Bluestem Prairie: news about Tim Walz (MN-1)

The Zombie Jamboree: Davis campaign to haunt GOP tour

Last week, one of those cute boys at MnPublius reported that Brian Davis had been "left for dead," according to a Republican source.

We took his word for it; however, today it looks as if the corpse of Davis's campaign has joined the ranks of the walking dead and will infect Senator Coleman's swing through southern Minnesota.

The Rochester Post Bulletin's Matt Stolle reported that Giuliani to campaign in Rochester for Coleman:

With the race for U.S. Senate largely deadlocked, GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is returning to Rochester, this time with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in tow.

Coleman, who has promised to spend the rest of the election season on the campaign trial, will be at the Kahler Grand Hotel at 11:15 a.m. Friday. Both he and Giuliani will also hold campaign events in Mankato and Owatonna before arriving in Rochester.

But it was not to be. In Midwest Campaign Swing, KAAL-TV reports that Brian Davis is inserting himself into the tour as aggressively as a GOP tracker invading Ashwin Madia's conversations with union painters.  Davis told the station:

"It’s great that Mayor Giuliani will be here,” says GOP U.S. Congressional Candidate Brian Davis. “He's an American hero and a patriot. I'll be campaigning through the first district and I’m honored to be campaigning with him and Senator Coleman.”

The GOP trio will make stops in Mankato, Owatonna and Rochester later this week.

With luck, Davis might even be able to get some new clothes from the deal. That is, if he controls himself from chanting about drilling in ANWR (which Coleman more or less opposes and has repeatedly voted against) or cackling that the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association is a partisan group, as he told KEYC-TV yesterday.

In Walz Gets 'A' Rating from Iraq and Afghanistan Vets Group, KEYC-TV paraphrased as Davis saying:

Walz received the A plus rating from a partisan organization.

That's news to several Iraq War vets we talked to last night, who thought the group was like the VFW, "except focused on 21st century wars," as one former soldier put it. (The VFW PAC, btw, endorsed Walz a while back). 

Even more, Davis's opinion will probably be news to Norm Coleman.  Like Harry Reid, whom Davis denounced to KEYC-TV, Coleman received an "A" from the group. On his official senate site, Coleman said of the group:

". . .I appreciate IAVA’s recognition and I look forward to working with them in the future as I continue to fight for our nation’s veterans.”

The KEYC-TV report said that Davis will be issuing a statement responding to a letter Veterans for Walz sent to him asking about vets issues. The vets letter was written after Davis repeatedly  said he couldn't think of any way that medical or educational benefits could be improved for our nation's vets.

Perhaps the out-of-touch doc can also explain why Coleman was ranked high by a "partisan" vets group. Somehow, we doubt Coleman will beginning scorning the high grade and encouraging Davis to carry on this way in joint public appearances.

Readers should visit the IAVA's web site to decide for themselves how "partisan" the IAVA's agenda is.  We've emailed the group to ask for a response to Davis's statements.

Update: We've just gotten word from the Franken campaign that Rudy supplied the voice for an anti-Obama robocall. Will Mr. "No Negative Campaigning" Coleman wink at this instance of nasty politicking as well? [end update]

To celebrate the campaign swing, we present the Notre Dame Glee Club in concert covering a Rockapella and Kingston Trio classic. No word if the tuxes came from Neiman Marcus:

Rochester Obama Town Hall meeting: media coverage

From the looks of the audience in the clip at KAAL-TV, the Obama Town Hall Meeting at the Mayo Civic Center yesterday was well attended. Not bad for a gorgeous football Sunday.

In the first town hall meeting for Senator Barack Obama in Rochester national security experts took the stage stumping for the democratic hopeful. 

They unveiled Obama's foreign policy vision for national security.
    
It includes withdrawing troops from Iraq within 16 months and refocusing the fight towards Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

. . ."The currently policy under president bush supported by Senator McCain has been solely focused on Iraq that had nothing to do with 9-11 and had used our resources, our troops to the point where it's very difficult to focus on the greater need," said Walz.

We will hear more as Obama and McCain square off next Friday in Oxford, Mississippi, where the focus of their first presidential debate will be on national security and foreign policy.

