March 16-17, 2011
Mar 16 10:36 DC's Biggest Deficit Mar 16 12:56 Still Schumer's Shill? Mar 16 17:11 Reforms or Beating up on the Middle Class? Mar 17 13:13 Census/Redistricting Initial Analysis Mar 17 15:20 Eliminating Redistricting's Partisanship? Mar 17 22:54 DFL LGA Fiction Continues
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
DC's Biggest Deficit
Most pundits that are serious about the deficit usually are talking about the national debt and annual deficits. While those are monstrous problems, the biggest deficit is the leadership deficit directly attributable to this administration.
When President Obama proposed taking control of 1/6 of the U.S. economy, he announced it, then farmed it out to Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid. He gave a gazillion speeches but he didn't sit down with Congress and keep pushing them to a specific outcome.
In 2010, Congress didn't just not pass the 13 appropriations bill. They didn't even hold a committee hearing on the budget. Last night on the panel, Juan Williams said that Republicans didn't supply any votes on the budget. Fred Barnes immediately noted that Democrats didn't put a budget together for Republicans to vote on, not in committee and not for final passage.
Had President Obama been a real leader, he would've told the Democrats that they'd better get their work done. Instead, he filled out his NCAA brackets in March, signed a bill or two, then went golfing.
On the world stage, his leadership deficit is having a more far-reaching negative impact on nations. After the corrupt elections in Iran, Iranians started rioting. The Iranian military quickly started killing the Iranian people.
Again, President Obama could've acted. I'm not talking about going to war. I am talking about starting covert CIA operations that undermine, and ultimately destroy, the mullahs. He didn't even stand up for core American principles like liberty and fair elections. He sat silent on the sidelines like an innocent, disinterested bystander.
He's sent conflicting signals throughout the Middle East. He insisted on the removal of President Mubarak, maintaining a daily drumbeat against him. Against Libyan terrorist Qadafi, he's said that Qadafi had to go, then he left for another round of golf.
BTW, people keep saying that we should cut him some slack, that he's got the most stressful job in the world and besides, we want him well-rested the rest of his term. NONSENSE.
When crises happen, as they always do, we expect our president to work tirelessly to lead us, and indeed the world, through the crisis.
President Obama's response to the crises of the last couple months has been to make a speech or two, provide no material support for the principles of liberty and justice for all, then he filled out his brackets on ESPN and played a few rounds of golf.
The fashionable line these days is that, even though he's far removed from his days as an Illinois state senator, President Obama is still voting present. I wholeheartedly disagree. He's changed from voting present to voting 'utterly disinterested'.
Americans expect their presidents to actually lead. That's one of the reasons why it isn't difficult to understand that he won't win re-election.
He hasn't led on the economy. He hasn't led on the world stage. He's signalling to the Japanese that he'll send the obligatory ships, then go golfing, attend a few fundraisers and fill out his brackets.
That isn't leadership. That's the opposite of leadership.
His policies are failures. His leadership is non-existant. He's alienated America's allies, from the British to the Israelis to the Egyptians. Plus, he's ignored the will of the American people by shoving a government takeover of health care down our throats. He's gone golfing at a time when real crises are plaguing the world.
These aren't difference of opinion types of things. These are things that Americans have had visceral reactions to. Your party doesn't lose 63 net seats in the House because people mildly disagree with you. That only happens when people are pissed off and they fight against you.
That's why Republicans will retake the White House and the Senate in 2012.
Posted Wednesday, March 16, 2011 10:36 AM
No comments.
Still Schumer's Shill?
Back in 2006, I wrote this post about A-klo and Patty Wetterling that I titled Pelosi's Puppet & Schumer's Shill. Earlier this week, I wrote that Sen. Klobuchar had repeated her PR stunt of going to a gas station to highlight the high price of gas . This morning, there's this article in which Sen. Schumer advises Democrats to highlight high gas prices:
'The high price of gas is the number one issue I get asked about when I'm home in New York,' according to a prepared text of a speech obtained by POLITICO that Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) used to address Tuesday's Senate Democratic policy lunch in the Capitol. "And polling data shows it to be one of top issues on the people's minds across the country.
'So, when you go home over recess, it may be worth doing press events on steps you are taking to lower the price of oil and, therefore, gasoline,' Schumer's added in his prepared notes.
Sen. Schumer then plays political games:
A second idea, Schumer noted, was announcing support for 'use it or lose it' legislation being offered by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Nelson Wednesday that would force oil companies to report specific plans on how they will use federal acres already under lease for energy exploration but where production is not currently occurring.
