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

The NTU: When nonpartisan means you're not going to be told the details

Southern Minnesota's most beloved conservative blogger, Paleocon Strikes, touts the National Taxpayers Union's low rating for Tim Walz in a post yesterday. He borrows the group's self description (emphasis in original):

The non-partisan National Taxpayers Union (NTU) recently released its ratings for the 2007 session of Congress. The NTU rates all votes that affect taxes, spending, debt, and regulatory burdens on consumers and taxpayers.

We did a little reading about the group in order to discover why it might be so near to Mr. Paleocon's heart. Indeed, what we discovered in our ramblings across the tubes illustrated why this was a match made on the extreme right side of conservative heaven.

Here's some information about the group. We found this info about a past leader interesting:

Grover Norquist was NTU’s Executive Director before being tapped by the Reagan White House to head Americans for Tax Reform.

The current executive director is Duane Parde. Before joining the NTU, he served in leadership positions at the American Legislative Exchange Council and the Alliance for Affordable Health Insurance. Sourcewatch describes the former:

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was established in 1973 by Paul M. Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation. It is a membership organisation of state legislators across the U.S. that drafts "model legislation" that is then often drafted into law.

ALEC is a conservative organisation that pushes legislation that favours big business and rollbacks environmental regulations. ALEC says that its membership exceeds 2,400 state legislators from both political parties, which is over 30 percent of all state lawmakers in America.

In 2002, two environmental groups, Defenders of Wildlife and the Natural Resources Defense Council, described ALEC as "corrosive, secretive and highly influential" and a "tax-exempt screen for major U.S. corporations and trade associations that use it to influence legislative activities at the state level."

In 2002, the American Prospect working at Outing ALEC: the most powerful lobby you've never heard of.

Parde worked in private industry--sort of--in between the stints at ALEC and the NTU, as a partner in Phoenix Strategies:

Phoenix Strategies www.phoenixstrategies.us 1425 K St. NW Suite 350 Washington, DC 20005 202.587.4799 dparde@phoenixstrategies.us Phoenix Strategies"..was established as a consultancy, our team includes seasoned and professional senior level members of the Bush administration with strong experience in Federal as well as state and local intergovernmental affairs and corporate relations. " The Hill reported on December 20, 2005: A new lobbying firm, Phoenix Strategies LLC, has formed on K Street to specialize in business development, lobbying and consulting. The partners of the firm are James M. Kelly, former special assistant to the president and deputy director for intergovernmental affairs at the White House; Ken Meyer, former deputy assistant secretary for intergovernmental and interagency affairs with the U.S. Department of Education; and Duane Parde, former executive director of the nationwide state-legislator group the American Legislative Exchange Council. They have represented industry areas in education, manufacturing, technology, pharmaceuticals, energy and associations.

The Media Transparency Project in its look at Recipient Grants: National Taxpayers Union. notes the money coming into the group from the usual suspects funding the right's ideological agenda.

We're taken by the ideological conservatism of these groups, as opposed to a sense of fiscal conservatism.  Indeed, the Scaife, Roe, Bradley, and other right-wing foundations might want to check out groups more carefully in the future.

After all, the Better Business Bureau's Charity Report says that the group doesn't meet five of its standards for accountability. The Charity Navigator, too, ranks it at one star.

That's some union of right wing ideologues, and they don't like Tim Walz. We  are shocked, shocked, that movement conservatives would rate Congressman Walz so low.

Owatonna People's Press: Praise for Walz on Highway 14

While GOP primary challenger Dick Day may have a love-hate relation with earmarks (it's in the hate column right now), and the party's endorsee quick copied Day's position, the paper in Day's home town doesn't share that GOP talking point.

In Highway 14, the OPP's editorial board concludes today:

While the odds are against more federal dollars being funneled to the Highway 14 project, specifically as it pertains to Owatonna, we commend Walz for trying to not only accelerate the work on the project, but also for trying to bring closure to work on one of the most dangerous highways in southern Minnesota.

Go read the entire editorial at the OPP.

Minnesota Central: For the least of these

Our friend at Minnesota Central takes a look at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law has  2007 Poverty Scorecard. His discussion is--as always--worth a read.