The latest Gallup survey found 48% of registered voters support Obama while 44% preferred John McCain.  . . .

KTTC-TV reports in National security town hall meeting:

Our National Security is top of mind for many people and is one of the big issues in the presidential race.

Today some state leaders came to Rochester to discuss Barack Obama and Joe Biden's national security plans.

State representatives Tim Walz and Betty McCollum were among the participants.

The event was free and open to the public. 

The focus of the discussion was the country's situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, our diplomatic relations with countries around the world, as well as solutions for energy independence. 

Former Major General Paul Eaton says, "Militarily, we are in a less adventages position today than we were eight years ago and as a retired soldier and father of soldiers, I have a real problem with that." 

Representative Tim Walz says, "We've gotten ourselves in a situation where we don't have the allegiance and allies that were once there and I think Senator Obama's been talking about building those alliances for the 21st century, reconstituting this force and using all the tools of diplomacy of soft power, economic power as well as military to bring about true national security." 

The panel made their last stop of the day in St. Paul.

Early evening news digest: firecracker edition

Transportation and energy issues dominate today's congressional news in the First. Federal grants that will assist in the improvement of Highway captured much attention. The Waseca County News reports Walz presents Highway 14 grant:

Funding for the expansion of Highway 14 got a boost Thursday morning when First District Congressman Tim Walz and members of the Highway 14 Partnership met in Waseca. They stood on the grass across from Kiesler’s Campground, their backs to the highway they all want to see converted to a four-lane.

Walz, a Mankato Democrat, was in town to announce federal grants for two sections of Highway 14. Joining him were the mayors of Waseca, Owatonna, North Mankato and Courtland and officials from Waseca and Owatonna.

Walz said the highway is a major artery in the First District, used by 80 percent of the area’s largest employers.

He said the Federal Highway Administration grant is the result of the financial commitment the state of Minnesota has made to the finish the project.

The grant was also made possible, Walz said, because of the commitment of the partnership members who understood the need to band together to get a new highway built. The new highway will improve safety and the economy and infrastructure for the future, he said.

The Mankato Free Press wrote that Grant funding moves highway plan ahead and KEYC-TV says Walz Announces Grant Money for Highway 14 Repairs. Video is included. Winona Radio picks up on the story as well.

Congressman Walz continues to talk about energy issues with small business owners and consumers in the district. The Albert Lea Tribune observes that Walz blasts Bush over gas prices. MPR reports Politicians offer plenty of gas prices fixes; Walz is mentioned.

Robert Emary writes to the Worthington Globe to say Walz made right vote on energy act. Richard Robbins supports Walz's approach in Energy policies should put middle class first.

In The Carbon Footprint Trail, Tom Driscoll at the Fillmore County Journal takes a long look at ways in which local power co-ops are trying to reduce CO2 emissions. Both Congressman Walz and Davis were interviewed for the story.

Davis's global warming denial looks to be pretty light-weight in context of the rest of the story, especially when contrasted with Governor Pawlenty's efforts for conservation and energy efficiency. Guess that's what happens when you touts slim credentials (one year of work after receiving his undergraduate degree) from an industry Davis hasn't worked in for nearly 25 years (Davis began working on his mechanical engineering degrees in 1983, after graduating from college in 1982).

The Rochester Post Bulletin writes that GOP leader outlines strategy during speech at Mayo Civic Center. The strategy talk was about how to defeat Walz, not how to devise long-term energy policy. No word in the article as to whom Cole delivered his strategy pep talk.  We suppose it's nice that Tom Cole's visit resulted in one or two pieces of earned  mainstream media for the Davis campaign.

The Open Enrollment blog at the Winona Daily News' River Valley blogs looks at Walz vs. NCLB.

The Houston County News reports Houston County amongst those declared federal disaster area; the article mentions Congressman Walz's efforts, working with Senators Coleman and Klobuchar and Governor Pawlenty, to help secure the federal disaster declaration by the president.

