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

Wednesday digest: articles and artifacts edition

The Politico reports Obama woos fiscally conservative Dems on expanding PAYGO rules to the Senate. The articles focuses in on the Blue Dog Coalition. Congressman Walz is not a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, though he favors PAYGO.

In his latest newsletter, Congressman Walz asks that his constituents tell him what they think about automotive industry bailout plans:

Proposed bailout plans

Last week, Congress heard from executives from the Big Three auto companies, who have asked for government assistance to remain in business. I am very concerned about the impact on southern Minnesota if one of our domestic auto manufacturers goes out of business, but I have serious concerns about whether a bailout plan is in the best interest of the taxpayers.I am interested in hearing your thoughts about this issue.Click HERE to tell me how you feel about the auto industry bailout proposal.

The email link above leads to a page that asks for a zip code and notes that only emails from the district can be answered.

The work of an MSU-Mankato student on historic wild turkey populations is mentioned in the PiPress article, Wild turkeys return to Minnesota.  The Albert Lea Tribune begins a two-part look at the original biomass fuel in southern Minnesota.

A letter writer chastizes the New Ulm Journal for misrepresenting the facts about the Employee Free Choice Act.

Because of the poor economy, organizers of A mammoth feast in Owatonna anticipate over 1,000 people will attend the community Thanksgiving at the local VFW, up from between 800 and 900 last year.  The St. Peter Herald reports Foodshelf doing best to keep up with demand.

Meanwhile, the History Center of Olmsted County has put a couple of pre-historic wooly mammoth tusks found near Stewartville on display. These artifacts may help explain the more recent decline of the county's Republicans into a party of paleocon pachyderms.

State Senator Julie Rosen is occasionally mentioned as a possible Republican contender to run against Walz. The Fairmont Sentinel looks at her work on one of the pressing issues of the day in Health care draws Rosen’s focus. However, given that she contributed to Senator Day's insurgent primary challenge to the hapless endorsee, we're not sure if the extremist base controlling the First District GOP would forgive her that financial indiscretion, regardless of how cogently she's able to discuss policy.

Another frequent name on the lips of Republican friends is former Gutknecht aide John Wade,  now the respected head of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. We've heard conflicting rumors about whether Brian Davis--who raised the most money while receiving the lowest percentage of the vote of any unsuccessful MN-01 challenger in this century--will run again. Right-ward rumors say Congressman John Kline is urging Davis to throw his stethoscope and latex gloves into the ring again; more moderate readers wonder whether Davis--who denies being a millionaire--can afford to run again.

This sweet story in the Nobles County Review isn't political, but we think it's worth sharing: A Child's Birthday Wish Becomes A Christmas Tradition. What girl wouldn't be thankful for a big brother like that?

We thought readers might enjoy this classic Thanksgiving dinner:

Early afternoon digest: big battery on the prairie edition

 Earlier this morning, we posted about a federal grants workshop that Congressman Walz is sponsoring in Rochester on December 3. One area covered in the breakout sessions is alternative energy. Judging from the district papers today, renewable energy continues strong in Southern Minnesota economic mix.

The Rock County Star Herald reports in Beaver Creek wind to battery project first in nation:

The wind has long been used as a legitimate power source, but capturing and storing that energy has been a missing piece of the puzzle.

Now researchers believe they've cracked the code to wind energy storage, and it is being tested on the local Minwind Energy turbines near Beaver Creek.

On Monday Xcel Energy hosted tours of a battery test site at the Beaver Creek substation and offered public information at the Rock County Community Library.

The $4.5 million technology is the first of its kind in the United States to be used for direct wind energy storage.

The battery module -roughly the size of two semi trailers - has the capacity to store about 7.2 megawatt hours of electricity. It can discharge one megawatt of wind power that can be moved to the electricity grid when needed.

Fully charged, the battery could power 500 homes for more than seven hours. Developers say it will be key to expanding the use of renewable energy. . . .

Renewable energy isn't the exclusive franchise of the wind industry. In Madelia Model seeks alternative crops for energy, the New Ulm  Journal reports:

Pieces of the Madelia Model project that would create alternative energy from alternative crops are moving forward.

The model involves locally-grown biomass including natural and industrial feedstocks within a 25-mile radius of rural Minnesota communities.

The project creates rural jobs, improved water quality, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas reduction, improved wildlife habitat and crop diversity.