The bill is meant to rebut calls by Republicans, and members in Alaska and Gulf states especially, for the Obama administration to speed up offshore drilling permits. Even former President Bill Clinton last Friday called the slowdown in permits 'ridiculous' given the still-recovering economy.
This won't increase domestic oil production. Sen. Schumer knows that. Most of the land under lease doesn't contain oil. That's why it isn't being developed. Considering the fact that oil companies are supposedly making huge profits, why wouldn't oil companies increase production?
I'd also argue that militant environmental organizations likely are litigating against increased domestic oil production because they want to force people into their green energy vision.
After reading this, I'm left wondering if Sen. Klobuchar is Sen. Schumer's shill or if northern tier Democrats just think alike. They're certainly adept at playing political games. It's apparent that they just aren't adept at problem-solving.
Let's stipulate from the start that both parties issue talking points. That's been obvious for years. What's also obvious to me is that Democrats are much more tightly scripted. When Chris Wallace interviewed Dick Durbin, he asked what the Democrats' budget was. Three times he asked. Three times, Durbin started with "The Republicans' budget..." Wallace got annoyed that Sen. Durbin wouldn't answer such a straightforward question.
Sen. Klobuchar stood at a Brainerd gas station 5 years ago talking about high gas prices. She'll soon be running for re-election. In those 5 years, a political lifetime and then some, Sen. Klobuchar still hasn't offered a real solution to an issue that's hurting families nationwide.
Instead, she's pushing her newest legislation, titled the SAFEST Act, which is nothing more than the same crap that Democrats have peddled for 15 years. In fact, it's worse because some of the things, mainly ethanol, have been proven to be counterproductive to their goals.
Has Sen. Klobuchar listened to Minnesotans? No. If she had, she would've included building nuclear power plants in the legislation. If she had, she would've increased domestic oil production.
Sen. Klobuchar is a pleasant-sounding lady who smiles alot. She just doesn't listen to people who don't agree with her.
Is she Schumer's shill? It doesn't really matter, does it?
Posted Wednesday, March 16, 2011 12:57 PM
No comments.
Reforms or Beating up on the Middle Class?
This afternoon, House Republicans announced a series of reforms . Shortly prior to that announcement, Rep. Paul Thissen issued this statement :
'Reform without revenue is just another excuse for Republicans to beat up on hard working Minnesotans and take credit for work that's already been done.
In 2008, the DFL spearheaded ground-breaking health care reforms that saved Minnesotans millions of dollars. Republicans loudly denounced the change. In 2009, the DFL again passed massive public employee pension reforms that increased employee contributions and reduced benefits. After just 10 months, these reforms have already saved the state $6 billion in pension costs. Again, pension reform passed despite Republican opposition.
In fact, the reform that Representative Mack is now touting to modernize and streamline computer systems, as well as simplify applications, was proposed by the DFL and progress has already been made in this area.
The DFL also took the lead on combating fraud in the last 2 years. Reforms initiated and passed by the DFL saved nearly a half million dollars by providing additional enforcement.
Republicans must soon face the reality that 'reform' is easy to say, but implementing it is hard work and often requires an up-front investment. For example, modernizing DHS's computer systems as Rep. Mack suggests could cost approximately $500 million to the HHS budget, a budget that is already being cut by $1.6 billion in the GOP proposal.
Worse than the unfunded Mack proposals, the GOP is packaging an assault on middle class families and workers as 'reform.' Slashing thousands of jobs and moving people to unemployment rolls is not reform. Breaking promises to hard working Minnesotans and undermining the fabric of broad prosperity is not reform. Turning Minnesota into Wisconsin or worse is not reform.
The House DFL Caucus has been and will continue to be committed to real reforms that benefit Minnesotans. Because of our leadership, Minnesota has one of the leanest, most efficient, and effective governments in the nation.
In these tough times, reform has to be more than a catch-phrase. It now appears the GOP is taking up reforms borrowed from Democrats, which they previously opposed. Since they have not said how they will fund any of their often borrowed proposals, it's hard to believe the GOP is really serious about reform.'
Rep. Thissen's missive notwithstanding, the reality is that the DFL's reforms mostly amounted to throwing lots of money at things while not changing policies. Their special interest group allies wouldn't let them make serious reforms because government reforms would take money out of their pockets.