The Pioneer Press looks at how Returning veterans take lessons to political battles. The article begins:

The Iraq and Afghanistan wars linger on, but they already are producing a new generation of politicians looking to represent Minnesota in Congress.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Marine veteran Ashwin Madia, the surprise Democratic challenger, is seeking the open seat. In the 2nd District, Steve Sarvi, a National Guard member who served in Kosovo and Iraq, is taking on a Vietnam veteran. And the 1st District is represented by Tim Walz, a 24-year National Guard veteran, in his first term running for re-election.

The three are part of an emerging trend nationally — veterans of the two wars eager to take their concerns and the lessons they've learned to Washington. . . .

It's important to note that Tim Walz served in a support operation in Italy for Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) but is not a combat veteran of OEF. Both Madia and Sarvi served in country in Iraq. Here's the new chart on competitive races from the Cook Political Report. 

We had posted yesterday how MN-02, once considered completely safe for John Kline, was moved into the more competitive "likely Republican" from "solid Republican." Those pesks at IDHA note that Sarvi, Madia and Tinklenberg have just been endorsed by the Minnesota Nurses Association.  Looks like the Republican Party of Minnesota will be playing defense in all three of its remaining congressional seats.

In Welcome Home for Minnesota Soldiers, KAAL TV reports that 400 Minnesota National Guard members  from Mankato-based 2nd Battalion who had been serving in Kosovo will return to the USA by the end of next weekend. The Albert Lea Tribune says they're coming back between July 10 and 14 in  Albert Lea troops returning from Kosovo.

Happy Birthday, America!

Fanfare for the Common Man Update: We spoke too soon about earned media for Brian Davis's campaign; the Grand Forks Herald has published an AP reports about Brian Davis's self-funding of his campaign. In 1st District candidate says spending won't change, we learn:

A doctor running for Congress in southern Minnesota says he won't increase spending of his own money despite the new freedom he got with a recent Supreme Court ruling.

The high court ruled against campaign finance laws that allowed higher contribution limits for opponents of candidates using more than $350,000 of their own money. But Dr. Brian Davis, who is running for Congress in the First District, says he never planned to hit that limit anyway. He has loaned or contributed nearly $200,000 to his campaign so far.

Davis says he does agree with the decision.

He's running in the Republican primary against longtime state Senator Dick Day. The winner of that primary will run against first-term Democratic Representative Tim Walz.

That $200,000 figure is quite interesting. At the end of Q1, Davis had contributed $58543.76 to his campaign and loaned his committee $24,000, for a total of $82,543.76.  If the amount has escalated up to nearly $200,000, he tapped into his own reserves at a greater pace in the quarter that just ended--perhaps to the tune of $100,000 or more.

That should punch the Q2 report up a bit.

Walz statement on passage of GI Bill for the 21st Century

Our friend McPherson Hall of Minnesota Central gently chided us for neglecting to discussion the inclusion of the new G.I. Bill as an amendment to the war supplemental:

With all the hub-bub last week about the FISA bill, there was another notable bill that the House passed.

The House approved amendments to the Supplemental Appropriations Act 2008.

Since your column has addressed veterans issues, you might be interested to know that by a vote of 416 to 12 Roll Call 432 was approved.

He is correct. Fortunately, Congressman Walz's office just came out with a statement about the passage:

WALZ RECOGNIZES GI BILL ANNIVERSARY AND PRAISES PASSAGE OF 21ST CENTURY GI BILL

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Tim Walz marked the anniversary of the original GI Bill and lauded the passage of the 21st Century GI Bill:

"This past Sunday marked the 64th anniversary of the historic GI Bill that President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law on June 22, 1944.  On that day, President Roosevelt observed that the GI Bill 'gives emphatic notice to the men and women in our Armed Forces that the American people do not intend to let them down.'  I am very pleased that last week the House of Representatives renewed that commitment to our nation's Armed Forces by passing a new GI Bill for the 21st Century.

"The new GI Bill significantly expands the educational benefits our country offers to the men and women who have served so courageously since the attacks of September 11, 2001.  It is designed to restore the promise of the original GI Bill, offering support for a full higher education for our veterans, a pathway to prosperity to them, and the foundation of a post-war economic recovery.

"I was proud to vote for this bill, and I am hopeful that the Senate will pass the legislation soon and the President will sign it into law.

