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

Small businessman Ted Boosalis: "I respect Tim Walz for sticking up for what he believes"

Just in from the Walz campaign:

Walz Says He Values Support of Local Republican Small Business Owner

( Owatonna , Minn. ) – In a visit today to Costas Chocolates, Tim Walz said he was pleased to receive the support of Theodore Boosalis, the owner of Costas Chocolates and a prominent local Republican.

“Small businesses like Costas Chocolates are the engine of our economy,” said Walz.  “Business owners like Ted are responsible for 80 percent of all new jobs created in America .  I’m fighting for Minnesota ’s middle class families and small businesses in Congress.  It means a lot to me that Ted, a Minnesotan, a small business owner, and a lifelong Republican, is supporting my reelection.”

  “I’m normally conservative to libertarian in my voting pattern,” Boosalis said.  “But I respect Tim Walz for sticking up for what he believes, like he did when he bucked his party and voted against the Wall Street bailout bill. I investigated his voting record and discovered I would’ve supported him on many other issues, including 2nd Amendment rights and small business concerns. It seems we both believe in the individual and finding accountability in government. Once I discovered we believed in individual rights in many respects, I realized I needed to support his reelection campaign. That’s why I’m endorsing Congressman Walz.”

Sweet.

Campaign launches "Sportsmen for Walz" group

Just in from the Walz campaign office:

Minnesota Sportsmen Endorse Tim Walz for Congress
Walz rolls out new radio ad featuring Chris Cox from the NRA

( Mankato , Minnesota ) – This afternoon, Tim Walz joined a group of sportsmen from around southern Minnesota at the Elks Nature Center in Rasmussen Woods to kick off Sportsmen for Walz.

Walz, who is releasing a new radio advertisement today to tout his endorsement by the National Rifle Association, is an avid hunter. Sportsmen for Walz includes hunters, anglers and others committed to habitat preservation and outdoor recreation.           

“ Southern Minnesota has a heritage of responsible gun ownership and outdoor recreation,” Walz said. “I’m proud to be a part of that heritage, I’m proud of my NRA endorsement and I’m proud to be supported by a broad group of southern Minnesota ’s sportsmen.”           

“Tim Walz has always been a supporter of our hunters and anglers and that’s why we’re supporting him in return,” said Al Stork, a hunter and member of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership from Stewartville. “With Tim, you always know he stands squarely behind our hunting and fishing heritage.”

Sportsman for Walz includes members who’ve pledged to knock on doors, make phone calls and campaign on behalf of Tim Walz across southern Minnesota in support of his reelection bid.

Attached is the new Sportsmen for Walz radio ad, entitled: “A Rating.”

Below is a list of some of the Sportsmen for Walz members who’ve pledged to knock on doors, make phone calls and campaign on behalf of Tim Walz across southern Minnesota in support of his reelection bid:

Paul Alan Marquardt, Eagle Lake
Scott W Roemhildt, Janesville
Joe Rice, Kellogg
Loren Karels, Lake Crystal
Robin Karels, Lake Crystal
Matthew John Wolle, Madelia
Bryan Joyce, Madelia
Casey James Michael Carmody, Mankato
John Marshall Votca, Mankato
Alan O'Malley Laursen, Owatonna
Dave Mccullough, Rochester
Craig Walz, Rochester
Richard Andert, Slayton
Clayton Johnson, Spring Grove
Wynn Kearney, Mankato
Al Stork, Stewartville
Richard Peterson, Mountain Lake
Jon Nowak, Pemberton
Craig Jaskulke, Madison Lake

Listen to A_rating.mp3

Walz is co-sponsor of Second Amendment Enforcement Act; votes for National Capital Security and Safety Act

In the Washington Post, U.S. House, D.C. Council Wrestle Over Gun Control tells a post-Heller story:

The struggle to regulate guns in the District in light of a historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling sparked competing legislative efforts yesterday as members of Congress debated taking control of the issue and the D.C. Council  implored them to leave it in local hands.

On the most significant day of legislative activity on gun control since the high court ended the District's 32-year-old handgun ban in June, the council voted unanimously to ease some contentious firearms restrictions while the U.S. House of Representative  considered a more dramatic measure that would limit the city's power to regulate guns. . . .