Here's his interpretation of how the organization ranked Minnesota's delegation:

Poverty shouldn’t be a partisan issue, yet I notice that Republican Senators with longevity seem to get higher scores. The list is headed by Arlen Specter (R-PA) rated B scoring 71; Dick Lugar (R-IN) C-57, and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) B-64. Also, those Republicans who terms will be decided this November, also scored higher than others; such as Susan Collins (R-ME) B-71, Gordon Smith (R-OR) C-54, and our own, Norm Coleman who is rated C scoring 43.

Looking at the Republicans in the House, it is not a surprise to see that Jim Ramstad earned a B rating with a score of 60. For the record, Michele Bachmann was rated a D with a score of 20 while John Kline earned an F with a rating of 7.

In comparison, all Minnesota Democrats were rated A.
In the House, Tim Walz, Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, and Jim Oberstar scored a perfect score at 100 while Colin Peterson scored a 93. In the Senate, Amy Klobuchar scored an 86.

As I stated, Poverty shouldn’t be a partisian issue yet I have to wonder when some preach the George Bush message of Compassionate Conservatism what they really mean.

We don't find it comforting that the GOP endorsed candidate chose the Second District's John Kline as his political mentor.

MFP: Transparency of earmarks provides no political ammunition

Newspapers across the district are reporting on Walz's release yesterday of his budget requests--and the preliminary dollar amounts attached to them. About fifty percent of the dollar amounts are for three large multi-state public works project that enjoy broad bipartisan support from the congressional delegations in the states where the projects are located. The three alrge projects are the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Project (MN, IA, SD); the Upper Mississippi River Navigation project that would update the lock and dam system for barge traffic (upper Mississippi and Illinois Waterway); and the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (MN, IA, IL, WI, MO).

Moving east to west across the district, the Winona Daily News reports Walz releases earmark requests. The brief article focuses on the process by which the earmarks will be scrutinized:

Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., on Tuesday released his list of funding requests — also known as earmarks — before the House appropriations process begins for fiscal year 2009.

Walz requested 55 earmarks for projects throughout the 1st Congressional District — though he emphasized most won’t receive funding.

The requests are winnowed in committees before they’re scrutinized by the full U.S. House, then the Senate, then the president.

Depending on the outcome of that process, the Winona area could benefit from a host of requests to fund flood-prevention efforts. . . .

Are efforts to provide better flood prevention in Southeastern Minnesota wasteful spending, or a sound investment?  What are citizens and taxpayers shelling out after last August's floods?

The Rochester Post Bulletin hasn't posted a regular article about the requests on its web site yet, but Ed Felker has provided a short update at the Political Party blog in Walz seeks $211.5 million for 47 projects. [Update] The PB has posted two stories: Walz seeks millions in federal funding for area and Walz strives to get funds for Hormel Institute [end update]

The Mankato Free Press (see pictures below) published two articles in this morning's dead tree edition. One, Walz releases list of earmarks, begins:

Congressman Tim Walz released Tuesday a list of 47 southern Minnesota projects he will be asking Congress and President Bush to authorize as part of the upcoming federal budget, including $20 million for Highway 14 improvements and nearly $17 million for a National Guard facility in Mankato.

Walz cautioned that many of the earmarks will not make the final cut — or will be scaled back in size — as lawmakers from across the country compete to place earmarks in budget bills.

But the freshman Democrat from Mankato, working with Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Norm Coleman, had success last year in getting funding for a number of projects in the 1st District, including a half-dozen in the Mankato area.

“Minnesota sends more money to Washington that it gets back, and it’s appropriate for us to advocate for the good use of tax dollars (in the district),” Walz said.

The New Ulm Journal reports in Walz announces list of funding requests:

Rep. Tim Walz released the list of projects that he will be forwarding to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. The 47 projects on his list carry a price tag of $211.5 million. However, Walz cautioned that few of the projects on his list may make it through the appropriations process and receive funding, at least for this year.

