June 16-17, 2015
Jun 16 02:20 Government's biggest failure Jun 16 10:28 Marty tried ousting Bakk Jun 16 12:07 Pope Francis, scientist? Jun 16 12:47 Russ Feingold vs. Ron Johnson Jun 16 13:20 Hillary Clinton vs. Condi Rice Jun 16 13:49 Media alert Jun 17 06:08 Ignoring Dayton's disaster Jun 17 10:54 Kirsten Powers' misguided column
Prior Months: Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Government's biggest failure
This morning, the St. Cloud Times' Our View editorial couldn't get it more wrong:
Seriously, short of breaking the two-party stranglehold on state government, this session stands as Minnesota's poster child for reforming a budget-building process that's come to rely on procrastination as a feeble excuse for letting a handful of 202 elected officials (201 legislators and one governor) make closed-door budget deals as time expires. Or, this year, afterward.
More transparency is the best solution.
This isn't an argument against transparency. It's an argument that ideology, not transparency, drove the special session. Time after time, Gov. Dayton pushed items from the DFL's special interest wish list. While neither party is immune to pushing things too far, it's indisputable that the DFL pushed it too hard this session. In fact, I'd argue that the DFL got used to pushing things too far in 2013-14, then didn't adjust to divided government this year.
Gov. Dayton insisted on a trifecta of bad ideas. First, Gov. Dayton insisted on a major gas tax increase that Minnesotans vehemently opposed. Next, Gov. Dayton insisted on universal pre-k. Even after experts said that wasn't sustainable, Gov. Dayton didn't relent until a week later. Finally, Gov. Dayton insisted that the legislature repeal the partial privatization of the Auditor's office a week after Gov. Dayton signed the bill.
The gas tax increase was a disaster waiting to happen. Three-fourths of Minnesotans opposed the tax increase. That didn't stop Gov. Dayton from harshly criticizing people opposed to his gas tax increase. When he dug in his heels, Gov. Dayton poisoned the well.
Later, Gov. Dayton insisted on universal pre-K. Even after Art Rolnick showed how expensive it was and how many hidden property tax increases and unfunded mandates were hidden in the bill, Gov. Dayton still pushed the bill in his attempt to pay off his allies at Education Minnesota.
Third, Gov. Dayton pushed that the legislature repeal the statute that gave counties the option of hiring a private CPA to audit their county. That was an especially tricky position to defend since 28 counties already have that option.
Ideology, not a lack of transparency, pushed events in the Legislature.
Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2015 2:20 AM
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Marty tried ousting Bakk
In a session that saw tons of weird things happen, finding out that Sen. John Marty and other Twin Cities DFL senators tried ousting Sen. Bakk as majority leader ranks right up there:
ST. PAUL - How successful of a job did Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk of Cook do for the Iron Range while also being a key player in making split government in Minnesota work? Well, some disgruntled DFL liberal legislators from the Twin Cities area tried to unseat him in caucus as leader of the majority party in the Senate.
Their attempted DFL coup in the early morning hours of the Saturday finale of the 2015 legislative special session fizzled like a bad fuse on an unexploded firecracker. Bakk's support within the caucus was unwavering.
The Senate majority leader told the Mesabi Daily News Saturday afternoon that while he preferred not to comment directly about the caucus dust-up, he was pleased with the intra-Senate DFL backing he received and also his role in a session that relied for success on bipartisan partnerships with the GOP House majority.
By now, saying that the DFL is fractured isn't news. That's been established for at least a month. In fact, we've known that the split is essentially a geographic split.
It isn't hyperbole to say that the Metro DFL, in their minds, have put up with Range DFLers on environmental views because they needed the Range delegation's votes on their economic policies. This feud was obvious during the DFL's 2014 State Convention. That's when the Twin Cities activists, led by DFL State Chairman Ken Martin, fought off a resolution saying that the DFL supports mining. When that was deemed too controversial, it was clear that a fight was brewing.
It looks like the special session was when the fuse reached the explosive.
This should make for an interesting session in 2016. Sen. Bakk doesn't strike me as someone who forgets these things quickly.