. . .The House was debating a bill last night that would scrap almost all locally imposed gun control rules in the District, including the new handgun registration process. It would also severely limit city officials' ability to enact any future measure that goes beyond the firearms restrictions in federal law. The measure is expected to go to a vote today. . . .

Update #2: We mistakenly thought that the bill being discussed was 6691; actually it was H.R. 6842, the National Capital Security and Safety Act. Walz's positions on both bills demonstrate his commitment to Second Amendment rights. We apologize for the error; our new title reflects the vote, as do the edits in this post.  Here's the statement from Walz's office on his vote on 6842:

Today, Congressman Walz voted to defend the Second Amendment right of every citizen to bear arms. Walz voted for the National Capital Security and Safety Act after certain provisions were adopted that will bring Washington, D.C. into compliance with the Supreme Court's decision in Heller v. District of Columbia. Earlier this year, Congressman Tim Walz also signed on to a friend-of-the-court brief in the Heller case, in which he supported the right of citizens to bear arms.  The National Capital Security and Safety Act passed the Housetoday by a vote of 266 to 152.

"Gun ownership is a basic right in America, not to be infringed upon by anyone or any government entity," said Walz, an avid hunter and member of Pheasants Forever. "This legislation will amend the Washington, D.C. gun law to reinstate the rights of Washington residents to legally purchase guns from a federally licensed dealer. It also restores their right to defend themselves in their homes."

Walz concluded, "As someone who works in Washington, D.C. when the Congress is in session, I am proud to cast my vote to defend the right guaranteed in the Second Amendment."  [end update #2]

Congressman Walz is  also a co-sponsor of H.R. 6691, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act, and of 1399, a related bill introduced before Heller.

Last week, the NRA-PVF endorsed Walz:

“During his first term in the House, Congressman Walz consistently supported the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen, and demonstrated a strong commitment to the Second Amendment and our country’s rich hunting heritage,” said Chris W. Cox, Chairman of NRA-PVF. “Because of his unwavering pro-gun support, Tim Walz earned an ‘A’ rating and an endorsement from NRA-PVF.”

In 2006, Walz ran as a pro-gun rights candidate.

Update: Now that we're awake, we're remembering today is Constitution Day.  Find out more about the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other amendments at the Constitution Center and the Library of Congress.

More kudos for Walz: NFU Golden Triangle Award

The Minnesota Ag Connection reports that Klobuchar, Peterson, Walz receive Farmers Union Golden Triangle Award:

Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congressman Collin Peterson, and Congressman Tim Walz receive the National Farmers Union 2008 Golden Triangle Award. The annual award is the farm organization's highest legislative honor and presented to members of Congress who have demonstrated leadership on issues relevant to America's family farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

"Minnesotans are very fortunate to have Senator Klobuchar, Chairman Peterson, and Congressman Walz in Congress fighting for rural America," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "All three of these members are repeat recipients of this award, and I want to thank them for their hard work and dedication, and look forward to continuing to work with them on the issues that impact farmers and ranchers in Minnesota."

This year's golden triangle recipients were selected for their leadership on a variety of issues, including: support for the 2008 Farm Bill, implementing mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL), increasing the use and production of fuels from the farm, addressing food safety concerns, support for fair trade and agriculture's role in addressing climate change.

The Golden Triangle Award is based on NFU's symbol -- a triangle with "legislation" and "cooperation" forming the sides and "education" the base. The Golden Triangle Awards have been presented annually since 1988.

In another issue important to rural voters, the Post Bulletin's Matt Stolle reports in the paper's Political Notebook:

NRA endorses Walz

Democratic Congressman Tim Walz scored a political coup last week, receiving the endorsement of the National Rifle Association's Political Action Fund.

The Walz campaign was clearly pleased with the development since the organization typically gives its endorsement to Republicans, which are often thought of as the NRA's staunchest supporters. A Walz aide cited the endorsement as proof of the freshman congressman's centrist orientation and ability to work in a bipartisan fashion. The campaign also says it rebuts the Republican charge that Walz is a Pelosi Democrat who supports San Francisco values and not southern Minnesota values.

"During his first term in the House, Congressman Walz consistently supported the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsman and demonstrated a strong commit to the second amendment and our country's rich hunting heritage," said Chris W. Cox, chairman of NRA-PVF. "Because of his unwavering pro-gun support, Tim Walz earned an 'A' rating and an endorsement from NRA-PVF."