Walz’s list didn’t originally include price tags for his projects, however, until reporters on a teleconference call asked him how his claim to bring “transparency” to the process squared with his reluctance to announce the dollar amounts he was putting on his requests. Walz pointed out that Minnesota’s other congress people don’t even announce their lists, as he does, but he agreed it would be proper to release the amounts of the projects on his list.

And so he did.   

The jpgs below provide the full articles from the Mankato Free Press. We hope you will read the articles; they note that the two candidates remaining in the Republican primary battle have said that they will not make budget requests, or earmarks, for the district.

Update: Walz FY2009 district budget requests, now with dollar figures

During today's district press call, several members of the media asked for the dollar amounts for Walz's budget requests. He had agreed to release those figures, in addition to the list of projects released earlier. Click on the thumbnails at the left to view them. 

A couple of things need to be stressed. First, the requests are preliminary, based on requests from local and state officials. It's quite possible that the dollar amounts will change in the give-and-take of the budget process.

Second, a number of the high ticket items are multi-state projects like the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System and the Upper Mississippi River Navigation and River Restoration projects.

A note accompanying the documents stated:

"Fifty percent of the funds requested are for three multi-state bipartisan public infrastructure improvements

Highway 14 requests make up approximately another ten percent of our funding requests

National Guard requests make up more than ten percent."

In a post at the PB's Political Party blog that was written before the office released the dollar figures, Ed Felker noted:

Walz, who represents the southern 1st Congressional District, acknowledged that the climate is not good in Washington for earmark projects and Congress may end the year this fall in a budget stalemate without approving local money. "We're still optimistic, but we tell people not to count on it. They're going to have to do their budgeting accordingly without this ability to be there (for them)," he said.

For those who missed it this morning, here's Walz's statement about the requests:

"Continuing his fight to improve transparency and accountability in Washington, Congressman Walz today released the list of Fiscal Year 2009 projects he is forwarding to the House Appropriations Committee.  The list includes funding requests from local officials in southern Minnesota for the National Guard, veterans, agricultural research, renewable energy, health care, education, flood control, Highway 14 and other public infrastructure improvements.   

"Local leaders requested funding for these projects to improve our quality of life in southern Minnesota and benefit the common good," said Walz.  "These projects will produce a return on the investment made by the taxpayers of southern Minnesota."

In 2007, Walz successfully pushed to reform the previously secretive appropriations process in Congress.  Under new rules implemented by the Democratic Majority last year, any project funded in an appropriations bill will be publicly attributed to the Member who requested it.

Additionally, Members of Congress must publicly certify that they do not have any financial interest in a project that they are requesting. 

"Because I believe in making this process as open and transparent as possible, I am also taking the additional, unusual step of publicly releasing the list of the projects I have submitted to the Appropriations Committee on behalf of local officials in southern Minnesota," added Walz.  "My approach is to go above and beyond the new disclosure requirements and to be more open and transparent with voters, which I believe is a must for restoring the public's faith in Congress and changing the way Washington works." 

It is the constitutionally-mandated role of Members of Congress to appropriate federal funding, and Walz said he is proud to work closely with local leaders in the First District to identify projects that are in the public good and will address critical needs facing our citizens.

These funding requests do not add extra spending to the federal budget. Instead, they set aside for a specific project funds that would otherwise be spent by a federal agency. 

"Local leaders who are closest to understanding our unmet needs in southern Minnesota brought these projects to our attention," said Walz.

"I am pleased to stand up for veterans, farmers, the National Guard, educators, health care, flood control, energy independence, Highway 14 and other critical public investment projects."    

"While it is likely that only a few of these meritorious projects will ultimately receive funding, I believe it is important for residents of southern Minnesota to be able to see the list of projects I am supporting and I am proud to release this list of local priorities."

Walz releases FY 2009 district budget requests

While Republicans yelp their knee-jerk conservative slogans about earmarks, Congressman Walz has led the way in Minnesota in releasing his funging requests to the public. Last June, he released his budget requests for FY2008; he's just released the list for FY2009.

Not a bridge to nowhere in sight. Rather, the requests are for infrastructure needs (such as funding improved for Highway 14), flood control projects, the National Guard and veterans programs, renewable energy, education, and ag research. 

