.
It's time for Democrats to be reasonable. Negotiations require give and take. Thus far, the Democrats' negotiating strategy appears to be more like demand, demand, demand.
Posted Friday, January 5, 2018 10:23 AM
Comment 1 by Terry Stone at 05-Jan-18 04:08 PM
The immigration problem will not be repaired until the anchor baby issue is resolved.
Comment 2 by John Palmer at 05-Jan-18 10:22 PM
Statistics do not lie. People lie.
Here's an example of one of many manipulations in this opinion piece from the Mn Chamber of Commerce. "Almost 92 percent of this population who are at least 16 years old are employed." That means that over 8% are unemployed. When a writer plays with numbers, they reveal they have something to hide. Reversing the presentation of employment data from the ordinary way we look at that data is clearly manipulative. Another manipulations occurs right after the first. "They earn almost $154.8 million in total income annually." With 10,000 DACA in MN that means on average they make $15,480 a year. When it comes to what the Chamber is peddling, buyers beware.
Comment 3 by Chad Q at 06-Jan-18 07:54 AM
We already have enough unskilled labor in the US with our own population so there is no reason to be importing people who don't have jobs or any marketable skills. The same people bitching about low wages for workers are the same ones wanting to keep the flood gates of unskilled immigration (legal and illegal) open and then they wonder why wages are low.
I'm all for legal immigration that brings high skilled people to this country that already have jobs. We can also stop the "refugee" program too. Let other country's take in those who more than likely want to do harm to us or refuse to melt into society and want to live by the ways and laws of their former craphole country. If they want to live like that, then stay there.
Keith Ellison, Braying jackass
It isn't surprising that Keith Ellison, Louis Farrakhan's first congressman , isn't hiding the fact that he supports Antifa's violent tactics . He's had a history of supporting violence, including appearing at a fundraiser for Sara Jane Olson , who is described as "a member of the self-styled revolutionary group the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), which is best known for kidnapping heiress Patricia Hearst. Olson was apprehended in 1999 in relation to the 1975 attempted bombings of two police cars and the slaying of Myrna Opsah during a bank robbery."
Later, "Ellison also spoke favorably of convicted cop killer Assata Shakur and expressed his opposition to any attempt to extradite her to the United States from Cuba, where she had fled after escaping prison. 'I am praying that Castro does not get to the point where he has to really barter with these guys over here because they're going to get Assata Shakur, they're going to get a whole lot of other people,' Ellison said at the event, which also included a silent auction and speech by former Weather Underground leader Bernardine Dohrn. 'I hope the Cuban people can stick to it, because the freedom of some good decent people depends on it.'"
The book Rep. Ellison endorsed is titled "Antifa: The anti-fascist handbook." It's written by Mark Bray.
Bray has not shied away from the violent side of Antifa. In an interview with Melville House following the release of his book, Bray praised the violent tactics of Antifa, admitting the group will "pressure venues to cancel their events, organize self-defense trainings, and physically confront the far right when necessary." Bray also admitted that property destruction is a "part of the anti-fascist and more broadly revolutionary repertoire."
Doesn't that sound a lot like fascism ?
a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism , regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
Forgive me if I can't tell the difference between Antifa and fascism.
Posted Friday, January 5, 2018 3:37 PM
Comment 1 by eric z at 07-Jan-18 10:34 AM
For differentiation, try a Google = Greater MSP
Which is just good-hearted folks, interested in your well being. Really, Gary. Only that.
Otto wins environmental support
Earlier this week, Rebecca Otto was endorsed by the DFL Environmental Caucus . Veda Kanitz, the chairwoman of the DFL Environmental Caucus, said "Rebecca Otto is a powerful voice for the environment and for a better Minnesota economy. We wholeheartedly endorse her candidacy for governor of Minnesota."
According to the article, "The caucus is made up of about 400 members from across the state who are trying to promote an environmental protection agenda among the state's Democrats." Further, "The caucus, which has been around about four years, made headlines in 2016 during the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party convention when it succeeded in advancing an anti-copper mining item in the party platform." That platform plank was removed but the division between the environmental activists and the miners still exists.