We hope Congressman Walz gets a chance to do some pheasant hunting--following the election, of course. Birds are plentiful from what we see on the back roads.

NRA-PVF Endorses Tim Walz for Re-election

A friend who supports gun rights just passed along this breaking news:

NRA-PVF Endorses Tim Walz for Re-election to U.S. House of Representatives

Tuesday, September 09, 2008 FAIRFAX, VA-The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is endorsing Congressman Tim Walz for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in the first congressional district of Minnesota.

“During his first term in the House, Congressman Walz consistently supported the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen, and demonstrated a strong commitment to the Second Amendment and our country’s rich hunting heritage,” said Chris W. Cox, Chairman of NRA-PVF. “Because of his unwavering pro-gun support, Tim Walz earned an ‘A’ rating and an endorsement from NRA-PVF.”

Congressman Tim Walz said, “I grew up hunting and spent 24 years in the Army National Guard. I know how important Second Amendment rights are to the people of southern Minnesota. I’m proud to stand with the NRA to protect our Second Amendment rights, and I’m truly grateful for their endorsement.”

Rep. Walz cosponsored the BATFE Reform bill that seeks to modernize and improve BATFE operations by rolling back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors and codify longstanding congressional policies in the firearms arena. He also cosponsored the D.C. Gun Ban Repeal and signed onto the historic Congressional amicus brief in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, holding that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms.

Cox continued, “Tim Walz believes in southern Minnesota values, and will continue to be a true and consistent friend in the U.S. House of Representatives. I encourage all gun-owners and NRA members to re-elect Tim Walz to the U.S. Congress.”

Chris W. Cox serves as Executive Director and Chairman of NRA-PVF. The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund is responsible for political candidate rankings. These are based on candidate voting records, public statements and responses to NRA-PVF questionnaires.

See our post about The Second Amendment and the MN-01 election from Sunday for more information about this issue in the district.

The Second Amendment and the MN-01 election

One of the issues Brian Davis's supporters among the Republican county chairs in the district are touting in a form letter sent to district newpapers is their candidate's support for the Second Amendment. Stressing this particular item is puzzling, since all three candidates say they're pro gun rights. Two of them have public records on the issue.

Congressman Walz, for instance, received an "A" on his 2006 NRA-ILA questionnaire; he did not receive the group's endorsement that year, since the group supports incumbents with good track records, which Gil Gutknecht enjoyed.

What is Walz's record now? Not much of a roll call record has been created on Second Amendment issues since Walz took office, but the National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund has been confident enough about Walz's positions to contribute three $1000 checks during the cycle, in January 2007, in June 2007, and in May 2007. It also suggested that members support him in its July Election Preview 2008.

Perhaps some of that financial backing comes from Congressman Walz's decision to sign on to a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the position that the right to bear arms is an individual right in District of Columbia v. Heller; the Strib reported about the brief in Controversial gun law is now a target. In late June, the  Supremes [Struck] Down D.C. Handgun Ban,

Walz is also a hunter and member of Pheasants Forever.

Likewise, Senator Day has always been endorsed by the NRA in his state-level races,  if we are to trust a Politics in Minnesota Weekly Report from last year.

Voters will have to take Davis's word for his support for gun rights, as there isn't any public track record.

Friday morning digest: white gopher edition

The Spring Valley Herald reports Brother catches albino gopher 28 years after brother trapped one.  The discovery recalls the words of Rilke: "You must change your life."

As for the gopher, it is recovering from its sprained foot and will be spending its days in the Minnesota Zoo.

The MSU Reporter looks at student activism in Election dreams:MSU's Democratic student organizations gear up for election season. The Walz bit:

Walz, a former Mankato West High School educator, represents 1st Congressional District and is running for re-election.

Walz has said working to ensure Minnesota Universities and colleges remain some of the best in the country and that all those who would like to attend college should be able to do so affordably is important.

College Democrats has been working with community political groups to aid them in their goals and support of these Democratic campaigns.

Colin Laughlin, MSU alumnus and deputy finance director of Walz' campaign said Walz is looking forward to working with the MSU College Democrats. Laughlin said the campaign would like to "engage the entire MSU student body and work to elect great Democratic candidates like Congressman Walz and Senator Obama".