Here's the press release and images of the requests. Click on the thumbnails on the left to read the requests.

Continuing his fight to improve transparency and accountability in Washington, Congressman Walz today released the list of Fiscal Year 2009 projects he is forwarding to the House Appropriations Committee.  The list includes funding requests from local officials in southern Minnesota for the National Guard, veterans, agricultural research, renewable energy, health care, education, flood control, Highway 14 and other public infrastructure improvements.   

"Local leaders requested funding for these projects to improve our quality of life in southern Minnesota and benefit the common good," said Walz.  "These projects will produce a return on the investment made by the taxpayers of southern Minnesota."

In 2007, Walz successfully pushed to reform the previously secretive appropriations process in Congress.  Under new rules implemented by the Democratic Majority last year, any project funded in an appropriations bill will be publicly attributed to the Member who requested it.

Additionally, Members of Congress must publicly certify that they do not have any financial interest in a project that they are requesting. 

"Because I believe in making this process as open and transparent as possible, I am also taking the additional, unusual step of publicly releasing the list of the projects I have submitted to the Appropriations Committee on behalf of local officials in southern Minnesota," added Walz.  "My approach is to go above and beyond the new disclosure requirements and to be more open and transparent with voters, which I believe is a must for restoring the public's faith in Congress and changing the way Washington works." 

It is the constitutionally-mandated role of Members of Congress to appropriate federal funding, and Walz said he is proud to work closely with local leaders in the First District to identify projects that are in the public good and will address critical needs facing our citizens.

These funding requests do not add extra spending to the federal budget. Instead, they set aside for a specific project funds that would otherwise be spent by a federal agency. 

"Local leaders who are closest to understanding our unmet needs in southern Minnesota brought these projects to our attention," said Walz.

"I am pleased to stand up for veterans, farmers, the National Guard, educators, health care, flood control, energy independence, Highway 14 and other critical public investment projects."    

"While it is likely that only a few of these meritorious projects will ultimately receive funding, I believe it is important for residents of southern Minnesota to be able to see the list of projects I am supporting and I am proud to release this list of local priorities." 

Mankato Free Press editorial: Fund the VA's watchdog

As the Mankato Free Press reported after a March 7 vets forum in Mankato and KEYC-TV noted in its coverage of the March 17 veterans forum in Waseca, one of the things Walz has been talking to vets about is the need to adequately fund the VA's Inspector General's office to make sure the veterans get the care they've earned and that the taxpayers' dime isn't wasted on other, non-essential things.

The editorial in today's Mankato Free Press, It takes money to watch money, agrees with Walz's point:

It’s the kind of news that makes American taxpayers steam.

Veterans Affairs Department staffers used government credit cards to charge things at Sharper Image and other high-end specialty stores. They spent more at luxury hotels such as Wyndham in places such as San Diego, Orlando, Fla., and Las Vegas.

The apparent fraud and abuse was unveiled in an investigation by The Associated Press which, through a Freedom of Information request, obtained the VA list of 3.1 million purchases made in the 2007 budget year.

Americans expect their government agencies to be good stewards of their hard-earned tax money. News of government waste, abuse and luxurious spending in hard economic times is especially disturbing to taxpayers, who are having their own difficulties in making ends meet.

Unfortunately, the office that can best monitor and protect against VA waste is the one facing budget cuts.

President Bush has proposed a budget for the Inspector General’s Office of $76 million next year, a $4 million reduction. The president also wants a 10 percent staff reduction in the office.

The inspector general is an independent entity that evaluates VA programs and operations, including how health care is delivered to veterans. With a $90 billion budget, there is plenty to monitor in the VA.

The proposed reductions are counterproductive. The inspector general ensures that taxpayer money is well spent and that veterans receive good health care.

Slashing the department’s funding at a time when more demand is being put on the VA services is irresponsible and will likely end up costing taxpayers more in undiscovered waste and fraud.

For more information about the watchdog office and its funding, click here.

Harpers: "More Corruption" at DOJ?