The Madelia "fuel shed" would include Winnebago, Mankato, New Ulm, Sleepy Eye and St. James areas.

Sponsored by Rural Advantage of Fairmont - which promotes the interconnection of agriculture, rural communities and the environment - the Madelia Model is built around crop initiative. . . .

Read the whole article in the Journal.

The Mankato Free Press editorial board considers the cost of developing renewable energy in Sacrifice and prospects for green energy.

The Post Bulletin reports in Rochester's health sector makes up for manufacturing job losses that employment is up by 600 jobs from a year ago, almost entirely because of the Mayo city's robust health care industry.  The health sector growth masks losses in maunfacturing.

Creighton University's Rural Mainstreet Index, which complied a survey of bank CEOs, found that Bankers surveyed express little confidence in rural economy, according to an AP report published in the Winona Daily News.>

Photo: The kitteh isn't the only one basking in solar energy on the prairie. Last April, the New Ulm Journal reported on a solar project in Cottonwood County.

Since it's a cold November day on the prairies, here's a little music for the chilling economy:

Walz election day barnstorming schedule (and more voter statements)

This just in from the Walz campaign:

Election Day Events in Mankato, Rochester, Austin, Winona

( Mankato , MN ) – On Tuesday, November 4, Congressman Tim Walz will be barnstorming southern Minnesota with a series of Get-Out-The-Vote rallies and Main Street Stops with local residents all across southern Minnesota.

Throughout the day, Walz will be traveling to Mankato , St Peter, Rochester , Austin and Winona where he will visit with campaign volunteers and stop at stores to meet with local residents.

A complete schedule for Tuesday is below.

Mankato

Congressman Tim Walz will stop by local polling site to vote
When:  7:00 AM
Where: St Joseph the Worker Catholic Church
423 W 7th St

Congressman Tim Walz will kick-off a Get-Out-The-Vote doorknocking effort with campaign volunteers
When:  Kick off with volunteers— 8:00 AM
Where:  Local 49 Office
308 Lundin Blvd

Congressman Tim Walz holds a Main Street Stop to meet with local residents
When: 8:30 AM
Where: Wagon Wheel Café
609 S Front St

St Peter
Congressman Tim Walz will attend chapel service at Gustavus Adolphus College
When: 10:00 AM
Where: Gustavus Adolphus College
800 W College Ave

Rochester
Congressman Tim Walz will kick-off Get-Out-The-Vote doorknocking efforts with campaign volunteers
When: 12:00 PM
Where: Masonic Temple
2002 2nd St SW

Austin
Congressman Tim Walz holds a Main Street Stop to meet with local residents
When: 1:30 PM
Where: Coffee House on Main
329 N Main St

Winona
Congressman Tim Walz kicks-off Get-Out-The-Vote doorknocking efforts with campaign volunteers
When:  Meet with campaign volunteers-- 4:00 PM
Doorknocking begins at 4:00 PM
Where: Winona DFL Office
685 W 5th St

Rochester
Congressman Tim Walz attends the Rochester DFL Election Night Party
When: 8:00 PM
Where: Marriott Hotel
441 W Center St

Mankato
Congressman Tim Walz attends the Mankato DFL Election Night Party
When: 10:15 PM
Where: Best Western Hotel
1111 Range St

                                                                                                                                     

Our only advice to the Congressman is to get to his polling place early to secure a place in line.  We think turnout will be heavy.

We'd written early this morning that we'd be posting endorsements and individual supporters' statement of reason for casting a ballot for Congressman Walz. A couple of friends in the First sent us their reasons for voting for Tim Walz.  A doctor in Rochester sent this:

Many people in Minnesota and throughout the United States have no health benefits due to lost jobs, pay cuts and downsizing.  Tim Walz will work so that everyone can be covered  for basic health needs.  Universal coverage benefits everyone because costs of unpaid bills are spread across the system so people with insurance pay more.  We also have an obligation as a society that all people have health care.  Brian Davis has no plan other than the McCain plan to tax medical insurance benefits and to give a $2500 tax credit.  That will not cover more that 25% of the cost of buying health insurance.  More people without insurance will be the only result of the Davis-McCain plan.  Moving in the wrong direction on health care and the economy would be the result if Davis were to win.  Dr. Davis is the wrong man with the wrong ideas at the wrong time.  Re-elect Tim Walz!