We have a moral obligation and a national security interest to stand with our veterans, not just on the battlefield, but also when they return.  This bill demonstrates our commitment to our young men and women.

"Under the bill, increased educational benefits would be available to members of the military - including activated reservists and National Guard - who have served at least three months on active duty since September 11, 2001.  The amount of educational assistance veterans receive is linked to the amount of time they've served on active duty since September 11, 2001, up to three years.

"For those who have served three years, they will get support that would cover full tuition and associated costs at the most expensive public university in their state, though they can use their educational assistance essentially at any institution of higher education.  The bill also provides for the federal government to match dollar-for-dollar any private assistance veterans receive at more expensive institutions as well.  There is also provision for school costs like books, and a housing stipend appropriate for where the veteran is going to school.

"In short, this is a significant expansion of the benefit that is designed to keep pace with the real-life costs of education in the 21st century.

"Finally, a new provision has been added to the bill that would allow veterans who have served six years and who sign up for another four to transfer their educational benefits to their spouses and dependents.

"The original GI Bill was one of the greatest achievements of the 20th Century in America.  I believe this new GI Bill can be an equally great achievement of this Century."

Like the final passage of the increase in the federal minimum wage, final approval of the New G. I. Bill came--eventually--at the cost of continuing to fund the war in Iraq. Those who feel that Congress should quit funding the war and pull out immediately will be disappointed with Walz's vote for another amendment to the bill that continued money for the war in Iraq.

VA satellite clinic opens in Mankato

One issue facing rural veterans is the need for more VA satellite clinics that spare them the time and expense (partially reimbursed) of traveling to the medical center in Minneapolis. While most vets advocates see a need for the hospitals because of the special care needs of vets, decentralizing some of the services makes sense.

Mankato has just gotten a VA clinic, one that will at first offer mental health care. KEYC-TV reports:

Vietnam and Desert Storm Veteran Warren Taylor says, ''Veterans can talk to other Veterans, but they're not gonna talk to anybody else about these things, so that's why we need this.''

Vietnam Veteran Owen Painter says, ''This mental awareness is something that we really need for these guys coming back now. We probably needed it for us, there are a lot of younger guys, the ones coming back now, and it's hard for older people to accept the adjustments they got now.''

Adjustments made as troops return from war and readjust to society...With a new clinic in town that hopes to positively combat feelings of post-war alienation.Mary Olson, Minneapolis VA Mental Health Services Chief Nurse says, ''Absolutely a positive thing. The goal is to make mental health services very easy and accessible for people.'

Congressman Walz, who sits on the House Veterans Affairs committee, was at the opening on Monday:

Tim Walz says, ''There was always a desire to have it done, the Veterans knew there was a need for it, but it was very hard to mesh up the public will, the political will, and the funding that was needed to get it, so this is a testament that people stuck with it.''...A testament that will bring some much-needed peace of mind to local Veterans...

. . .Walz says, ''It's a good thing. This should serve both our older Veterans and our returning Veterans as well.''

There's video at the link.

The Mankato Free Press reported on the logic of opening a clinic in the Key City:

“There is an increased demand for services and Mankato is centrally located,” said Ralph Heussner, public affairs officer with the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

Demand on the VA overall is driven by two factors, he said. “The Vietnam era veteran is approaching 60, retiring and qualifying for the VA benefits. And the Iraq veterans are returning home and seeking care.”

There's already a VA community clinic in St. James and Rochester in the First. The Mankato Free Press praised the opening in Our View — New Vets clinic a welcome addition:

Getting veterans the assistance and care they need is a country’s obligation to its armed forces.

So it’s positive news that today a veterans clinic is opening in Mankato. At first the Veterans Affairs clinic in the Nichols Office building will see patients only for mental health care, but services eventually will be expanded to full primary medical care.

That’s good news for area veterans and their communities. As Vietnam vets age and more vets return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, medical services need to be available where they live — not a two-hour car ride away.

Vets still will need to travel to the VA in Minneapolis for specialized care, but the goal is to have medical facilities for vets within one hour’s drive of them.

Not only is the plan more cost-effective, but it is a sign the VA recognizes it needs to step up the care of veterans. A Washington Post article in 2007 received national attention when unsafe and unsanitary conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center were described in detail. Since then, veterans groups have sued the VA alleging its mental health care and benefits system are flawed.