At Harpers "No Comment,"  Scott Horton picks up on the "brazen politicization" of the Office of Juvenile Justice grant making process at the Justice department in More Corruption at Mukasey’s Justice Department?.

As we noted this morning, WSU's National Child Protection Training Center, which teaches law enforcement, teachers, social workers, prosecutors and others the best techniques for recognizing, reducing and preventing child sexual abuse. The center has received funding this year only because of earmarks requested by Senators Coleman and Klobuchar, as well as by Congressman Walz.

So what's the problem? Horton writes:

A Congressional probe has been launched by Henry Waxman’s House Oversight Committee into how Flores “bypassed the top-scoring bidders for National Juvenile Justice program grants, giving money instead to bidders that its staff ranked far lower,” Youth Today reports.

The probe was requested by Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), who was approached by administrators at Winona State University after the Youth Today story was published. The university’s proposal for its National Child Protection Training Center was ranked fourth by OJJDP staff, with an average score of 96.5, but it didn’t win a grant. The university is in Walz’s district, and he helped get the center $1.2 million in earmarks in the 2008 Justice Department budget, including $446,000 from OJJDP.

So the highly qualified, well-scored contenders didn’t get the grants.  But who did?  The Juvienation blog reports:

Meanwhile, Flores handed the bulk of the cash to lower-scoring organizations he deemed his favorites. Word has gotten out among organizations that scored high but didn’t win; some of them are furious and want OJJDP or Congress to explain the process. “We all play by the rules,” said Earl Dunlap, CEO of the National Partnership for Juvenile Services, whose losing bid ranked second out of 129. “The rules for Flores are pretty much whatever he decides when he gets out of bed in the morning.”

Flores, Boyle wrote, “has repeatedly pushed to get agency money to organizations that fit his priorities, which include faith-based programs and those that combat child sexual victimization.” Thus the low-scoring Best Friends Foundation (79.5), headed by the wife of right-wing moral crusader (and gambling addict!) Bill Bennett, won more than $1 million for its abstinence-only/anti-drug curriculum. Enough Is Enough, which combats sexual predation online–admittedly a worthy cause, but not quite in line with the historical mission of the OJJDP–took $750,000. The faith-based Victory Outreach Special Services got a windfall of $1.2 million but had to turn down the grant because, Boyle noted, “it doesn’t have the organizational capacity to carry it out.”

Horton observes:

The Flores contract awards help us understand once more exactly how the Justice Department defines “public integrity.” Doling out public funds to your political retainers and friends and circumventing a legally mandated public competition system is how the Republican Party and its minions understand the political game is to be played. It would be “corrupt” if Democrats played by these rules, of course, but the rules are suspended for the G.O.P. And what better venue to use to dole out contracts to political friends and retainers than the Department of Justice itself?

Juvienation: Funding whomever the Bush appointee favors

We've posted in the past about WSU's National Child Protection Training Center, which teaches law enforcement, teachers, social workers, prosecutors and others the best techniques for recognizing, reducing and preventing child sexual abuse. The center has received funding through earmarks requested by Senators Coleman and Klobuchar, as well as by Congressman Walz.

Members of Minnesota's congressional delegation sought money for the center after the Department of Justice turned it down for federal grant funding, despite its application's high scoring by reviewers.

So which grants did the administrator at the DOJ's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention pick to fund in its stead?  Juvienation, Mark Sorkin's blog that covers juvenile justice issues, tells a story of Cronyism at the OJJDP:

Youth Today editor Patrick Boyle, who broke the story, has done something only top-notch investigative reporters do: earn the attention of government watchdog Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In the January issue of Youth Today, Boyle ran a long story with the headline “For Juvenile Justice, a Panel of One” . . .[subscription only]

. . .The story exposed rampant cronyism on the part of J. Robert Flores, a Bush appointee who has headed the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, a Justice Department agency, since 2002. Last spring, Boyle reported, the OJJDP posted a request for proposals that was surprisingly broad and that made a generous amount of money available to prospective grantees. “After years of seeing almost all of its discretionary funds eaten up by congressional earmarks, the agency now had millions of dollars to award through competitive bidding, thanks to the slashing of nearly all earmarks in fiscal 2007,” Boyle wrote.Juvenile justice organizations flocked, but their enthusiasm was misplaced. “A dozen organizations won grants without competitive bidding,” Boyle noted. The scoring system to assess bids for competitive grants was problematic (managed by agency staff, lacking in peer review, rushed), and anyway, it was disregarded. None of the six top-scoring organizations were awarded grants; twenty-one bids that scored 90 or higher (out of 100) were similarly denied. . . .