This isn't new. Otto has fought against mining for years. In Oct., 2013, Otto voted against approving 31 mining leases :
The council's lone "no" vote, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, stated that she had had " a revelation " early the morning of the meeting that informed her vote . "We have not done copper sulfide mining in this state yet," said Otto. She expressed concerns about potential fiscal burdens associated with copper sulfide mining that might be placed on future generations.
Let's be clear about something. Otto is the most anti-mining gubernatorial candidate in the race on either side. By far. The chances of her winning the Iron Range vote are microscopic if not non-existent.
If Otto is the gubernatorial candidate and Tina Smith is the Senate candidate, expect a huge anti-DFL turnout in CD-8. This is personal to them. Shortly after her anti-mining vote, "Dump Otto" signs popped up virtually overnight. Rangers view Otto as a carpetbagger. Saying they don't like her is understatement.
Ms. Otto has a history of not representing her constituents. She's filed a lawsuit to get a signed law declared unconstitutional. The law gives counties the option of hiring a private auditing firm instead of having her office audit the county. Otto's office often doesn't meet the deadline for these audits. Further, the OSA's audits are more expensive than audits by private auditing firms.
[Video no longer available]
In summation, Ms. Otto is anti-mining and wastes the taxpayers' money to finish her sole responsibility (auditing) late. God help us if that's the type of ineptitude we pick as our next governor.
Posted Saturday, January 6, 2018 1:32 AM
Comment 1 by Chad Q at 06-Jan-18 07:57 AM
Just another rich liberal who thinks she needs to tell everyone else how to live their lives. She's not qualified to hold her current job and the governor's office would be way over her head.
Comment 2 by eric z at 06-Jan-18 11:20 AM
It will be an interesting primary season, both parties.
Comment 3 by eric z at 06-Jan-18 11:21 AM
If you know, Gary or readers, is Becky Otto still opposed to marijuana decriminalization? Last I saw she was out of step with others on that question.
Response 3.1 by Gary Gross at 06-Jan-18 01:38 PM
I don't know where she's at on decriminalization.
Who are Trump's betrayed voters?
According to Sen. Chris van Hollen, President Trump betrayed his voters when he signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law. Specifically, Sen. van Hollen said "This bill ended up being a total betrayal of Trump's claim that he was there for the forgotten Americans. He wasn't there for the forgotten Americans. He was there for folks on Wall Street, big corporations, and he's going to pile more debt onto families across the country. He actually betrayed all the people who believed that he was going to deliver for them."
Since the corporate tax cuts were signed into law, the list of people benefitting from the corporate tax cuts has grown into an impressive-sized list. For instance, "No. 1 U.S. airline American Airlines Group Inc : and peer Southwest Airlines Co : on Tuesday said they would give their employees a $1,000 bonus in light of the recent tax reform bill.' ('American Airlines, Southwest Employees To Get Bonus After Tax Reform,' Reuters, 1/2/2018') "
Let's poll those employees. Let's see if they feel betrayed. It's just a hunch but I'm betting they aren't feeling betrayed.
AT&T: "AT&T Is Giving $1,000 Bonuses To 200,000 Employees After Tax Bill: AT&T was quick to respond to news of U.S. tax reform, announcing it would give some employees bonuses once the legislation is signed into law. The telecom giant said in a press release Wednesday that it would give more than 200,000 U.S. union members a special bonus of $1,000. The company also increased its capital expenditures budget by $1 billion in the U.S. 'Congress, working closely with the President, took a monumental step to bring taxes paid by U.S. businesses in line with the rest of the industrialized world,' CEO Randall Stephenson said in a statement. 'This tax reform will drive economic growth and create good-paying jobs. In fact, we will increase our U.S. investment and pay a special bonus to our U.S. employees.'" ('AT&T Is Giving $1,000 Bonuses To 200,000 Employees After Tax Bill," CNBC, 12/20/2017)
Again, it's just a hunch but I'm betting those 200,000 employees and their families aren't feeling betrayed.
