A Bluestem Prairie

The Lewis & Clark Water System: Walz's remarks

One of Tim Walz's earmarks caught our eye: the request to fund the Lewis & Clark Water System. This project may mean nothing to many Minnesotans, since many of us live in area blessed with beautiful lakes and rivers.

But some of Southwest Minnesota doesn't share this bounty, and towns like Adrian can't grow unless sources of safe water are secured.  That's where the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System comes in; it's not pork, but a lifeline to a corner of the state.  See the project's Spring 2007 newsletter for additional details.

Here's Walz's statement:

Mr. Speaker, as we debate the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, I want to talk about an issue that is vitally important to hundreds of thousands of people in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa.

The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System is a unique water project that I am hopeful will receive appropriate funding as the Energy and Water Appropriations bill moves forward.

When this project is completed, it will provide safe, reliable drinking water to over 300,000 people in a roughly 5,000 square mile area in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota.
 
In Minnesota's "Land of 10,000 Lakes", there is one area that the glaciers missed - Southwest Minnesota. For example, Rock County does not have one natural lake. As you can imagine, the southwest corner of my state has a critical need for additional water, especially because that area is so heavily dependent on agriculture.

The lack of water availability has a profound impact on economic development in rural Minnesota. Businesses are reluctant to locate or expand their operations in an area without reliable water supplies. There are communities in southern Minnesota that literally cannot permit a single new home to be built in town unless some other family moves out of town, in order to keep their water usage at the same level.
 
Seventeen of the 20 local municipalities that are participating in this project have prepaid $87 million dollars of their local share of the expenses, in order to help keep inflationary costs at a minimum.

Additionally, the three states involved—Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa—have committed to prepay their share of the project as well. Unfortunately, the federal government is the partner that is lacking.

If the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Systems receives its full $35 million request this year and subsequent years, the project could be completed by 2018. However, if we only fund this project at the levels recommended in the President’s 2008 Budget, it will not be completed until 2051.

Mr. Speaker, the 300,000 people in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa cannot wait that long. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and I will continue to work for full funding for this important project.

The federal government can't be penny wise and pound foolish. The longer we take to provide appropriate federal funds, the more it is going to cost.
 
I look forward to working with the Chairman as this bill moves forward on ensuring this important project is appropriately funded.

Video here.

Sleeping in Saturday news digest: earmarks edition

We're being pretty lazy today, sleeping in and dawdling.

The Mankato Free Press reports Walz releases earmarks and the Post Bulletin, Walz provides funding 'wish list' minus specific dollar amount. An interesting write up on the issue at The Back Story.  CQ Today adds more information.

Friday evening: Lake City soldier dies in Iraq and other news

Lake City, Minnesota is a small town in Wabasha County, in the extreme upper southeast part of Minnesota. Sad news today from Iraq for Lake City residents:  Tony Hebert, 20, a 2005 graduate of Lincoln High School in Lake City and a member of the Airborne, has died in Iraq. A high school teacher remembers in the MPR report:

"He always had a smile, he had a great attitude, he was a hard worker," [Jim] Heise recalled. "I think he went into the service, I think it was part, patriotism, also he wanted to challenge himself. He wanted to push himself. Obviously he was going into the Airborne; he was going to do that."

Heise believes this was his former student's second tour of duty. He says Hebert was a character straight out a Garrison Keillor story.

"I think he was composed of what was best from being from Minnesota. He had a quiet dignity to him. He was honest, he was too young to die in the sand, I'll tell you that. Way too young."

Heise says a lot of kids in Lake City have joined the service recently.

"There's a lot of small towns in America that are dealing with this," he said. "I knew we had so many kids in the service, it was a matter of statistical time that one was going to fall, and unfortunately fate took Tony".