. . .Flores, Boyle wrote, “has repeatedly pushed to get agency money to organizations that fit his priorities, which include faith-based programs and those that combat child sexual victimization.” Thus the low-scoring Best Friends Foundation (79.5), headed by the wife of right-wing moral crusader (and gambling addict!) Bill Bennett, won more than $1 million for its abstinence-only/anti-drug curriculum. Enough Is Enough, which combats sexual predation online–admittedly a worthy cause, but not quite in line with the historical mission of the OJJDP–took $750,000. The faith-based Victory Outreach Special Services got a windfall of $1.2 million but had to turn down the grant because, Boyle noted, “it doesn’t have the organizational capacity to carry it out.” Meanwhile, well-known, well-reputed, high-scoring organizations that do have the capacity to serve honest-to-goodness juvenile justice needs–like Dunlap’s National Partnership for Juvenile Services and Barry Krisberg’s National Council on Crime and Delinquency, among many others–got a big bag of bubkes.

When Minnesota Democratic Representative Tim Walz got word of this scandal, he requested an investigation into possible violation of the OJJDP bidding process. (Winona State University, whose National Child Protection Training Center ranked fourth but received no grant money, is in his district.) As Boyle reported in a follow-up article, Waxman’s House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ably stepped in on March 13 . . .

We're still trying to figure out what the specific problem with Congressman Walz's earmarks is, being that they support child protection, roads to somewhere, renewable energy research,  veterans reintegration, the Lewis & Clark Water Rural Water Project and other worthy projects. And Congressman Walz is quite open with his list of requests.

Perhaps the endorsed "family values" candidate or party rebel Dick Day, his GOP primary challenger, can explain to voters why Congressman Walz, Senator Klobuchar, and their own Senator Coleman, shouldn't have gone to bat for the National Child Protection Training Center. We'd like to hear it specifically discussed, rather than an abstract ideological litany about the funding process.

We note, too, that for Walz, securing funding for the Center wasn't enough. Upon learning of the OJJDP bidding process scandal, he requested an investigation of the process to help ensure that tax dollars go to grant proposals that have merit, rather than just friends in high places.

Monday morning news digest: more Democrats than you can shake a stick at edition

The Rochester Post Bulletin reports Walz says country needs to help service members, an article about Friday's veterans forum and medals ceremony  There's an incredible video feature about soldier awarded the Bronze Star on KAAL. In Hecimovich Receives High Honor, we learn more about the warrior (and Kingsland elementary and middle school principal):

It was a long time coming, but today, a local soldier received a huge honor for the time he served overseas.

Congressman Tim Walz hand-delivered the honor to the man who's still looking out for the future of our country.

James Hecimovich says his head is practically swirling after receiving such an honor.

"My emotions are high,” he says. “I'm kind of at that high today. It's gonna be hard to come down; hard to sleep tonight."

Hecimovich served in Iraq and Kuwait for a year and has served active duty and in the army reserves for 27 years.

He worked in the army military police.

In addition to protecting shipments of weapons, he traveled to Iraq to support the troops’ efforts.

Tonight, he received a long overdue bronze star medal for his service overseas.

"They’re the outward appearance of this nations thankfulness to what they've done,” says Congressman Tim Walz, also a Command Sergeant Major, presented the medal and an elite rank to Hecimovich.

"Command Sergeant Major is very rare,” says Walz. “Less than 1% of all the people who have ever entered the military will ever reach that."

"Just the honor of having a congressman and my family pin it on me in front of veterans - I couldn't ask for anything better."

Hecimovich plans to serve his 40 years in the army, and continue working as principal of Kingsland’s elementary and middle school.