COMCAST: 'Based on the passage of tax reform and the FCC's action on broadband, Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast NBCUniversal, announced that the Company would award special $1,000 bonuses to more than one hundred thousand eligible frontline and non-executive employees. Roberts also announced that the Company expects to spend well in excess of $50 billion over the next five years investing in infrastructure to radically improve and extend our broadband plant and capacity, and our television, film and theme park offerings. With these investments, we expect to add thousands of new direct and indirect jobs.' (Comcast, Press Release, 12/20/2017)
Here's yet another 100,000 employees and their families that likely aren't feeling betrayed.
Sen. van Hollen, where should we look to find these Trump voters who you insist were betrayed? I know where I won't look. I won't look amongst the hundreds of thousands of people getting $1,000 bonuses as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Then again, why would I listen to someone who's either ignorant about capitalism or who's a political hack?
[Video no longer available]
I won't look for disgruntled employees here either:
NEXUS SERVICES, INC.: 'All Nexus Services, Inc. employees will receive a 5% raise, starting in January 2018, CEO Mike Donovan announced today. Also, Nexus unveiled plans to hire another 200 workers over the course of 2018 - doubling the size of Nexus Services, Inc. workforce nationwide. Many of the new jobs will be created in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and other jobs will be in San Juan (Puerto Rico), Hackensack (NJ), Ontario (CA) and other sites nationwide. : A combination of an improved business outlook for 2018 and tax reform by Congress has enabled Nexus Services, Inc. to make these generous changes.' ('Nexus Services, Inc. Announces 5% Raises And 200 New Jobs,' NBC 29, 12/22/2017)
Sen. van Hollen, it's difficult finding disgruntled employees after they've received their first pay raises and bonuses in years.
Let's just cut the BS. Sen. van. Hollen's shtick is pure spin. Democrats have been saying this stuff for months. Now that they've been proven wrong, shouldn't they admit that they were just attempting to frighten people needlessly? People with character would admit that and move on. Democrats definitely won't admit that because they aren't people of character.
Posted Saturday, January 6, 2018 8:53 AM
Comment 1 by eric z at 06-Jan-18 11:08 AM
The Mexicans have yet to pay for any wall.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/01/att-sued-over-layoffs-after-promising-more-investment-because-of-tax-cut/
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/01/comcast-fired-500-despite-claiming-tax-cut-would-create-thousands-of-jobs/
Net Neutrality?
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 06-Jan-18 01:40 PM
No thanks on net neutrality. I like it filled with competition. Gov't telling companies how they should operate is stupid.
Comment 2 by eric z at 06-Jan-18 11:17 AM
Aside from the tax break for the 1%, Tyler Durden at Zero Hedge has some pro-Trump foreign policy points you, Gary and readers, should consider:
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-01-05/trump-cuts-gordian-knot-foreign-entanglements
Also, what about the Pakistan question? It is almost as if Trump's main insight might be channeling Ron Paul.
Response 2.1 by Gary Gross at 06-Jan-18 01:39 PM
You mean the tax break that hundreds of thousands are benefitting from?
Comment 3 by John Palmer at 06-Jan-18 08:40 PM
Eric Z. you can't pay for something that has not been built.
I wonder how many of the AT&T and Comcast Employees are returning their bonus checks? Also, I am sure that investing trillions of private dollars will either sustain or expand employment and create a multiplier effect as those dollars ripple thru the economy and not add a penny to our national debt. In fact, the increased economic activity resulting from the wave of corporate spending will generate tax revenue that would never have occurred without the Tax Cut and Jobs Act.
Finally, those folks getting the $1000 bonuses will get to keep more of it under the new tax system. As an example, if these employees were in the old 25% bracket they would be sending $250 of their money to Uncle Sam. Under the new rate (22%) they will get to keep $30 more. Enough to take my wife and two grands out for lunch at Culvers and still have $5 left.
Response 3.1 by Gary Gross at 06-Jan-18 10:13 PM
The only thing I'd disagree with John P. about is that I'd prefer Copper Lantern over Culvers but that's his choice because it's his money.
Comment 4 by Chad Q at 07-Jan-18 07:50 AM
Read and article where Warren Buffet again calls for higher taxation on the rich because of income inequality. Why is it that Warren and his rich guilt buddies who claim to want to be taxed at a higher rate, don't just cut checks to the federal government? Sure they are going to give away a lot of their wealth away (or so they say) but it will be to non-profits, 3rd world crapholes, and other money wasters and it won't benefit the US.