Walz releases earmarks
We were away from home today meeting with some friends about a media project and so we haven't had time before now to post the list of earmarks Tim Walz's staff released today.  Here they are, as promised:

As Congress begins its yearly appropriations process, many Members of Congress are requesting funding for specific priority projects in their home districts.  These funding requests do not add funds to the federal budget; they set aside funds for a specific project that would otherwise be allocated to a federal agency. Today, in order to increase transparency in government, Congressman Tim Walz provided the following information on his FY2008 appropriation requests. 

"The projects I requested funding for are projects that are critical to the economy of southern Minnesota and to my constituents' quality of life," said Walz.

"I believe it is helpful for Members of Congress to be able to influence the federal budget process. Members of Congress are often in a position to know more about the projects that are important to their districts than an official in a federal agency in Washington, D.C.  However, because the appropriations process has been abused in the past, I believe it is important for this system to be as open and transparent as possible," said Walz.

"This year, for the first time, all Members of Congress will submit a formal statement to certify that neither they nor their family members have a financial interest in the projects they request.  Furthermore, every project that receives funding will be clearly identified with the member who requested it," said Walz. "I believe that these changes will lead to a more open and responsive government.  However, I am also taking the additional, unusual step of publicly releasing a list of the projects for which I requested federal funds."

"These projects were submitted to me by state and local officials in Minnesota, as well as community and non-profit organizations.  It is likely that only a few of these projects received funding, but I still believe they
are worthwhile projects and I am proud to give them my support" concluded Walz. 

Congressman Walz forwarded the following requests to the Appropriations Committee, in alphabetical order:

*    Center for Applied Biofuel Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Funds would support research into renewable energy. 
*    Center for Producer-Owned Energy; Crookston. The Center supports the creation of value-added renewable energy businesses that help farmers increase their profitability and promote rural development.
*    Center for Renewable Energy at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  This funding would support on-going research into cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable forms of energy.
*    Dresbach Bridge . Preliminary planning support for the I-90 bridge at Dresbach, in Winona County.
*    Garage and Operation Facility construction.  Construction of a garage and transportation hub for Albert Lea's bus transit system.
*    Gunderson Lutheran's HeartHealth program in Winona. Funds will create a program to reduce life-threatening heart disease in women. 
*    Highway 8 in St. James. Funding for safety improvements.
*    Highway 14. Upgrades in Waseca, Blue Earth, and Nicollet Counties. 
*    Highway 52. Improvements in Olmsted County.
*    Highway 59 in Worthington. Road safety enhancements.
*    Highway 60. Expansion to four lanes in Nobles County.
*    Hormel Institute Cancer Research Expansion Project in Austin. This funding would expand the Hormel Institute's cancer research facility and support the renovation of an existing building and the construction of a new facility. 
*    Interstate 35. Guardrail installations in Owatonna.
*    Lewis and Clark Rural Water System. Centered in twenty communities in western Minnesota, northern Iowa, and eastern South Dakota, this pipeline provides treated water from the Missouri River to more than 300,000 people in three states.  This area is so desperately short of water that there are restrictions on constructing new small business and residences; the pipeline will be essential to the economic viability of these small towns.  Many of the communities involved have pre-paid the local share of the project, in order to keep inflationary costs at a minimum, and are only awaiting the federal share. 
*    Minnesota National Guard Field Maintenance Facility in Mankato. Funds would support the design of a maintenance facility to support the training of Minnesota's National Guard.
*    Mobile Pediatric Health Simulation Center. The funds would support the operation of a mobile pediatric lab to train doctors and nurses in greater Minnesota in pediatric emergency response. This program is headquartered in St. Paul but serves Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.
*    National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University.  The Center trains social workers, teachers, and health care professionals to recognize and report signs of child abuse. 
*    Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota and Iowa. This project will support land acquisition to add acreage to the refuge.
*    Oak Avenue Reconstruction.  Project will to accommodate heavier traffic in Racine, located in Mower
County.
*    Olmsted County Safeguarding Children's Initiative in Rochester. Funds will support a program to prevent child abuse and neglect.
*    Park and Ride Facility construction in Rochester
*    Radium removal project in the Goodview Water System. Funding would construct two water filtration plants to comply with an EPA mandate.
*    Rapidan Dam near Mankato.  Funding for a study by the Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate options for the Rapidan Dam. 
*    Region 9 Funding will assist with assessment of public transit options in Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties. 
*    Road Sign Replacement Program in Houston and Watonwan Counties.
*    St. Elizabeth's Hospital Fresh Start Disease Prevention Program. Funds would support a program in Wabasha to help participants reduce their risk of heart disease. 
*    Sensor Technology Project for Senior Independent Living and Home Health. Located in Windom, the program would allow remote monitoring of elderly clients' health. 
*    Sheriffs Youth Program in Rochester.   Funding would support SYP's services for at-risk youth. 
*    Soybean genomics research at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. Funding for research to help increase protein levels in soybeans, which would make southern Minnesota's plentiful soybean crop more competitive internationally.
*    Statewide National Guard Reintegration program. This program would support a program to help federal, state, and local agencies provide well-coordinated assistance to Minnesota service members reintegrating to civilian life.
*    Trunk Highway 4. Pavement reconstruction in St. James. 
*    Trunk Highway 15/Johnson Street intersection in Fairmont. Funding would support a study on ways to control a hazardous intersection in Fairmont.
*    Trunk Highway 169. Reconstruction in Fairbault and Nicollet Counties.
*    Uniform Farm Management Program at the University of Minnesota, St.Paul . Funding for a project that helps farmers compare their costs of production and maximize their efficiencies of operation.
*    Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Funds would purchase a 108-acre tract of land along the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. 
*    Veterans Re-Entry Education Program in St. Paul.  Funds would help Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and three state agencies create programs to help returning veterans find employment and
educational opportunities.
*    Veterans' Van Transportation Program in Rochester.  Funds would support the operation of the county's van service to transport veterans from Olmsted County to the Minneapolis VA Clinic for medical care.
*    Watonwan County Emergency Services. Funds would support an upgrade of the county's emergency operations center and a facility for emergency management equipment. 
*    Winona State University Utility Tunnel Upgrade and Expansion Project