Here's what the Rochester Post Bulletin concluded in its endorsement:

And ultimately, when Walz says he understands and appreciates the concerns of the struggling middle class, we believe him. He's one of us -- a hard-working Minnesotan who's served his country, taught young people and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, both literally and figuratively.

A retired accountant writes:

TJW is Taxes + Jobs = Working Families

Although are many reasons to vote for TJW based on his first term, voters are looking to the future.

The next President will enter office assuming a National Debt that has doubled during the Bush Administration.  Tax policy will have to be addressed, but NO President is going to RAISE TAXES on the Middle Class … McCain will push to keep the existing Bush Tax Policy which cuts the pie in favor of the highly paid doctors and beer distributors … while Obama will cut taxes for the Middle Class.  Contrast Walz with his proposal for a Middle Class Tax Cut and Davis’s desire to make the existing tax policy permanent.

The Democrats will have a solid majority and will want to create jobs.  Easiest (and smartest) way is to invest in infrastructure projects.  Congressman Oberstar had hearings last week and has identified projects that can be started within 120 days.  Obama wants this investment.  Walz knows the district and how infrastructure investment is necessary to support the growing ethanol and wind energy industries in the First District.

Working Families is the Walz family.  Tim and Gwen are teachers raising two kids … being affected by foreclosures in their neighborhoods … their everyday life is our everyday life.  With all due respect for Drs. Davis and Lillienberg and their children, the salaries that they are compensated is considerably more than most working families … yet most working families pay their property taxes on time.  Walz will represent Working Families while I have a concern that Davis will represent the Country Club Set.

The future is unknown, but based on Walz first term where he produced tangible results for Veterans and Family Farmers; there is no reason not to vote for Walz to help Working Families.

 

Boo! Southern Minnesotans spooked by Davis health insurance ideas

This just in from the Walz campaign:

Minnesotans Say Dr. Brian Davis’s Call to Cut Minimum Standards of Health Care is “Scary, Even For Halloween”

( Mankato and Rochester , Minn. ) – A group of southern Minnesota residents held press conferences  today to say that they are sending a letter to Republican Congressional candidate Dr. Brian Davis to express concern about his call to eliminate certain health insurance requirements, like those in Minnesota that require treatment for specific diseases.

Dr. Davis has repeatedly said that Minnesota ’s minimum standards of care for health insurance companies—which require the treatment of diseases like diabetes and alcoholism, as well as cancer screenings—are responsible for driving up the cost of health care.  As a result, Dr. Davis has called for fewer of these requirements. 

"I don’t agree with Dr. Davis that Minnesota ’s health insurance requirements ‘take away choice,’” said Mary Bliesmer.  “These minimum standards prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of people.  Dr. Davis is on the side of the insurance companies and eliminating laws that require coverage of lifesaving treatment is pretty scary, even for Halloween.”

“We’re fortunate that here in Minnesota , we’ve got laws that protect people by guaranteeing that their insurance companies will cover important treatments and services,” said Becky Cole from Mankato .  “Dr. Davis said we should eliminate many of these protections, and that worries me.”

“Real cost savings in health care come with reduced physician error, government negotiated drug prices, payment reform that rewards outcomes over volume, and inter-operable medical records to reduce duplication, and improve case management,” said State Senator Kathy Sheran of Mankato.  “I am disappointed Dr. Davis offered as his center piece of health reform a proposal that increases the insurance company’s control, and restricts the power of the people to set minimum expectations for health care coverage.”

“We cannot keep tweaking a broken system of health care, and that is my primary disagreement with Dr. Davis,” said Dr. Syl Sterioff.  “His suggestion that eliminating some of the requirements Minnesota imposes on insurance companies will be transformative is the wrong focus.”

“These minimum standards of care help protect people from being taken advantage of by their health insurance companies,” said Colleen Clark, a nurse.  “ If Dr. Davis wants to cut back on them, that’s pretty important for voters to know.”

“In Minnesota , our laws help make sure people will get the health care they need,” said Wes Urevig, of Rochester . “The Star Tribune said that Dr. Davis’s years as a physician ‘apparently haven't inspired passion for fixing the nation's health care system or deep insights.’ I think that we can do better, so I’m supporting Tim Walz.”

A letter sent by the group to Davis is [downloadable here (pdf)].