There have been incidents in Minnesota, and in this region, involving vets suffering from stress disorders that have resulted in erratic behavior, including standoffs with authorities. A CBS probe that examined death records in all 50 states found that veterans were twice as likely to commit suicide. . . .

. . . This new clinic in Mankato is a sign the system recognizes that offering vets care close to home can be part of the healing process, and giving vets convenient care is the least the government can do.

Image: The Nichols Building, home to the new VA clinic in Mankato. Directions here.

Freedom's Watch skips over MN-01 with latest batch of robocalls

Conservative Washington DC based 501(c)4 lobbying organization Freedom's Watch is having to fill in the money gap for the NRCC; the latest volley is a robocall.

A friend sent us to a post naming the 30 House districts being hit by Freedom's Watch's calls. MN-01 isn't  on the list. This omission suggests that Congressman Walz is indeed an ex-GOP target.

The post begins:

Freedom's Watch is targetting 30 congressional districts held by Democrats with robocalls attacking Democrats record on military issues.. . . .

The districts are:

AZ-05,   AZ-08, CA-51, CA-11, CT-2, FL-16, GA-08, IL-08, KS-02, LA-06, MD-05, MD-08,   MS-01, NH-01, NV-01, NY-20, OH-18, PA-07, PA-10, PA-08, PA-12, TX-22, TX-23,   CT-05, KY-03, NH-02, PA-04, WI-08, NY-19, IL-14

With the exception of MD-08 (Rep. Van Hollen, the DCCC Chair), these are districts that many analysts think that the GOP can apply pressure and/or seats that the Dems took in 2006.

Want to make sure the robocalls stay away? Contribute to Tim Walz's re-election committee or sign up to volunteer here.

The names and districts from Roll Call:

The targeted Democrats are: Reps. Harry Mitchell (Ariz.), Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), Bob Filner (Calif.), Joe Courtney (Conn.), Christopher Murphy (Conn.), Tim Mahoney (Fla.), Jim Marshall (Ga.), Melissa Bean (Ill.), Bill Foster (Ill.), Nancy Boyda (Kan.), Dennis Moore (Kan.), Don Cazayoux (La.), Steny Hoyer (Md.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Travis Childers (Miss.), Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.), Paul Hodes (N.H.), Shelley Berkley (Nev.), John Hall (N.Y.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Zack Space (Ohio), Jason Altmire (Pa.), Joe Sestak (Pa.), Patrick Murphy (Pa.), Christopher Carney (Pa.), Paul Kanjorski (Pa.), John Murtha (Pa.), Nick Lampson (Texas), Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) and Steve Kagen (Wis.).

Worthington Globe: Ray Crippen on PTSD

In a post earlier in the week, Will VA Secretary Peake apologize to veterans?, we noted how some are trying to minimize or marginalize post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a veterans concern. In today's column in the Worthing GLobe, former editor Ray Crippen fills in some historical blanks about post traumatic stress disorder in The story of Old Pete, and a 'real and cruel' wound.  The column begins:

For nearly as long as I can remember I have received unsigned letters now and again. Anonymous mail. Sometimes a letter may be a suggestion for a column or for a story. Sometimes a letter will be — well, not flattering. That is a part of this business.

An anonymous letter came through the week past which I think needs a reply even though, in fact, it requires this column to take an untypical form.

The writer claims service in Iraq from a year gone by. There is reference to PTSD and then these sentences: “My uncle laughs at this. He says soldiers in the Korea war never claimed anything like PTSD.”

Crippen goes on to note how PTSD isn't something uncles should laugh about, citing an example:

I remember a long-ago friend of my dad for only one thing. The man had a tic in one cheek; there was a twinge every few seconds in either the left cheek or the right cheek. Rather often the man would squeeze his eyes closed tightly. I asked my dad about this. The surprising thing is I waited with my question until the man was gone.

I was told the man was a veteran of World War I. He had “shell shock.” I don’t know if there was any more to that conversation. “War veteran, shell shock.” This explains itself.