Randy Demmer's new office:  recycling Gutknecht  location and staffer
Polinaut reports that Randy Demmer has opened a campaign office in Rochester; it's upstairs from the Olmstead County GOP, in the same building where Gutknecht's congressional office and campaign office were located. A picture is available here.

The news release lists Wanda Mitchell as Demmer's campaign coordinator.  Mitchell formerly served as a staff member for Gil Gutknecht, according to this page recruiting Harvard students for internships in Gutknecht's Rochester office.  According to several web pages, she served as office manager and in-district scheduler. Photo here.

Friday news digest: the Colbert Bump and other media effects

Could the Colbert Bump help Harriet the eagle? The Rochester Post Bulletin reports that Wabasha bald eagle does the Capitol, Comedy Central. So she's learned to fly again, albeit on commercial airliners. First class or coach?

Congress adjourned early this morning.  DFL activists and Walz volunteers will be in the Rochesterfest Parade tonight.  Will the Congressman join them?

The PB's Austin calendar notes the mobile office stop in Austin next Wednesday.

A West Central Tribune report mentions the All Healthy Children Act, of which Walz is a co-sponsor.

The Huffington Post suggests Adding to the ranks of Iraq and Afghanistan Vets in Congress. Wlaz, who served in Italy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, is mentioned.

The Mankato Free Press editorial board criticizes some House Democratic leaders for attempting to back pedal on promises to disclose earmarks, but notes that Walz will be disclosing his list of earmarks today.

Given that he has been citing projects he's requested for the First for several weeks now, in press calls and other venues,  there should be no big surprises in the list.

Pesky College Students Alert: MN students against Trustless Trustee for those concerned about the pending appointment of the student representative for 4-yr MnSCU colleges.

And IDHA is back! With a post about the heart of the matter.

Thursday morning: Health care for "Priority 8" veterans

Yesterday, the House Veterans committee heard testimony on "Priority 8" veterans, defined by the VA system as those who do not have service-related disabilities and who have incomes above $28,000. (Audio available here). Representative Walz serves on the committee.