Davis: We Need Fewer State Mandates. “We need to have fewer state mandates so we can have a more uniform market across the country.” [Fairmont Debate, 10/2/08]

Davis: State Mandates ‘Take Away Choice.’  “It would make a lot of sense if there was some uniformity in what are mandated things to cover and what aren’t in a particular health insurance policy. The more that a state does that, the more that they take away choice.” [Minnesota Debate, 10/13/08]

Davis: We Need Uniformity In State Mandates: “I think that how we’re going to reduce health insurance costs is that we [are going to] have some uniformity across state lines, so that you can buy insurance in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and have some uniformity of coverage.” [Minnesota Debate, 10/13/08]

Davis: Minnesota’s Health Insurance Mandates Drive Up Costs: “Because Minnesota has more requirements than any other state, Maryland is second, that does help drive up some of the cost of health insurance.” [KSTP debate, 10/12/08]

Minnesota’s Health Insurance Mandates Cover Treatment for Alcoholism, Diabetes and Cancer Screenings.  Minnesota’s health insurance mandates cover a variety of treatments and services, including alcoholism, diabetes, bone marrow transplants, and cancer screenings [Council for Affordable Health Insurance, http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resources/pdf/HealthInsuranceMandates2008.pdf; Minnesota State Statute, Chapter 62A, https://webrh12.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=62A]

Davis Would Cut Health Care Costs By Allowing Insurance Companies To Not Cover Certain Illnesses.  “Davis also said that he would work to reduce health care costs by introducing market competition in the insurance market and eliminating state regulations that mandate coverage for certain illnesses and conditions.” [Rochester Post-Bulletin, 9/15/2008]

Star Tribune: Davis Has No ‘Deep Insights’ Into Health Care.  “His years as a physician apparently haven't inspired passion for fixing the nation's health care system or deep insights. His standard-issue proposals contrast unfavorably with the fiery expertise of his boss, Mayo CEO Dr. Denis Cortese, who campaigned nationally this year for systemic overhaul.” [Star Tribune editorial, 10/27/2008]

Photo: (Above) Seriously, Murray, one of 15 black cats available for adoption at the Winona Area Humane Society, isn't scary. In today's Winona Daily News, we read: ""They're not bad luck," says Deborah Stowe, Humane Society vice president. "They need a home, too." " Please consider adopting a shelter kitteh, especially a black one, since superstition makes them hard to place. Photo from Winona Daily News.

(Left) Our friend Laura snapped this picture of a Walz jack o' lantern. For more hopeful ideas for pumpkin decoration, go to Yes We Carve | Change  Your Pumpkin, Change Your World

And yes, go volunteer for GOTV at the Walz campaign.

Now he tells us....

The Albert Lea Tribune reports Congressional candidate to be in Albert Lea Wednesday:

"Davis, a physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, will speak at 7 p.m. at the Fairlane Building. Organizers say he will spell out his plans to lower medical costs."

Somehow, we don't think those plans will involve covering everyone.  On the other hand, since Davis is a global warming denier, we can probably stop worrying that setting the uninsured sick and children adrift on ice floes will be a part of his plan.

Whatever they aren't, we suspect the plans will be a reactionary reply to this dig in the Star Tribune's editorial that ended in the endorsement of Congressman Walz:

". . .His years as a physician apparently haven't inspired passion for fixing the nation's health care system or deep insights. His standard-issue proposals contrast unfavorably with the fiery expertise of his boss, Mayo CEO Dr. Denis Cortese, who campaigned nationally this year for systemic overhaul. . . ."

Image: Can you find Brian Davis's meeting in our artist's rendition of the Freeborn County Fairgrounds? We're curious why Davis is making his presentation in Albert Lea, rather than Southern Minnesota's Medical City. Like the Star Tribune, daily newspapers in both Rochester and Albert Lea endorsed Congressman Walz.

American Nurses Association PAC endorses Tim Walz

This endorsement should make Jason at IDHA happy.  Tim Walz is one of 100 candidates for the U.S. House and Senate who have been endorsed by the American Nurses Association.

The group describes the process in a press release announcing the endorsements:

“Registered nurses represent the country’s largest group of health care professionals. We will use our power in the voting booth to ensure real change. ANA supports candidates committed to health care reform that brings high quality, affordable accessible care to all. We support those candidates who recognize nursing’s role in the delivery of care and the importance of educating, recruiting and retaining, RNs,” said ANA-PAC President Sara Jarrett, RN, MS, MA, EdD.