Michelle Fischbach's resignation
It's difficult to defend Michelle Fischbach's decision to attempt to serve as both Gov. Dayton's Lieutenant Governor and the state senator representing SD-13. How can a supposedly educated woman think that the DFL operatives on the Minnesota Supreme Court will side with her, not with the man who appointed them?
Republicans point to a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling from 1898. At that time, the lieutenant governor was elected apart from the governor. Further, why would anyone think that it's possible to serve simultaneously in the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch? In March, 2016, I wrote a post titled Is the IRRRB unconstitutional ? In that post, I cited an audit report from Jim Nobles, who wrote that "State statutes on IRRRB's governance structure are vulnerable to a constitutional challenge."
That's because the IRRRB's board is composed of Iron Range legislators who have the authority to appropriate money to specific projects. The IRRRB also is an executive branch agency whose commissioner is appointed by the governor. Simply put, you can't serve in 2 different branches of government.
Sen. Fischbach should know this. She's fighting a fight she can't win. Apparently, she hasn't figured that out yet . Here's what she said:
I was elected by the constituents of Senate District 13, and I have a commitment to represent them in the senate.
She ran for and got elected to be the Senate President. Anyone with a bit of understanding of Minnesota's constitution knows that the Senate President is part of the line of succession to the governorship. If Sen. Fischbach wanted to guarantee that she represent the citizens of SD-13 for the full 4-year term, then she shouldn't have run for Senate President.
[Video no longer available]
If Lt. Gov. Fischbach cares about the Constitution, she should resign from the Senate this afternoon. The minute Gov. Dayton announces the date for the special election for filling her empty Senate seat in SD-13, she should then resign as Lt. Gov., then immediately start campaigning to regain her Senate seat.
By attempting to wear both hats, she's causing a constitutional crisis that might hurt Republicans this session and that will cost taxpayers tons of money to pay for the lawsuit that she'll lose. Apparently, Sen. Fischbach thinks that the Constitution doesn't apply to her. She's wrong. She should resign before she hurts her constituents.
Posted Saturday, January 6, 2018 5:18 PM
Comment 1 by eric z at 07-Jan-18 10:51 AM
Out of curiosity - if Gary or another reader knows - does the Constitution define whether "President of the Senate" must be an elected Senator; or is that left to majority vote of the legislative body? Would Fischbach resigning as President of the Senate keep her holding her district seat, and then, say the majority of the body were to name Gary Gross President of the Senate, etc., etc.?
I bet you'd welcome the new Lt. Guv paycheck, and be up to the duties Guv Dayton might delegate to you.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 07-Jan-18 11:25 PM
According to Article IV, Section 15 of Minnesota's Constitution, "Each house shall elect its presiding officer and other officers as may be provided by law." It doesn't say that the person must be an elected senator so I'd think that isn't a requirement. If it was a requirement, it would be part of that article of the Constitution.
Comment 2 by Rex Newman at 07-Jan-18 08:20 PM
I'm with Senator Fischbach on this one. The people of her district should not suddenly lose representation at the Governor's whim. And if court says otherwise, we can add to list of needed constitutional amendments. Eliminate Lt. Gov., State Auditor, make Atty Gen, Sec. State appointed by Gov, lights on despite vetos...
Response 2.1 by Gary Gross at 07-Jan-18 11:16 PM
I'm open to the possibility that there won't be a lawsuit because I think there's a pretty decent chance Denny McNamara defeats Karla Bigham & flips Sen. Schoen's former seat. If that happens, Bakk's lawsuit is a waste of time because Republicans would have the majority either way.
PolyMet to open soon ... if
Friday morning, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources " released a draft permit to mine Friday morning for PolyMet Mining " in what's being called "a major step forward for what's poised to be the first copper-nickel mine in the state." While this isn't the final step needed to mine, "the draft permit, which includes conditions the state would place on the Canadian mining company, signals the state is comfortable the mine, as proposed, can meet environmental standards and provide significant financial assurances to pay for any needed mine cleanup."