Helping the College Democrats get first time voters to the polls for this election is also a main priority for Walz he said.

The Populista Report looks at a New ad from Team Sarvi "Wrong". Go over and give Steve Sarvi's campaign a little coin to make sure more people show it.

In the district, Ron Amundson isn't happy about Civil Rights for Sale and the RNC. KTTC-TV reporter and blogger Chris Hrapsky reflects on the policing of First Amendment rights as well.

Far more common than an albino gopher, Brian Davis's spam appears in the New Ulm Journal today. The letter wars continue in the pages of the Winona Daily News, where The Draz says he's spent hours with Brian Davis, and Day's brother, former mayor of Rochester, claims even a longer association with Senator Day. We have no reason to question either claim.

Mid-day news and netroots digest: pesto edition

We were out late last night cooking a going away dinner for a friend heading out for his summer naval ROTC assignment. It's remarkable how much pasta with pesto and garlic bread healthy young people can eat.

Congressman Walz's communications and district director Meredith Salsbery returned our email asking about how Walz defined "expanded drilling."  It's much as we expected, based on what he said at his Shell gas station press release several weeks ago. Walz does not favor opening ANWR, but does want to ramp up drilling and production in the National Petroleum Reserves-Alaska, which is already open but which could be put into more production.

He's more keen on better tapping areas that are already leased, but is willing to look at opening up additional off shore areas so long as such efforts are part of a comprehensive energy policy that includes environmental safeguards, as well as the development of new fuels and energy conservation and fuel efficiency. GOP endorsed candidate Brian Davis wants to open everything up, but also eliminate CAFE fuel efficiency standards and other mandates.

Walz is sticking to the notion that lease holders should use it or lose it. The "use or lose it" bill is coming up again in the House, CQ Politics reports in ‘Use It or Lose It’ Bill Revised to Win Oil-State Support Comes Back to House.

Update: The Washington Post reports in White House threatens to veto oil drilling legislation:

The White House on Thursday threatened to veto legislation being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives that would force oil companies to give up undrilled federal leases and ban the export of crude drilled in Alaska.

The bill, which the House was to vote on later on Thursday, has a "use it or lose it" provision that requires oil companies to diligently develop their existing federal leases or turn them back to the government before they could obtain new acres to drill.

Even the Pope is advocating conservation, according to the Washington Post article, Pope Says Save the Earth for Future Generations. Who knew?

Ben Pershing at the Washington Post's Capitol Briefing blog looks at Unrest in the GOP Base.

In the Duluth News Tribune, Ted Thompson of the National Association to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children praises Tim Walz's leadership in supporting child abuse protection:

Thankfully, there are many elected officials around the country who understand this, and Minnesota Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar, along with U.S. Reps. Jim Oberstar and Tim Walz, are leaders among them.

Through their efforts, and with the help of many others, the National Child Protection Training Center program, based in Winona, Minn., has received significant federal funding, allowing training center trainers to travel to every region of the country and to train approximately 10,000 prosecutors, law enforcement officers, social workers and other child-protection professionals and organizations.

The Rochester Post Bulletin reports US Rep. Tim Walz to visit St. Charles grocery store. MnPublius picks up on the National Geographic Education Foundation award in National Geographic Recognizes Our Own Tim Walz.

The Pioneer Press issues a CORRECTION for its errors in reporting fundraising figures in the First.

The Big E at MnBlue compares and contrasts Walz and Klobuchar on recent FISA votes. He's not happy with Klobuchar.

Brian Davis's whoppers are starting to get noticed. Aaron Landry at MnPublius observes in Norm Coleman: Liar On Off-Shore Drilling:

Michele Bachmann, CD1 candidate Brian Davis and a number of elected officials across the country have said it: China, with the help of Cuba, are working to drill for oil just tens of miles off of the shore of Florida. It’s a complete lie. Although even Dick Cheney has backpedaled on it, Norm Coleman is caught still spreading the myth. [video follows]

A source in Rochester informs us that Republicans in that area are still circulating this myth, in the form of a Powerline post from May that's now repackaged and beefed up with the attributed authorship of a Phillips Petroleum heir. Snopes refutes the bogus authorship while looking at the silliness of the main claims. Disavowing the Chinese drilling myth is left to Cheney, I guess.