Here's the list of reforms that Rep. Thissen says will cripple the middle class:
Medicaid Fraud Detection (HF 233 /SF 180 Sanders/Benson)
Software that pulls and integrates information from various claims, benefit, eligibility and other systems to flag and prevent fraudulent Medicaid payments
Makes the Medicaid payments process more efficient and transparent
North Carolina estimates a net savings of $27 million in the first year of implementation
(FY '08?09) of Medicaid Fraud Detection tools
Tax Analytics (HF 173/ SF725 Peppin/Daley)
Tax analytics is the combination of hardware, software and data methodologies to identify and prioritize potential audit candidates and collection efforts
Wisconsin employed a pilot project in 2007, in which tax analytics identified $5.85 million in probable successful audits and achieved a 93% success rate, or $5.45 million; WI has since expanded the program
Sunset Commission (HF 174/SF: Peppin/Daley & HF 2/SF 146 Banian/Chamberlain)
The Sunset Commission provides a mechanism to review and retire unnecessary or duplicative government operations
Our model, the Texas Sunset Commission, has closed 58 agencies and consolidated another 12 agencies since 1982, saving taxpayers approximately $783.7 million
• HHS Integrated Eligibility (HF 746/SF 578 Mack/Benson)
One-stop websites where individuals and community partners can determine if they are eligible and apply for a range of HHS benefits, with the system automatically directing applications to the appropriate state agency and streamlining the application and eligibility process
WI and PA have both employed HHS integrated eligibility websites; these sites make the process easier for users and more efficient for agencies involved - reducing costs and improving results on both sides.
Debt Collections (HF 864 /SF 755 Peppin/Parry)
Utilizes the debt collection offset program under the 1996 Debt Collection Improvement Act; MN could collect as much as $20 million in the first year and $15 million per year thereafter
• '15 by 15' State Workforce Restructuring (HF 4/SF 81 Downey/Daley)
Reduce the government workforce and associated costs 15% by 2015
Offers several tools, including furloughs, cuts, wage freezes, benefit restructuring and an early retirement option
Illinois' early retirement program, implemented in 2002, is forecast to save the state $2.9 billion between FY 2003 and FY 2012
IT Consolidation (HF 191/SF 130 Downey/Parry)
Consolidate agency IT systems and services in OET
Back office functions consolidation (HF 418 Downey)
Consolidate accounting, financial reporting, procurement, fleet services, human resources, and payroll functions into the Department of Administration
Agency consolidation (HF 419 Downey)
Streamline state departments into 8 agencies
Fleet consolidation
Inventories, manages and consolidates the state vehicle fleet
Illinois implemented a Fleet Management System and generated one?time revenue of $1.1 million through sales of unneeded vehicles
Total savings from fleet management in FY 2005 was $5 million
Wisconsin reduced its state fleet by nearly 14% between 2001 and 2004
Refined procurement procedures saved taxpayers $26.3 million, and a consolidated vehicle maintenance system reduced vehicle service costs by 18% in FY 2003 and FY2004
Procurement reform
Expanding LEAN and other reforms to county and local governments
The DFL's alleged reforms in 2008 certainly didn't prevent the monstrous $6.4 billion deficit of 2009. In fact, most of the DFL's reforms weren't really reforms. Prior to the 2008 session, Tarryl Clark, Larry Haws and Steve Gottwalt participated in a League of Women Voters Education Forum at the St. Cloud Council Chambers. The DFL's focus on reform was evidenced by Tarryl's insistance that K-12 needed more money .
When Steve Gottwalt said that the legislature needed to do a better job of setting priorities, Haws was so startled that he said "Maybe we do need to prioritize."
That isn't a reformist's mindset. That's the mindset of someone whose negotiating motto is "More." And as the old saying goes, "the gap between more and enough never closes."
Let's remember that the first 6 bills in the 2007 Senate hopper included tax increases. That's at a time when we had a $2,163,000,000 surplus. Reformers don't start with tax increases when we're running a multi-billion dollar surplus.
Rep. Thissen's reform statement rings hollow. Reformists don't start with 6 major tax increase bills. Reformists don't get startled by the prospect of setting priorities, either.
I'd further add that there's nothing in the GOP's reform agenda that constitutes "an assault on middle class families and workers." That's nothing more than typical DFL class warfare tactics.
Posted Wednesday, March 16, 2011 5:11 PM
No comments.
Census/Redistricting Initial Analysis
Following the release of the redistricting data yesterday, it's safe to say that the only thing that'll stay the same are the numbers of the districts. There will be some significant changes in congressional districts. Based on this information , the changes to legislative districts likely will be more dramatic than the congressional district changes.
First, let's start with the fact that each congressional district will have 662,991 people in them after redistricting. There will be 79,163 people in each state senate district, with 39,582 in each House district.
Based on the state senate district information, it's clear that urban areas will take a significant hit and that southeast and southwest suburbia will gain seats. Other areas that will likely gain seats are in the exurban bedroom communities north of the Twin Cities.