And as he carries on the tradition of talking to his students on Veterans’ Day, he'll have another story to share.

Hecimovich will stay in the army but will transfer from a military police unit in Iowa to an engineering unit in South Dakota.

Watching the feature makes it clear why the Austin Daily Herald article was written with such emotion. Those kids are lucky to have Hecimovich at the helm. What a great role model for school children and Guard members alike.

Senator Dick Day will not be going quietly. The Winona Daily News reports in Republicans endorse candidate Brian Davis:

The candidates bring contrasting resumes — Davis has never held elected office, while Day has been in the Minnesota Senate since 1990.

Day highlighted that difference in a Sunday interview.

“We’re going to find out whether people want experience, or if they think this is a job for on-the-job training,” Day said. “(Davis) has never been involved in anything political.”

Actually, we are hard pressed to find him engaged in any public issue or effort; rather, Davis's life has been devoted to advancing his career.  Ron Carey is annoyed with Day:

Some observers believe the Davis-Day split will benefit Walz, who already has a commanding fundraising lead. In a Saturday article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota GOP chair Ron Carey commented on Day’s candidacy, saying he is “giving Tim Walz a free pass.”

That statement must have helped build Davis's confidence. Over in Owatonna, the People's Press reported Saturday that GOP pressures Day to drop out:

With the amount of money being spent heading into the Sept. 9 primary, Carey said both Davis and Day won't have enough money to compete against the first-term incumbent.

"We need to unite around a conservative cause [instead of an individual]", Carey said. "This cause is not going to be united if we're in a primary."

Day said he has no plans to drop out of the race and vowed to stay in the race. He added that voters in the First District, not the Republican Party, should decide who will challenge Walz in the general election.

"I'm glad I know who I'm running against, and now I can have a good horse race," Day said. "I feel really comfortable doing what I'm doing."

We're curious to know what First District residents think of a party that wants a Congressman to represent a cause, rather than citizens. The Owatonna Peoples Press also reports in a second article that the Walz campaign has a somewhat different approach:

Walz, meanwhile, spent Saturday on the road stopping at a number of places to discuss issues with Democratic voters in Mankato, Rochester and Winona.

Richard Carlbom, Walz's political director for his reelection campaign, said some of the issues have included the economy, ethics reform, health care and veteran's affairs. He said Walz is changing Washington in a way that First District voters care about.

"Our feeling is that our grassroots effort is going to expand," Carlbom said. "Throughout the campaign, we're going to continue to grow and voters are going to be incredibly proud of the largest grassroots campaign the First District has ever seen."

CQ Politics notes the DFL's response to the Davis endorsement:

“Republicans Brian Davis and Dick Day offer nothing more than the same failed politics that have led America into recession, debt and insecurity. ... If southern Minnesotans want a third Bush term in Washington, they’ll love Davis and Day. But if they want real change and a fair shake, they’ll support Tim Walz  in November,” state party Chair Brian Melendez said in a statement.       

CQ Politics rates the 1st Congressional District race Leans Democrat.

The Walz campaign will  need some coin to re-elect the congressman. Today is the final day of the first fundraising quarter. Contributions can be made online here.

The Rochester Post Bulletin reports on the Olmsted County DFL convention:

Prior to his speech, Tim Walz and his campaign volunteers made phone calls to local residents to make sure they continue their support.

One volunteer spoke with a man who asked to speak with Walz directly.

"The man told me he had two sons who were serving in the war," Walz told the crowd later. "One of his sons was currently home on leave, because his 5-month old son had died. The soldier was only given a 10-day leave before he was asked to return to duty."

Walz said he planned to help the family fight for more time.

The Rochester Democrat also reports on the convention. We thought that more DFLers than you could shake a stick at turned out at Century High.

The Post Bulletin has published an op-ed column by the Congressman: Government exists to help people survive and thrive.

Photo by Eric Johnson of the Austin Daily Herald:

Newly promoted Command Sergeant Major James Hecimovich stands at attention as his wife, Heidi, and father, Norm, help with the promotion ceremony along with Congressman Tim Walz Friday at the American Legion Post 91.