The Blueman laughs at Davis's spin on fundraising in Brian Davis Is A Mathematician Too?  Who Knew! Hal was flabbergasted:

Honestly...this is a Blueman first.

I have no idea where to begin here.

Once he stopped guffawing and collected his thoughts, Kimball dove into his analysis. At the end, he decides:

Ollie is 100% correct. Davis has quickly become the biggest exaggerator in Minnesota politics.

then links to an anonblog that raised a question about Davis's driving record.  One can check out  Brian James Davis's tickets by picking "I Accept" here (Internet Explorer only), then accessing his files in the Criminal Case Records section by picking the "Defendent" option on the search menu.  Is the one in Rochester the candidate? Perhaps a kind reader could check on that.

Frankly, we don't think that a handful of speeding tickets matters in an election, whether or not this Brian Davis of Rochester, Minnesota, is the Brian Davis running for Congress. As for the suspended driver's license after a ticket for operating a vehicle with expired registration wasn't paid in a timely fashion, it's not as if he's the mayor of Minneapolis.

Map: NPR-A

FISA and the First, with a dash of Madison Powers

CQPolitics has posted a fine column about the FISA bill up for a vote today in the Senate. In Surveillance Deal: Same Bad Law, New Bad Arguments, Senior Research Scholar at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University Madison Powers writes:

The bill revising the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) goes to the Senate floor for a vote today after being caught in the crunch of stalled legislation prior to the July 4th recess. It grants civil immunity to telecom companies who have, or may again, violate the Constitution with regard to warrantless electronic eavesdropping, and it carves out huge exceptions to the usual safeguards that protect citizens from promiscuous government fishing expeditions.

It was a bad bill a week ago, and it is still a bad idea whose time apparently has come. All the bad arguments for the bipartisan compromise remain largely the same, but now even fewer people are paying attention, and some new bad arguments have been added over the long weekend. . . .

Yesterday, Minnpost looked at the upcoming vote in From Coleman to Obama, senators feel pressure on wiretapping bill.  Reporter Sharon Schmickle noted that Coleman favors the bill, and signs indicated that Klobuchar will vote for it as well. Sad stuff. Update: Klobuchar voted against the bill and for the Dodd Amendment (good), but Joe Bodell explains the problems with this in an excellent post,Klobuchar did the right thing...BUT...[end update].

When the legislation came up earlier this summer:

In the House's 293-129 vote to pass the bill, Minnesota's Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison, Jim Oberstar, Tim Walz and Betty McCollum voted no while Democrat Collin Peterson and all of the state's Republicans voted yes.

In Walz sees good, bad news for civil liberties; Congressman applauds gun ruling, decries spy bill, the Mankato Free Press reported that GOP endorsed congressional candidate Brian Davis would have voted for the bill. As the Worthington Globe points out today (without mentioning this particular issue),  voters have a clear choice between Walz and Davis--should he take the nomination in the primary. Senator Day, Davis's primary challenger, has not made a public statement on the issue.

After receiving much justified criticism for his  yes vote on PAA last August, Walz supported the RESTORE Act, while opposing retroactive immunity for telecoms, and began to take heat from Beltway special interest groups.

The neo-con PAC Defense of Democracies made an enormous television ad buy to pressure Congressman Walz to cave and support the Senate bill.  Newsweek and Factcheck.org asked if the ads were Scare Tactics on Eavesdropping?  Yes, the answer turned out. Voters in the First also received scary robocalls about the bill from telecom-funded Frontiers of Freedom, as we reported in Who put the "front" in frontiers; or, the one about those robocalls in the First.

Southern Minnesota's blogosphere has tended to oppose the new bill, though not all have written about the issue. On the right, the conservative libertarian blog Preserving Freedom posted FISA Bill All About Power and Control. On the left Vox Verax has consistently linked to articles about the issue, while Walz supporter and recovering Republican Ron Amundson wrote Way cool on Tim Walz on voting against HR6304. Moderate independent blogger Apollo revived Minnesota First out of concern for Walz's forthcoming vote of the measure, then thanked Walz for voting against it. Minnesota Central was also pleased.

The Hill's blog posted Walz's statement to the press here: FISA Compromise Bill Undermines Law.

Almost Independence Day

It's almost Independence Day.  To get our readers in the mood, here's Ray Charles singing "America The Beautiful."