While that's a major step forward, the project still faces additional hurdles before construction can start. The next step allows the public "to weigh in on the draft permit, including at two public hearings scheduled Feb. 7 in Aurora, on the Iron Range, and Feb. 8 in Duluth. The DNR will also accept formal objections and petitions for special contested case hearings on the permit before a state administrative law judge." After that, the MPCA "also plans to release draft water quality and air quality permits, two additional major permits PolyMet needs to obtain before it could open its proposed mine and processing plant near Babbitt and Hoyt Lakes." That still isn't enough to open the mine:
Environmental groups have already filed four lawsuits, most challenging a proposed land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service, and more suits are expected if the state eventually grants PolyMet permits. If the DNR calls for evidentiary hearings before an administrative law judge to gather testimony on aspects of the mining plan that are disputed by environmental groups and Indian tribes, that could tack on another 6 to 9 months to the regulatory process.
A vote for a DFL governor is a vote for continuing the status quo. In this instance, this process started in 2004 with the " Initial Environmental Review ."
According to this article , which was written on "Dec. 16, 2015", PolyMet spent $249,708,000 in its attempt to get the mine operational:
Anyone that thinks spending $250,000,000 is reasonable to get approval for a mine hates mining and miners. The DFL and their front groups (think Sierra Club, Conservation Minnesota and Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters ) might think that's reasonable but sane people don't. If anyone wants to know why entrepreneurs are leaving Minnesota, the regulatory climate is a major reason. There's nothing reasonable about it.
Posted Sunday, January 7, 2018 6:37 AM
No comments.
Broton, DFL vs. McClung in 2018
This morning on At Issue, Darin Broton did his best to downplay the impact the failure of MNLARS will have on the 2018 elections. Unfortunately for him, he's a spinmeister for the DFL, aka the party of big government. The MNLARS fiasco is one of the worst governmental disasters of recent years, only exceeded by the MNsure crisis. With the MNsure crisis, the IT system kept crashing. That plus MNsure's CEO took a 2 week vacation with her lover at the height of the IT crisis.
The MNLARS crisis features another IT crisis that's proving to be unsolvable. That's sounding familiar. The part that sums this up is found in the paragraph that says "No one would say Thursday, amid repeated questioning from frustrated state lawmakers, one of whom suggested that the state's entire IT department be dismantled and those who worked on the system be purged from state employment. State officials said they're working on coming up with an answer."
What's worse is that state officials don't know how to fix this:
Joan Redwing, the state's chief enterprise architect assigned to Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) - the state's information technology department - didn't give an answer he was looking for. Redwing said the team is working on a "road map" for how to fix the $93 million system, known as MNLARS, and that road map will have a timeline for fixing the problems, which have persisted since its launch in July.
"We are working on a release : it's important that we take the time to coordinate a road map," she said. "We need to make sure it's been properly vetted. : We do have a draft document, but I can't issue draft documents that will change."
What's needed is someone that knows what they're doing. Minnesota doesn't need another career bureaucrat that doesn't know what she's doing.
Scott Newman got peoples' attention with this:
"I would be amazed if we do not see legislation come forward in this session that will either eliminate or greatly change the state agency we know today as MNIT." Saying the agency's credibility had been "completely lost," he added: "I am going to be extremely reluctant to give any more money until the people who are involved in this project are no longer employed by the state of Minnesota."
MNLARS is just another bit of proof that big government isn't able to keep the promises it makes. It frequently overpromises and underdelivers. That's the only thing it does consistently. It's time to start tearing down the leviathan.
Broton is a spinmeister for the DFL. The DFL is the party of big government. Why should people have any confidence in the DFL or big government?
Posted Sunday, January 7, 2018 3:39 PM
Comment 1 by Chad Q at 07-Jan-18 04:58 PM
Can you imagine if a private company's new software didn't work and their IT people said, "well we are trying to build a road map for how to fix it ...."? They'd all be fired and then the CEO would be finding people who could fix the system ASAP, not finding people to make excuses and spend millions more trying to make it work. Just millions more down the rat hole of government just like MNSure.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 07-Jan-18 11:27 PM
This is the difference between the public & private sectors. People in both sectors are capable of being corrupt. Only people in the public sector could get away with being this allergic to accountability.