Today, the Washington Post reports Study Finds 1.8 Million Veterans Are Uninsured:

The ranks of uninsured veterans have increased by 290,000 since 2000, said Stephanie J. Woolhandler, the Harvard Medical School professor who presented her findings yesterday before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. About 12.7 percent of non-elderly veterans -- or one in eight -- lacked health coverage in 2004, the most recent year for which figures are available, she said, up from 9.9 percent in 2000. Veterans 65 and older are eligible for Medicare.

Only  half of these veterans are on Priority 8 status:

Nearly 8 million veterans were enrolled in the VA health system in 2006. The focus of the hearing was whether to open VA hospitals' doors to so-called Priority 8 veterans, who have no service-connected disabilities and whose earnings generally are above 80 percent of the median income where they live. Doing so would add significantly to VA's caseload and costs -- estimates range from $366 million to $3.3 billion annually -- and some veterans groups and lawmakers are concerned that it would make it harder for veterans with serious service-related health problems to get timely care.

Only about half of the 1.8 million uninsured veterans are classified Priority 8, Woolhandler said. The rest may technically be eligible for some VA care but live too far from its facilities for it to be a real option, she said.

Interesting article.

Student Loan Program Overhaul
In higher education news, the WaPo reports Student Loan Overhaul Advances:

Democrats in Congress are pushing to overhaul the nation's student loan system with legislation that would cut federal subsidies to lending companies by as much as $19 billion, channel most of those savings to student aid and ease repayment rules for borrowers.

The Senate education committee overwhelmingly approved its version of the legislation yesterday, one week after the House education panel took similar action. Senior Democrats predicted that the bills would come to a vote by the end of next month and would be reconciled without significant difficulty.

The loan program overhaul is opposed by the student lending industry, which has been the subject of scrutiny of late by states' attorneys general, who have found "new levels of corruption and deception" in the industry.

The WaPo reports that House Republicans have tended to side with the student lending industry rather than with students. Last year, we reported on campaign contributions from the industry to former House Majority Leader Boehner when he visited MSU-Mankato on behalf of Gil Gutknecht.

Meanwhile, back at MnSCU
Most of the college students in the First attend public colleges in the MnSCU system in Winona, Austin, Rochester, Mankato, Worthington, and other branch campuses in small towns. In news from Minnesota's higher education community yesterday, the MnSCU board rejected efforts by student groups to keep down tuition hikes, MPR reports:

Trustees decided to buy some time to review their budget options, rather than lower tuition increases. The additional rate reductions -- a plan that developed within the past two weeks --would have saved two-year college students up to $63 a year and as much as $29 a year for students in four-year universities.

Justin McMartin, who heads the student association for the four-year MnSCU schools, says that may not sound like much, but for students, those numbers add up.

"I know several students who work full-time jobs, live in apartments with three other guys -- a one-bedroom apartment -- and eat raman noodles everyday. Now give that student $26 or $50 and it has a lot greater impact," according to McMartin.

Netroots explore MNSCU board student rep questions
On the blogs, former  Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) chair Hal Kimball and pesky WSU alum and student activist DJ Danielson ponder the significance of rumors that Governor Pawlenty intends to appoint a 2007 graduate of a private four year college to serve as a student member of the MnSCU board. The young man plans to attend a grad program at MSU-Mankato/Normandale Community College (Bloomington) but has yet to spend time studying in a MnSCU classroom.  Kimball asks some questions.

The rumored choice rejects two students MSUSA recommended as outlined by the statute that created the student positions on the board. The students MSUSA recommended have been active in statewide MnSCU student leadership; the governor's rumored choice, primarily in partisan student and campaign activities, though he did do a term on St. John's student senate.

There is a precedent for the governor to snub MSUSA's recommendations, as has happened once in the past. However, the student appointed to the board was a WSU student who had attended RCTC and had been active in statewide student association leadership for several years.  The current choice has no such claims.