ANA-PAC makes their decisions through candidate interviews, communicating with the CMAs, gathering information on the campaign, and assessing a candidate’s voting record on ANA priority issues.

For more information on ANA-PAC’s endorsement process please visit [this page].

Hmmm. Teamsters, fire fighters, farmers, nurses, riflemen, veterans: you could throw one heckova an endorsement-themed Halloween party for Congressman Walz.

For now, for those of us dreaming about warmer days, a song from Gregory Isaacs (it may or may not being about the nursing profession):

Where does Brian Davis stand on AARP's issues?

AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons,describes itself as "a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over ... dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age."  It claims 38 million members nationwide.

The group has just issued its Minnesota Voters Guide. According to the group's website:

Each election year, AARP asks major candidates in selected races key questions about the issues most important to our members and their families. Candidates are allowed up to 125 words to answer each question. AARP does not edit or modify the candidates’ answers to our questions. In addition, AARP provides a summary of our position for each of the issues addressed.

Given the power of the older voter (people in the 50+ age group are among those groups with the highest voter turnout), candidates tend to answer the questionnaire by the deadline.

Brian Davis, the Republican candidate running in Minnesota's First Congressional district, didn't respond on time.

Voters looking to the guide for Davis's positions on social security, retirement security, affordable health care, long-term care, and making a commitment "to help end gridlock by working across party lines to develop and support common-sense, bipartisan solutions on health care and financial security" are simply out of luck.

Here's the link to the AARP Voters Guide for 2008 Minnesota, US House District 1 for those who want to learn Congressman Walz's positions.

The only other instance of  2008 major party candidates runnning for federal office who didn't answer is in the Fourth with both Ed Matthews and Betty McCollum not responding. We have no idea what they were thinking.

Photo: Congressman Walz and seniors in a Mankato town hall meeting, from the Mankato Free Press.

Tuesday morning digest: Disagreement and delight edition

The Mankato Free Press looks at last night's debate in Disagreement in the 1st District:

Democratic Congressman Tim Walz of Mankato and Republican challenger Brian Davis of Rochester disagreed repeatedly on issues ranging from federal regulation of the marketplace to drilling for oil in the Alaskan wilderness during a 90-minute debate in Mankato Monday.

Walz, a former school teacher running for a second term in the U.S. House, and Davis, a Mayo Clinic doctor making his first attempt at public office, disagreed — almost always politely. But the audience of about 400 at Minnesota State University saw clear differences on a multitude of issues between the two major candidates in southern Minnesota’s 1st District.

Davis was unabashedly conservative, making repeated references to his Republican Party endorsement and calling for everything from a return to God and religion in schools to a partial privatization of Social Security.

“The 1st District tends to be more conservative than most places,” said Davis, who suggested that Walz is too liberal for the district. “It tends to want lower taxes, smaller government, more conservative values. It tends to look skeptically toward a government that wants to spend $700 billion in tax dollars to bail out bad policy. These are the values I respect.”

Walz struck themes similar to those that helped him topple 12-year-incumbent Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht in 2006, becoming just the second Democrat in a century to represent the 1st District.

“What I told you I would do is I would go to Congress and I would support — and would make sure I was representing — every person in this district,” said Walz, who promised to follow the example of leaders in American history who also faced serious economic challenges. “.. Every time we’ve had those challenges, something amazing has happened in this country. We’ve been able to transcend politics, rise above it and find solutions.” . . .

Political reporter Mark Fischenich's article captures the flavor of the debate well, including exchanges like this one about health care:

“They [patients] don’t come through the door as a Republican or Democrat,” Davis said. “They come through the door as someone who needs help.”

Walz countered: “If they don’t have health insurance, they don’t come through your door.”

The debate will be broadcast at noon in Southern Minnesota by MPR's station at 91.5 FM. If the network posts audio files, we'll link to them.  KEYC-TV covered the debate in Walz, Davis Debate in Mankato.

We thank Debate Minnesota for supporting forums like this one. Four hundred people got to see candidates answer tough questions and rebut each other. A terrific volunteer organization.

In Michelle Obama speaks of family struggles, the Associated Press's Elizbeth Dunbar reports:

In southern Minnesota and again in St. Paul later in the day, Obama spoke about how her father had multiple sclerosis but still got up to go to work without complaining. She also told the story of Barack Obama's mother, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer. Obama used the story to explain why she and her husband support a health care system that doesn't deny coverage for preexisting conditions.