UPDATE: Briana Bierschbach's post says that the DFL caucus discussion about whether Sen. Bakk should continue happened after the special session had adjourned:
ST. PAUL - The Minnesota House and Senate had adjourned their one-day special session to finish passing the state budget and most lawmakers had gone home, but at 3 a.m. Saturday Senate Democrats were just getting started.
I was originally told that it happened after the Agriculture/Environment Bill had been defeated. This explanation makes more sense. Consider this my correction to my original post.
Originally posted Tuesday, June 16, 2015, revised 18-Jun 10:39 AM
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Pope Francis, scientist?
I've written before about Pope Francis' trip into the world of climate change. When he was picked to be pontiff, he wasn't picked to be a delegate to UN climate change events. That hasn't stopped Francis from throwing the weight of his office behind his ultra-liberal causes:
Pope Francis will this week call for changes in lifestyles and energy consumption to avert the 'unprecedented destruction of the ecosystem' before the end of this century, according to a leaked draft of a papal encyclical. In a document released by an Italian magazine on Monday, the pontiff will warn that failure to act would have 'grave consequences for all of us'.
Francis also called for a new global political authority tasked with 'tackling : the reduction of pollution and the development of poor countries and regions'. His appeal echoed that of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who in a 2009 encyclical proposed a kind of super-UN to deal with the world's economic problems and injustices.
I wasn't aware that Pope Francis had gotten a doctorate in climate science. If he hasn't gotten that type of degree, perhaps he should stick tradition papal responsibilities like preaching the Gospel and explaining who Jesus Christ is.
The Great Commission and the Great Commandment, which certainly pertain to Christian leaders, instructs those leaders to "preach the Gospel wherever you go" and to "love your neighbor as yourself." It's difficult to understand how writing encyclicals about climate change fits in God's job description for Christian leaders.
'Humanity is called to take note of the need for changes in lifestyle and changes in methods of production and consumption to combat this warming, or at least the human causes that produce and accentuate it,' he wrote in the draft. 'Numerous scientific studies indicate that the greater part of the global warming in recent decades is due to the great concentration of greenhouse gases : given off above all because of human activity.'
Perhaps, this is Pope Francis' attempt to be relevant beyond the church walls. Perhaps he's just an attention-seeker. Perhaps it's both. Either way, his upcoming encyclical is based on junk science.
This encyclical doesn't meet the church's definition for encyclicals :
From the nature of the case encyclicals addressed to the bishops of the world are generally concerned with matters which affect the welfare of the Church at large. They condemn some prevalent form of error, point out dangers which threaten faith or morals, exhort the faithful to constancy, or prescribe remedies for evils foreseen or already existent.
It's difficult to see how this encyclical about climate change will highlight the "dangers which threaten [the] faith or morals" of the church or "exhort the faithful to constancy." This encyclical seems more political than biblical.
It's bad enough when politicians think that they're scientists. It's worse when pontiffs think they're scientists.
Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2015 12:07 PM
Comment 1 by Terry Stone at 16-Jun-15 01:40 PM
The Pope is putting extraordinary faith in computer modeling--modeling that has no track record of accuracy.
The world's best computer models cannot predict tomorrow's stock market opening number. Yet, papal global warming acolytes are depending on modeling for long range predictions. What could possibly go wrong?
Mankind modified 20% of the surface of the earth's land and used it for agricultural production. If that didn't dramatically change the climate on our planet, then the climate is pretty resilient.
Russ Feingold vs. Ron Johnson
It's clear that the DSCC will do everything possible to defeat Ron Johnson, (R-WI). Unfortunately for them, Russ Feingold is known for just one thing: the BCRA, aka McCain-Feingold. Russ Feingold is half of the dimwitted duo that wanted to restrict people's ability to voice their worries about politicians during an election cycle. Let's highlight that.
Russ Feingold thinks that government should have the right to restrict what citizens say and when they can say things. That's because Russ Feingold is one of those politicians that think they know what's best and that citizens have to be told what to do for their own benefit.
That's the epitome of elitism. It's breathtaking that elitists want to protect us uppity peasants from ourselves.
We need straight shooters like Ron Johnson in the Senate. Follow this link to contribute to Sen. Johnson's campaign. Re-electing Sen. Johnson should be one of the Republicans' highest priorities in 2016.
Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2015 12:47 PM
Comment 1 by walter hanson at 16-Jun-15 10:55 PM
Gary:
Do you ever read the blog Red State? Yesterday there was a post that I just read where apparently Feingold has taken advantage of forming a PAC to pay for his key political campaign aides since the campaign committee he might be able to form might not have the money to pay them which a PAC does. By the way Feingold formed that PAC he claims to help other democrats.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 17-Jun-15 06:13 AM
I don't read Red State because I avoid Erick Erickson's ego if at all possible.
Comment 2 by walter hanson at 17-Jun-15 12:43 PM
Keep in mind other people are posters on Red State. This post I believe was done by somebody other than Erickson.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Hillary Clinton vs. Condi Rice
Hillary Clinton is running for president to be, in her words, the champion for everyday people. Anyone with more than 2 brain cells rubbing together knows that's BS but it's her campaign so she gets to pick the mantra, regardless of how pathetic it sounds. Condi Rice isn't running for president but she's light years ahead of Hillary in terms of dignity :
When Condoleezza Rice headlined a 2009 fundraising luncheon for the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach, she collected a $60,000 speaking fee, then donated almost all of it back to the club, according to multiple sources familiar with the club's finances.
That's typical Condi. It's what people expect from a woman of such stunning dignity. Here's what we can expect from Hillary:
Hillary Clinton was not so generous to the small charity, which provides after-school programs to underprivileged children across the Southern California city. Clinton collected $200,000 to speak at the same event five years later, but she donated nothing back to the club, which raised less than half as much from Clinton's appearance as from Rice's, according to the sources and tax filings. Instead, Clinton steered her speaking fee to her family's own sprawling $2 billion charity.
The politician that supposedly wants to be the champion of everyday people apparently puts a higher priority on gouging charities and raking in the cash for her political operation/charity.
That's quite the contrast between the elitist politician and the gracious diplomat.
Hillary's making millions on the backs of charities doesn't speak well of her, though it definitely gives a new meaning to the old cliche that charity begins at home.
Couple Hillary's unquenchable thirst to be filthy rich with her paranoia with the media and you've got Richard Nixon in a pantsuit. Here's what her campaign did to a reporter who wrote the unflattering truth about Clinton Inc.:
A DNC spinmeister later told Megyn Kelly that it was just a mix-up with the reporter's credentials, something that Ms. Kelly didn't believe. Mr. Zimmerman, a loyal DNC activist, said that the Clintons don't have a history of banning reporters. While I don't disagree with that statement, I know that the Clintons, Hillary especially, have a history of being vindictive and of paying their political enemies back for telling the unflattering truth about them.
Here's the important questions that Americans must ask themselves about Hillary:
- Do we want a president that shakes down charities while lining the pockets of their own charity?
- Do we want a president that's vindictive towards a reporter after that reporter writes unflattering truths about the politician?
- Do we trust a politician that has a history of being vindictive and secretive to be trustworthy and transparent if elected to be president?
I'll answer that last question: I wouldn't trust Hillary to be trustworthy if she achieves her ultimate ego trip of being president. She'd be like Nixon if that happened.
Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2015 1:20 PM
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Media alert
I will be on Ox in the Afternoon today at 3:10 to talk about the attempted ousting of Sen. Bakk as Senate Majority Leader. Follow this link to listen to KNSI's livestream if you live outside KNSI's usual broadcasting range.
Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2015 1:49 PM
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Ignoring Dayton's disaster
Rep. Jennifer Schultz's op-ed is yet another op-ed that discounts Gov. Dayton's disastrous decisions:
On Friday, the Minnesota Legislature held a special session that concluded a disappointing year. Like most Minnesotans, I was not pleased the Legislature was unable to conclude its business on time or with the content of the resulting compromise bills.
Let's modify Rep. Schultz's statement to fit with reality. Here's what it would say if it was accurate:
On Friday, the Minnesota Legislature held a special session that concluded a disappointing year. Like most Minnesotans, I was not pleased that Gov. Dayton wasted the last week of the regular session negotiating 2 budget bills. When Speaker Daudt and Sen. Bakk booted Gov. Dayton from the room that Friday afternoon, they negotiated and finalized the other 4 budget bills in less than 2 hours. That says everything about who's to blame for the special session.