. . .I am saying this to the laughing uncle. I know something about the war in Korea. Very brave soldiers and Marines in Korea sometimes came to experience trauma - cruel mental suffering.

That word/ acronym PTSD is (I believe) of recent origin. What it describes is ancient.

Crippen shares an account from seventy years before of a Civil War veteran, Old Pete, whose mind was injured by a "cruel and real injury."

PTSD denial is distressing stuff, not only as a vets issue, but for the understanding and treatment of mental illness as well.   The bipartisan battle to get mental illness covered on an equal  footing by insurance companies was a long and winding road. To promote denial about PTSD in vets is more of the same--with the added shamefulness of abetting whose who would nickel and dime those who serve our country.

Like many news outlets, CNN reported this week that Army suicides [were] highest in nearly 2 decades. The cable news show also reported that Reports of stress disorder leap in military:

The number of U.S. military personnel diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder jumped 47 percent in 2007 according to new statistics -- a change the Pentagon attributed to greater awareness and better record-keeping.

The story notes that the stigma still remains, and some speculate that the military is much more eager to diagnose  PTSD when traumatic brain injuries may also be in  play.

We're proud to call veterans from the Korean War to present conflicts our friends; nearly all of our uncles who served in World War II have now passed. We've noticed that their stories aren't all that different, but perhaps we've been blessed not to know many people who think like the anonymous letter writer's uncle.   

Our understanding has been shaped by far different tales. One vivid memory from our childhood was of Uncle Stan, who returned to the United States a year after WWII because his combat injuries kept him in a European hospital for many months. Our father and Stan were talking in the backyard about the psychological troubles plaguing many soldiers returning from Vietnam.

Dad said something about younger soldiers being whiners, and his brother, who taught shop classes in Southern California, unloaded with a story about having to shoot extremely young German soldiers in the waning days of the war.  The boys he shot reminded him of his own little brother back home, he said, then he broke down weeping about his experience nearly thirty years before. It was the first time we'd ever seen a grown man cry outside of funerals.

And that ended any sort of talk of slackers in our house.

Photo: The dead at Gettysburg.

Walz votes for GI Bill expansion

We were out working in our vegetable garden (finally!) and come home to find this press release from Congressman Walz's office in our inbox:

WALZ VOTES FOR HISTORIC EXPANSION OF GI BILL

Says legislation will give today's service members benefits on par with those WWII veterans received

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Tim Walz announced that he voted to support an emergency spending bill to provide funding for on-going military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which includes a historic expansion of the GI Bill. 

Walz said that the spending bill, which provides funding to meet the needs of soldiers serving in Iraq as well as Americans hit hardest by the recent economic downturn, incorporates what is commonly called the "21st Century GI Bill," which will offer the 1.7 million brave men and women who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan educational benefits on par with those provided to veterans of the World War II era.

"The legislation will give our returning troops the tools they need to continue their success in their civilian lives, will make military service more attractive, and will pay future dividends as it strengthens our sagging economy," said Rep. Tim Walz.  "I think it is fitting that this restoration of GI Bill benefits is included in a supplemental war spending bill because we often forget that caring for our soldiers and veterans after they return from the battlefield is a real, measurable cost of war."

Under the new GI Bill, qualified service members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, who have served 3 years on active duty, would receive benefits to cover the costs of a four-year education up to the level of the most expensive in-state public school, along with a stipend for housing, books and other expenses.  Education benefits would be available to troops who have served at least 3 months of active duty service since September 11, 2001, including members of the National Guard and Reserve.  Right now, veterans' education benefits cover only about 60 percent of the cost of a public-school education.

The supplemental spending bill was considered as three separate amendments:

Amendment #1: Provides $162.5 billion for the Department of Defense, funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through the summer of 2009. Congressman Walz voted in favor of this amendment, which was not adopted.

Amendment #2: This amendment includes restrictions on the deployment of our Armed Forces in Iraq, by requiring that American troops begin to redeploy within 30 days, with the redeployment completed by December of 2009.  It also requires that Iraqis match US reconstruction funding dollar for dollar and that the President reach an agreement with Iraq to subsidize fuel costs for the US Armed Forces so that our military pays what the Iraqis pay for their fuel.  The amendment also prohibits torture and the construction of permanent military bases in Iraq.  The House passed this amendment 227 - 196.  Congressman Walz voted in favor.