Obama also mentioned several economic concerns, including layoffs and higher grocery prices.

"Don't we deserve leaders who get it?" Obama asked. "My husband, Barack Obama, gets it. He doesn't get it in a philosophical, theoretical way, he gets it because he's lived it."

The audience responded well:

Maya Jones, 24, of Rochester, said she was thrilled Obama and Democratic Rep. Tim Walz, who spoke beforehand, gave positive speeches.

"I just liked the tone of it. They didn't trash the other candidate at all," Jones said. . . .

Yet another mommy blogger posts about politics in Yes We Can! (Michelle Obama in Rochester) and posts a cute picture of Walz and her son. Southern Minnesota blogger Greg agrees with Michelle O. that Barack Gets It.

Update: WXOW in LaCrosse covers the MN-01 race in Thoughts on the economy. Though in Wisconsin, the stations serves SE Minnesota as well.

We'll have more later but we're off on a couple of errands.

Photos: (Above) John Cross of the Mankato Free Press captured this wonderful image of the debate.Cross is a consistently strong visual chronicler of Southern Minnesota. (Below) Walz speaks at the Michelle Obama rally in Rochester. More rally pix in Laura's album here.  We've gotten some other pictures as well from readers that we'll be posting.

Walz campaign statement on KSTP/League of Women Voters Debate

We haven't seen the KSTP-League of Women Voters debate between Walz and Davis yet, but from the sounds of this press release from the Walz campaign, we will certainly be taking a look at it:

Tim Walz Wins KSTP/League of Women Voters Debate

Walz Fights for Middle-Class
Dr. Davis Opposes New Tax Cuts for Middle Class Families

Today, Tim Walz won his second debate of the general election, sponsored by KSTP and the Minnesota League of Women Voters. During the debate, Walz focused on his record of fighting for the middle-class families of southern Minnesota and bringing change to Washington

Walz Campaign Manager Chris Schmitter said, “Today, Tim Walz again showed that he’s working for the middle-class families of southern Minnesota and bringing change to Washington . Tim is fighting to cut middle-class taxes, create jobs by investing in renewable energy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Schmitter said that Walz’s record of fighting for the middle-class stands in stark contrast to his opponent’s support of the failed Bush Administration policies that favor CEOs and Big Oil over ordinary families.

“Today, Dr. Davis made two remarkable statements that make it clear he’ll continue the same failed, out-of-touch polices of the Bush Administration. He actually said that he supports keeping George Bush’s tax cuts for millionaires, but that he will oppose any new tax cuts for middle-class families. And, incredibly, he said once again that he has no idea how to improve care and benefits for our veterans,” Schmitter said.

The [pdf document here] debunks several of Dr. Davis’s distortions and misstatements during the debate. The debate plays on KAAL-TV on Sunday, October 12 ( 6:00PM ) and on KSTP TV on Sunday, October 19 ( 9:00PM ).

Davis Would Oppose Tax Cuts for Middle-Class Families:Davis said he supports the Bush Administration’s tax cuts for millionaires. But, when asked about tax cuts for the middle-class, such as that proposed by Senator Obama, Davis said: "I'm not in favor of tax cuts, additional tax cuts right now." [KSTP – League of Women Voters Debate, 10/12/08.

Davis Again Said He Has No Specific Proposals to Help Our Veterans: During the debate, when asked about specific proposals he would support to increase care and benefits for our veterans, Davis said: "I have no specific proposals right now." [KSTP – League of Women Voters Debate, 10/12/08.

Davis Doesn’t Understand Veterans’ Issues; Can’t Identify Ways to Improve Care for Veterans.< At a Fairmont candidates forum last week, Dr. Davis was asked, “What action would you take to provide better educational methods and health care to our veterans?” Davis responded, “I can’t identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans. I know there was a recent bill passed that is doing just that.” [Fairmont Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum, 10/2/08]

Tim Walz gets A+ from IAVA

Our friend at Minnesota Central emailed us that the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association has issued its report card for the 110th Congress.

Tim Walz was given an A+ for voting 13 out of 13 bills that the group monitored, "plus 2 points for Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsorship."

His opponent couldn't even be bothered to know the name of the legislation in a forum in Fairmont last Thursday. (For the full transcript of his remarks, see Blueman's Brian Davis Sucks on Veterans Issues).

And good over and read this morning's MC post, where once again McPherson Hall demonstrates why he's deserving of a larger readership.