Pawlenty did receive a MSUSA recommended board candidate who is both conservative activist and MnSCU student advocate.  Adam Wiegold, now attending Metro State in the Cities, is both an active member of the College Republicans and other conservative causes and a leader in MSUSA; we have to wonder just what the governor's agenda might be in selecting a candidate whose credentials are chiefly those of political operative.

Spot wonders too.  He may be on to something. Going to MSU-Mankato part-time is sure to give the enterprising young Hellier cred among college students in the First, even if the campus schooling him is in Bloomington. 

But maybe it's those tuition hikes and the need to appoint someone who won't raise his voice in protest. Or the need to select someone who wasn't troubled by a Republican Congress that raised the cost of  student lending.

Maybe the professional wrestling experience turned the governor's head.

American Eagle Day: Harriet and Marybeth Garrigan visit Walz

Last night, Harriet the Bald Eagle and National Eagle Center program director Marybeth Garrigan appeared on the Colbert Report. Today, Harriet met with Senators and visited the office of her U.S. Representative, Tim Walz.

Eagles are being removed from the endangered species list after after successful conservation efforts brought the bird back from the brink.

The federal Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that over 1300 pairs of eagles are nesting in Minnesota. In the First Congressional District, birders frequently see the national bird  along the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, although the bird nests throughout the area.

Wednesday morning news digest: birds and ag edition

Community News Corp: Birds give rural living special joy
Publisher Larry Dobson writes about the new Audubon Society report on the decline of some common bird species:

Birds bring a lot of pleasure to our family life, so it was with a sense of sadness that I read the report from the Audubon Society this past week detailing the declining populations of many species we enjoy hearing and seeing. According to the report, populations of several previously common species may have been reduced to the point it will be difficult for them to survive unless something is done now to protect them. Among those reported to be in decline that we have seen around the yard this year are the Red-Headed Woodpecker and the Indigo Bunting.

Last week I was in Washington DC to learn about grassroot lobbying with the Audubon Society, with a focus on the Farm Bill.  One thing that can be done is to express support for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) and money for research and development of cellulostic ethanol that would use mixed native grasses for ethanol production.

Minnesotans have an important role in this effort. Seventh District Representative Collin Peterson chairs the House Ag committee, and Tim Walz sits on the committee. Senators Coleman and Klobuchar are on the Senate Ag committee.  Let them know that you want sound conservation measures in the Farm Bill. The NAS has suggestions for additional things you can do as well.

Other conservation and outdoor groups support funding WRP and GRP.  Here's a press release posted at Pheasants Forever (nice picture of PF member Tim Walz) expressing support for conservation titles in the 2007 Farm Bill. Ducks Unlimited posts its priorities here, with a special appeal for saving the WRP.

Caledonia Argus: Bring them home
Editor Charlie Warner writes: God bless our troops, bring them home today.

New Ulm Journal: Soldiers coming home next month
2600 Minnesota National Guardsmen are returning, the Journal writes in Soldiers coming home next month.

New York Times: Senate moves toward EFCA clash
The Times reports Clash Nears in the Senate on Legislation Helping Unions Organize. 

Rochester Post Bulletin LTE: DM & E still faces community issues
Reader Ken Brown outlines the laundry list of items in a LTE.

Farm Bill Update
We are taking a couple of summer classes and missed listening to the commodities subcommittee mark-up yesterday. The Washington Post covers the markup session in House Panel Votes to Extend Controversial Farm Subsidies, Signaling Battle to Come; it looks as if there's no sentiment to reform the commodities titles in the ag committee.

Tuesday morning: Guard coming home; eagle goes to Washington

Good news
The Strib reports that General Shellito and Governor Pawlenty will be at an afternoon briefing in which the Guard homecoming will be announced today:

The 2,600 Minnesota Guard members, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division, were mobilized for training in October 2005 and left for Iraq in March 2006. They were scheduled to return home beginning this spring.

However, their tour was extended for an additional 125 days as part of a troop increase ordered by President Bush.