For instance, SD-34 must shrink by 15,000 people. The Lady Logician's former district, SD-35, must shrink by 37%. SD-36 must shrink by 22 percent. Senate Majority Leader Koch's district must shrink by 34.5% while Gary Kubly's neighboring district must grow by 15.6%.
Frankly, based on these big-picture numbers, it's apparent that the DFL has alot to be worried about. Then again, these are just the big picture numbers. They don't show the demographic breakdown of those numbers.
Of the northernmost districts, only John Carlson's SD-4 district must shrink, by a total of 1,985 people. The rest of those districts must add significantly to their populations, ranging from adding 7,900+ to 2,400+.
With the northernmost districts having to expand and with urban areas losing seats, that means central Minnesota, the outer burbs and the exurbs will likely gain seats. In fact, I'd argue that that's inescapble at this point.
The political ramifications won't be known for certain for some time. Initially, it doesn't appear to be good news for the DFL, either on the congressional level or on the legislative level.
Posted Thursday, March 17, 2011 1:13 PM
No comments.
Eliminating Redistricting's Partisanship?
Included in Sharon Schmickle's post is the usual handwringing about getting the partisanship out of the resdistricting process. Based on who's pushing this agenda, conservatives should avoid this suggestion like the plague. They should run, not walk, away from this initiative. In fact, they should sprint, not run, from this initiative. Here's the tipoff:
Groups behind the "Draw the Line Minnesota" project say it is important to shine a spotlight on redistricting over the next year. They are pushing for increased public participation and greater protection of minority voting rights in the creation of new political maps. They also are getting ready to propose alternatives to plans working their way through the Legislature.
The four organizations spearheading this initiative are the League of Women Voters, Common Cause MN, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Take Action Minnesota.
First, Take Action MN is the hyperpartisan organization that was part of the coalition behind A Better Minnesota. ABM, you'll remember thanks to Mitch Berg's great work, is the organization who ran the sleaziest smear campaign in Minnesota gubernatorial history. They had that ability thanks to the Dayton family's funding of their sleaze machine.
Let's also note that, while it sounds wonderful, I'm not that certain that citizen participation is that great without knowing more.
Would these citizens be organized like during the Misery Tour? Would they have full access to all the demographic splits? All the county, district, ward and precinct splits? Would they make the commitment to the long hours it takes to examining the entire state or would they only be interested in their city, county, ward or precinct?
This isn't an easy job that's done in a single night. It isn't done in a month working fulltime.
Here's a little insight into one of the 4 organizations spearheading the organization, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits :
Current Campaigns include:
Invest in Minnesota Campaign - The Invest in Minnesota Campaign is a coalition of Minnesota's nonprofit organizations, labor groups and religious communities organized around raising revenues fairly to address Minnesota's budget shortfall.
TRANSLATION: IMC is a coalition of Big Labor groups and big government advocates. I wouldn't be surprised if socialist organizations like ISIAH and GRIP were part of the coalition, too. There's more:
The Invest in Minnesota Campaign unites Minnesota's faith community, labor and nonprofit organizations around the following core principles:
Revenue-raising must be a significant part of the solution to resolving the state's budget deficit.
The overall package of fair revenue-raising must make the tax system more fair.
In other words, the organizations behind Draw the Line Minnesota are hard leftist partisan organizations. I'm skeptical that we'll get partisanship out of the redistricting process when hard left partisan organizations are quietly attempting to influence the redistricting process.
These are organizations skilled at community organizing. There's no reason not to think that they won't try influencing the outcome by stacking the deck as much in their partisan favor as possible.
Because of the size and location of the population shifts, the DFL won't negate the gains likely to happen through redistricting. At this point, I'm betting that the DFL is just hoping to keep their losses to a minimum.
Either way, the DFL's special interest allies will attempt to hide themselves while exerting their influence through innocent-sounding initiatives like "Draw the Line Minnesota."
While organizations like Common Cause MN talk about transparency, this blog will bring transparency to these organizations' less-than-transparent agenda.
That's one thing in this process you can count on.
Posted Thursday, March 17, 2011 3:20 PM
Comment 1 by G Leisen at 17-Mar-11 08:35 PM
Gary - isn't it just laughable how this topic has suddenly become so important to liberal groups now that the conservative GOP has control of both houses in our legislature? They were never interested in sharing anything before regarding redistricting, and if my memory is correct, they were talking about carving up US House Distrcit 6 so badly that Michele Bachmann would actaully be without a constituency. My heart is bleeding for these whiners - not!
DFL LGA Fiction Continues
This is getting exceptionally old. John Lesch is posted a tweet which Bob Hume retweeted :
RT @johnlesch: Dear GOP, we cannot afford your $1 Billion property tax increase.