Let's be blunt. There were rumors swirling around the Capitol the last 2 weeks of the session that the DFL thought that they could win the government shutdown if it happened. Gov. Dayton spent an entire week fighting for bills that went nowhere. When Gov. Dayton left the room, Speaker Daudt and Sen. Bakk finished the budget in what was left of that Friday afternoon.
Most disappointing was the ongoing failure to address the issue of transportation infrastructure. In greater Minnesota, we are used to living at the end of a very long road to anywhere, but we would like that road to be safe and efficient for our businesses and people. A bipartisan commission worked hard to develop a plan to solve the problems that a decade of neglect of transportation infrastructure left us and to create the new infrastructure we need to prosper in the 21st century. This is critical for the economic growth of the state and especially of our area but has been derailed by shortsighted demands for a free lunch and refusals to create the revenue streams needed.
The DFL's insistence that another tax increase was required stopped transportation dead in its tracks. The Republicans' plan showed that a tax increase wasn't required. There isn't a compromise position on this issue. There will either be a tax increase or there won't. When a tax increase isn't needed, taxes shouldn't be increased.
Further, Gov. Dayton, Sen. Bakk, Sen. Dibble and Move MN pushed a plan that didn't prioritize fixing Minnesota's potholed roads. I won't shed a tear that the DFL coalition's plan didn't pass. Gov. Dayton and the DFL should've listened to the people, not the lobbyists.
If Rep. Schultz wants to blame someone for this session, she should blame Gov. Dayton.
Posted Wednesday, June 17, 2015 6:08 AM
Comment 1 by Nick at 17-Jun-15 10:24 AM
I just heard Medtronic is moving their corporate HQ from Minnesota to Ireland.
Comment 2 by J. Ewing at 17-Jun-15 10:51 AM
It would have been more reasonable to say that the special session in its entirety was a fit of pique by an out-of-touch governor, vetoing bills that had already passed the legislature in a bipartisan fashion. A completely unnecessary, pointless and purely political exercise that accomplished almost nothing.
As for transportation, I keep wanting to ask the DFL, what did you do with the LAST gas tax increase you passed? Wasn't that supposed to fix all the roads and bridges for all time to come? Isn't that where the "ten years of neglect" began???
Comment 3 by walter hanson at 17-Jun-15 03:16 PM
what bills was she voting on? The House passed all the bills and got the Senate to agree to them. We had the special session since Dayton didn't sign them. Or doesn't she care about that fact?
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Kirsten Powers' misguided column
Kirsten Powers' latest column is, being charitable, misguided:
Pope Francis will release a teaching letter, known as an encyclical, on Thursday that's thought to be the first in the church's history to focus on the environment. A leaked version of the document endorses the notion that human activity contributes to climate change and that this menace disproportionately harms the poor.
Many U.S. conservatives are not pleased, believing that that the Vatican is blindly bending to elite opinion and stepping out of its lane. Leave the climate change issue to the politicians, they argue. Some conservative Catholics have expressed concern to me that Pope Francis is pulling a "reverse Galileo" by endorsing science that could turn out to be wrong, thus harming the credibility of the Catholic Church.
Perhaps there should be more concern in the alternative. If the science is correct, then how would the church's silence in obeisance to conservative climate skepticism enhance its credibility? After all, the American Association for the Advancement of Science announced in 2014 that the scientific consensus that "climate change is happening, and human activity is the cause" is as airtight as the "science linking smoking to lung and cardiovascular diseases."
Climate change isn't science. It's conjecture built on models that don't use accurate temperature data. The process itself is flawed, too. They don't use the double blind procedure. That's the gold standard in scientific testing because it ensures that the person who does the data analysis doesn't do the data collection or inputting the data.
As for this consensus, it's overrated when the scientists are corrupt. This is the Hockey Stick graph used in the IPCC's report:
Here's the modified hockey stick graph used in a later release of the IPCC report after scientists objected to the first Hockey Stick graph:
Those graphs don't look like each other. At all. So much for consensus and the airtight nature of the science.
The Catholic Church's credibility won't crumble because of Pope Francis' encyclical. Pope Francis' credibility, though, is already struggling. Thus far, he seems more like a far left activist than a pontiff.
Posted Wednesday, June 17, 2015 10:54 AM
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