Amendment #3: This amendment restores GI Bill benefits for veterans to WWII levels, extends unemployment benefits for workers who've exhausted their benefits and funds efforts to strengthen New Orleans levees. Amendment #3 passed with a vote of 256 - 166.  Congressman Walz voted in favor.

Truth about Vet Suicides hearing: Walz speaks up for vets, county service officers

We're not entirely comfortable with the headline chosen for a post at Minnesota Central, since we're somewhat old school in believing that all Americans should take an interest in doing what's best for veterans, leaving partisanship behind.

Still, it's hard not to share some of our friend's conclusions when we read the Stars & Stripes article that's the springboard for his analysis and conclusion. Go read what MC has to say.

The Stars and Stripes article was headlined Democrats press VA on suicide rate. McPherson Hall  adds to the story by sharing his reflections on the hearings available on the webcast of the full committee hearing, “The Truth About Veteran Suicides”. 

It's a must watch for those interested in veterans issues.

Walz's questions, referenced by Minnesota Central and media accounts, start around 1:59. Walz is passionate and non-partisan, as MC points out, drawing attention to the successes the Minnesota National Guard and Pawlenty administration have enjoyed in the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.

And as he promised veterans at the roundtable at the Veterans Medical Center on April 21, he's bringing their stories forward in Washington.

He also praises the professionalism and understanding of county veteran service officers. For rural vets, contact with county service officers is often crucial, given their distance from the main hospital in Minneapolis

It's all about the veterans, Walz says, and ranking Republican member Steve Buyer follows up on Walz's questions and supports his mission. This is what we want to see in Washington DC.

Today's New York Times editorial, The Suffering of Soldiers, reviews the problems. It concludes:

. . .Fortunately, the solutions are clear: more money for mental health services, closer tracking of suicides and more aggressive preventive efforts, more efficiency at managing veterans’ treatment and more help for their families. If this country gave back to wounded troops even a fraction of the commitment and service that it has received from them, they will be well cared for.

That's pretty much the sentiment in the circles we run in.  Let's hope all of America's new veterans get the level of service the Minnesota National Guard and the State of Minnesota have provided.

Cool: Mayo teams with others to heal soldiers' injuries

Having heard disabled Vietnam Vet Tom McDonald talk yesterday at the VA about his prosthetic device, seeing a story like Mayo teams with others to heal soldiers' injuries in the Rochester Post Bulletin is welcome news indeed:

By Jeff Hansel
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

Researchers at medical centers nationwide, including Mayo Clinic, will collaborate to build biological bridges to help injured GIs heal.

Scientists will use $85 million to develop new medical treatments for wounded soldiers.

The national consortium includes 15 academic medical centers, a statement from Mayo says.

What scientists learn will be "translated" for use in the field and in the medical setting. Private companies are ready to develop new technologies based on the research findings.

"Our team at Mayo will be responsible for nerve regeneration, as the lead organization," said Dr. Michael Yaszemski, a Mayo orthopedic surgeon and biomedical engineer, who also serves as a brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Bone regeneration will be Mayo's secondary role. Other institutions will focus on brain injury, burns and transplants.

The collaboration, called the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine, or AFIRM, will search for ways to help "repair, replace, restore and regenerate damaged tissues and organs" for soldiers whose bodies otherwise might be unable to heal properly.

"If one breaks a bone, most of the time nature does a good job. We put the bones together, hold them in place and it heals," Yaszemski said. But war injuries often include damage that's not easily repaired normally. Too large a gap in a bone or nerve, can prevent regrowth. . . .

. . .Yaszemski, a spinal surgery specialist, said some spinal injuries lack what's necessary for healing and return-of-function. Or the nature of the injury itself precludes healing. Researchers want to change that.

AFIRM's money comes from the Army Medical Research and Material Command, the Office of Naval Research, and the National Institutes of Health.

"The great motivation is these very significant injuries that our men and women in service are experiencing," Yaszemski said.

Thanks General Yaszemski!  MPR reports Mayo Clinic joins group battling war injuries.