Rep. Lesch, Aren't you capable of telling the truth? Earlier this week, I wrote this post about Prior Lake running a $2,000,000 surplus. They aren't treading water. They aren't sinking. They're running a $2,000,000 surplus.
How, you ask? First, here's a little research on Prior Lake's LGA. It was eliminated in 2010. That's right. ELIMINATED. ZEROED OUT. NADA. The reason why they're running a surplus is because Mayor Mike Myser initiated a task force with the instruction of streamlining government. I know that because the Lady Logician was part of that task force.
One of the things this task force did was they streamlined the building permit process. There was a lengthy list of things they streamlined. As a result, property taxes haven't gone up in Prior Lake and the city is runnning a surplus.
It's getting tiring to hear the DFL whine that cutting LGA automatically triggers higher property taxes. That's another DFL myth disproved by Prior Lake's experience.
In short, streamlining government, saying no from time to time and living within their means adds up to stabilizing property taxes. It's amazing how that works.
One key principle behind the Prior Lake success story is the fact that the task force didn't approach the process with a 'sacred cow' mindset. Everything was on the table. They didn't say that things weren't possible because they'd never done things that way before.
In DFL strongholds, they've been forced to cut budgets or raise property taxes. What hasn't apparently hasn't happened is them asking whether entire agencies or certain positions are really needed.
In the St. Cloud area, the GRRL, aka the Great River Regional Library, attended the Misery Tour's stop in St. Cloud. Their representative implored the legislators to "have the courage to raise taxes" so that their libraries wouldn't have to shut down early on Saturdays.
I remember turning to Luke Yurczyk, the SD-14 chairman, and asking "Did she ever consider the possibility that they didn't need the library to be open on Saturday nights?" The mindset was that of a person who never considered the possibility of doing anything that they weren't already doing.
The DFL is insisting that LGA cuts automatically lead to higher property taxes. I've just provided proof that that's DFL fiction. That won't stop the DFL from repeating that fiction. It just means that they aren't telling We The People the truth.
That might've worked a decade ago but it won't in a TEA Party world. People are skeptical on a good day. After seeing Prior Lake do what supposedly isn't possible, people are more than a little skeptical and deservedly so.
If politicians try selling us one bill of goods after another, then we'll keep firing them the first Tuesday of November of even-numbered years. NO MORE!!! will we accept myths and untruths.
Posted Thursday, March 17, 2011 10:54 PM
Comment 1 by J. Ewing at 18-Mar-11 09:28 AM
Prior Lake isn't the only city doing just fine with zero LGA. There are a lot of them. Curiously enough, they all seem to be represented by GOP legislators. What a coincidence, eh?
Comment 2 by Chad Quigley at 18-Mar-11 09:39 AM
Lesch is an idiot you only hear from him when he can exploit an issue. If you debate him with hard facts he folds like a cheap DFL tent. LGA cuts do not mean higher property taxes if you have a resposible council. He'll be shooting his mouth off tomorrow along with Alice Hausman and the now "retired" Ellen Anderson at the Como Park Pavillion starting at 10 AM. Come and listen if you want to hear more DFL chanting points and see a bunch of bobbing heads.
Comment 3 by Wendy at 18-Mar-11 11:53 AM
Prior Lake lost all of their LGA in 2003, plus the state has been keeping back a portion of their property tax levy, by making the city pay for a state property tax credit (called Market Value Homestad Credit). Many of the suburbs have been in the same boat. Prior Lake is somewhat unique in running a surplus, though.
Comment 4 by walter hanson at 18-Mar-11 01:08 PM
J:
I think some Democrat controlled organizations are doing fine. The Hennepin County board is controlled by the Democrats and hit hard by state and federal cuts. Their budget had no property tax increases this year.
My property taxes went up because Minneapolis raised the taxes. They are less dependent on aide than Hennepin County was.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Response 4.1 by Gary Gross at 18-Mar-11 01:29 PM
Walter, I know it's a tall task but you've got to figure out a way to trigger the pragmatic side of some of these DFLers. Otherwise, the Twin Cities will continue to shrink & what's currently considered outstate will continue growing.
More & more people are seeing the destruction caused by hardline progressive policies. Based on the census data, I'd argue that they're sprinting, not walking, away from those policies.
Comment 5 by Lady Logician at 18-Mar-11 02:05 PM
Prior Lake had been loosing LGA sincen the mid 90's. The resolution took many years but (to give credit where due) some of the solution started with Mayor Haugen. The task force I was on was during his term.
LL
Response 5.1 by Gary Gross at 18-Mar-11 02:06 PM
Thanks for that information.