In all, the troops have spent 22 months away from home -- 16 of which have been in a combat zone. All are expected to return home by the end of summer.

"This is the longest deployment of any military unit in Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Lt. Col. Kevin Olson, a spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard.

The news should make a lot of families in Southen Minnesota happy.  Guard members we know who have been in Iraq tell us that the return will pose its own set of challenges for all those involved. 

The Pioneer Press reports in  Minnesota National Guard / VA studying stress, depression in soldiers:

While there is plenty of research showing high rates of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among war veterans, much of it is based on active-duty soldiers, not Guard members, said Melissa Polusny, a researcher with the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

"Little is known about how risk or resilience factors (for mental health issues) might be common or unique to National Guard reserve components," Polusny said Monday. The psychologist spoke during a VA event that highlighted research at the veterans' hospital.

Last night, Mountain Lake's Pow Wow Pow Wow parade honored service men and women.

KTTC: Wabasha eagle to be on Colbert Report June 20
It's not just people doing their bit for the troops in the First.

In Harriet Goes to Washington, the National Eagle Center's Harriet will head to Washington DC:

Wabasha's Harriet the bald eagle will stretch her wings this week flying high and logging some frequent flier miles.
 
The Wabasha resident is headed to Washington DC where she will be visiting the Senate and members of the house all to celebrate a new holiday!
 
June 20th will now be recognized as a day to honor the national bird. It was 225 years ago this Wednesday that congress chose the eagle as the nation's symbol.
 
Harriet will celebrate the big day with Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar and will even make her Comedy Central debut on the Colbert Report.

Harriet was the model for the state's "Support our Troops" license plate, dedicated to Minnesota veterans. After being hit by a car, the bird was left unable to fly.  She and two other disabled birds serve as outreach workers for the Eagle Center.

Austin Daily Herald Editorial: Investors in wind
The Herald editorial board praises Walz's new wind energy legislation in Open wind to more investors:

The promise of increased wind energy production is great news for consumers, the environment and investors. When it comes to investors, the benefits shouldn’t be confined to only large corporations with deep pockets.

New legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., would open the door to wind energy investment for farmers and rural landowners. Up until now, most of the investment has been by large corporations and groups.

The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Collin Peterson, another Minnesota Democrat who is the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, would provide a tax credit of 1.9 cents per kilowatt hour generated, up to $40,000 per year, for wind energy producers. That credit would offset huge initial investments by creating more income in the early stages of production for new producers.

The legislation was proposed to Walz by a constituent, and will help not only those farmers and landowners who want to get into wind energy, but also the state, which has a mandate to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.

Walz education e-newsletter
We received the Walz education newsletter via email; it provided a summary of recent activities:

HR 362 and HR 363

The House of Representatives recently passed two vital education measures to improve math and science education in American schools.   H.R. 362, the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act, will provide scholarships for math and science professionals who commit to investing a few years of their lives educating our children.  The legislation will assist nearly 25,000 math and science professionals to become the most highly qualified math and science teachers in our nation. 

H.R. 363, the Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act, also passed the House recently. The bill increases grant aid to scientists and engineers who are performing cutting-edge research at our institutions of higher education.  This legislation will help spur groundbreaking research in fields that will help the United States remain the world leader in technological research. 

I was proud to support both of these bills.  You can read more about them here.

No Child Left Behind

Recently, I was pleased to participate with dozens of teachers from our district in a telephone town hall meeting on the No Child Left Behind law.  Congress will soon vote on reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, and the debate over that legislation will give us the opportunity to make some much needed changes. Teachers all across southern Minnesota tell me that, although No Child Left Behind brought a welcome focus on accountability and results, the law should be refocused to help struggling schools improve instead of simply punishing them.  Furthermore, NCLB places too much emphasis on teaching to a test instead of instilling in our students actual critical thinking skills, and it has been significantly under-funded.  Read more here.

Head Start

A child's education begins long before he or she arrives in elementary school.  That is why early education is so important.  Head Start programs provide early childhood education, social services, and parental involvement programs to over 18 million low income children.  Recently, the House voted to reauthorize Head Start and provide increased funding for these programs.  This legislation also provided a renewed focus on professional development for early childhood educators.  I was proud to stand with my colleagues and support this legislation.  Read more here.

Monday news digest: wind energy and a wounded warrior

West Central Tribune: Energy act introduced
The WCT picks up the wind energy story:

Two Minnesota congressmen want to make it easier for individuals and small groups to receive wind energy tax incentives.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Tim Walz, who serves southern Minnesota, and Collin Peterson, whose district encompasses most of the west, introduced a bill to increase those incentives.

Walz said current laws give tax breaks for wind energy projects, but only to larger organizations and the rich.

“This legislation will expand renewable energy production by leveling the playing field for individuals in rural America who are looking to enter the industry,” Walz said.

Peterson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said the bill would “bring the benefits of renewable energy investments to more of our rural citizens.”

Faribault County Register: Blue Earth soldier injured
The Register reports that another soldier from southern Minnesota has been wounded in combat in Iraq:

Army Private First Class Hans Paschke-Burtt is alive and well, but is now one among three Faribault County veterans injured during the Iraq War in the past four years.

The heavily armored military vehicle Paschke-Burtt was traveling in as a gunner came under attack north of Baghdad June 10. Insurgents fired an older Soviet-style rocket, striking the reinforced troop transport in the engine and injuring the 2004 graduate of Blue Earth Area High School.

Little more information has been forthcoming, except the soldier’s injuries are non-life-threatening. According to his mother, Blue Earth’s Gertrude Johnson, Paschke-Burtt reportedly suffered a ruptured eardrum in the blast and other crash-related injuries.

Paschke-Burtt has been moved to Walter Reed; he has emailed family to say that he'll be okay and hopes to rejoin his unit soon.

Caring for our planet and ourselves: of buntings, tomatoes, and troops

We hope all fathers are being appreciated today by their families, and that Representative Walz is enjoying some time today with his own kids.  We wish a Happy Belated Birthday to Gwen Walz.

After a brief stay at a friend's weekend place (those tomatoes needed to be staked and trained), we're back.  We miss seeing lots of indigo buntings at the place; alas, the common songbird species is in decline. Conserving habitat for buntings and pintails is one of the reasons we flew to DC to talk to elected officials and their staff about the Farm Bill.

Gannett: Guard lacks supplies
Via our friend and Army veteran Hal at Blue Man, we learn that the Minnesota National Guard has been shortchanged, according to the St. Cloud Times's article, Review: Guard lacks supplies:

National Guard units in 31 states say that after four years of deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan, they have 60 percent or less of their authorized equipment, a USA Today review has found.

Eighteen of those 31 states, including Minnesota, report having half or fewer of the vehicles, aircraft, radios, weapons and other items they are authorized to have for home-front uses, the 50-state review found.

The original USA Today article is found here.

WAPO: PTSD woes
Elsewhere, the Washington Post reports Soldiers Haunted by War Struggle to Get Care.  A sampling:

Jeans Cruz and his contemporaries in the military were never supposed to suffer in the shadows the way veterans of the last long, controversial war did. One of the bitter legacies of Vietnam was the inadequate treatment of troops when they came back. Tens of thousands endured psychological disorders in silence, and too many ended up homeless, alcoholic, drug-addicted, imprisoned or dead before the government acknowledged their conditions and in 1980 officially recognized PTSD as a medical diagnosis.

Yet nearly three decades later, the government still has not mastered the basics: how best to detect the disorder, the most effective ways to treat it, and the fairest means of compensating young men and women who served their country and returned unable to lead normal lives.

Cruz's case illustrates these broader problems at a time when the number of suffering veterans is the largest and fastest-growing in decades, and when many of them are back at home with no monitoring or care. Between 1999 and 2004, VA disability pay for PTSD among veterans jumped 150 percent, to $4.2 billion.