A Bluestem Prairie

Operation Byrne blitz: drug task force funds to dry up?

Ever since the 1930s, when the FBI issued the names and ranked the public enemies it was pursuing (precursor to the Most Wanted Fugitives List launched in 1949), public relations has been part of law enforcement, particularly so in tough economic times and tightened budgets.

In Narcotics task force funding slashed, we learn about a one-day enforcement effort aimed at highlighting the importance of federal Byrne Grants for funding drug task forces in Southeast Minnesota:

"A national narcotics task force grant cut by 67 percent this year led to a multi-state blitz Wednesday aimed at showcasing the vital role funding plays in concentrated drug enforcement efforts. “If we lost our funding or a significant portion it is going to make it hard to continue to do the work that we are going,” Austin Police Chief Paul Philipp said.

“Operation Byrne Blitz,” named for the affected federal grant, yielded 172 arrests, 57 search warrants, 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.5 pounds of cocaine, 23 pounds of marijuana, 43 guns, 12 vehicles and $39,618 in cash statewide, according to a press release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

The Southeast Minnesota Narcotics Task Force focused on Austin, executing four search warrants that resulted in pending charges for five individuals, Olmsted County Sheriff’s Captain Bill Reiland said. The amount of methamphetamine seized has a street value of $10,000, he said."

The Star Tribune reported that statewide the Operation Byrne Blitz drug sweep nets 172 arrests:

Law enforcement also encountered 20 endangered children during the operation and referred them to local authorities

“Operation Byrne Blitz illustrates the value of regional, consolidated drug enforcement efforts,” said Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion, who is a former narcotics agent. “Drug  trafficking operations often cross traditional jurisdictional boundaries, and when agencies work together to devote resources to catching traffickers, that makes Minnesota safer.”

The Bryne grants were cut by Congress at the urging of the Bush administration, which wants to eliminate the programs entirely and shift the money from domestic police work to fighting terrorism.  Congressman Walz is one of 91 co-sponsors of H.R. 5180, which would use emergency appropriations to restore the grant program, along with Minnesota Representatives Ellison, McCollum, and Ramstad.

The Austin Herald article noted the measure:

Bushman said U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, DFL-Iowa, has introduced legislation to boost funding by $490 million if a supplemental budget is passed this year.

“We are hoping some of the funding will be restored,” Philipp wrote in an e-mail. “Rep. Walz feels that it is still possible to restore some of the cuts.”

Philipp recently met with U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minnesota, about the grant funding, which would likely dry up if the bill fails.

 

Evening post: meth and taxes edition

Agrinews reports on the April meth impact forum: Meth strains budgets, causes health and environmental issues:

Methamphetamine is straining budgets, hurting the environment and endangering the health of anyone who comes in contact with it -- including children, law enforcement and medical personnel who enter an area where the drug is present.

A public forum was hosted by Rep. Tim Walz on April 10 to promote education about the highly addictive stimulant in southern Minnesota. . . .

Promoting a better sort of science in the lab, the Hormel Foundation hopes to enlist help from Congressman Walz and Senator Coleman for the Hormel Institute, according the Austin Daily Herald article  Knowlton praises students for fund-raiser.  The Hormel Insitute  promotes research and education in science with applications in medicine.  The  University of Minnesota is a partner and the  Mayo Clinic collaborates.  While still a congressman -elect, Tim Walz spoke at the Institute's fundraising kick-off back in late November.

In a final item, a press release comes our way from Walz's office, now that Congress has reconvened:

WALZ TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT OF 2007
Legislation will improve IRS communication with taxpayers

Today, as many Americans file their tax returns, Rep. Tim Walz will vote in favor of H.R. 1677, The Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007.  The legislation requires the Internal Revenue Service to conduct additional outreach to low-income workers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, to take further measures to reduce identity theft, and to do more to notify taxpayers of unclaimed refunds.

"Thousands of working poor people in southern Minnesota and across the country don't realize that they are eligible to take the Earned Income Tax Credit, and they overpay their taxes by as much as several thousand dollars," Walz said.  "This bill requires the IRS to notify certain taxpayers that they qualify for this credit, which I hope will help many struggling families in our district hold on to more of their earnings."

The legislation would also fight fraud and predatory lending.  It requires the IRS to notify individuals of unauthorized use of their identity, and it bans the IRS from paying refunds to any business whose practices are deemed predatory.

"Our country's tax code is a complicated mess, and the Taxpayer Protection Act is a good first step towards addressing some pressing problems.  I am eager to support additional measures to make our tax system simpler and fairer."

In its first 100 days, the new Democratic House passed $1.3 billion in tax cuts to help small businesses grow and hire new workers.  In addition to these tax cuts, which comply with PAYGO rules, H.R. 1677 includes provisions that simplify tax reporting for small, family-owned businesses.

Giving good meetings: Meth impact, farm bill, and foreign policy

Meth impact meeting
KEYC reports about today's regional forum on meth impact in Problem of Meth in MN:

Congressman Tim Walz continued his tour of southern Minnesota today, but this time to talk about a devastating drug problem. News 12's Nathan Harrington has more on the forum featuring an impressive lineup of experts on the problem of meth in Minnesota.

Drug use and abuse is a nationwide problem, but the facts about Methamphetamine addiction in southern Minnesota could surprise you. "The drug problem affects everybody. And I don't think there is any more glaring evidence about the pervasiveness and destruction of the drug problem that we've experienced in this state with meth the past 10 years".

Admissions into drug treatment centers has been steady since 2000, with last year seeing 46 thousand people needing a cure for meth. It's also become a drug of choice, with levels of meth as a primary drug for users going up in the past 5 years. Law makers say there is still work to be done.

"We still have to work on assessment, which we haven't done a good job on. We have to work on total treatment and you also have to have a very strong after care program. So these are issues we are working on," [said State Senator Julie Rosen].

However, the organizer of the forum says this is an all star lineup of people who understand the problem:

"This is a very knowledgeable group and I said it helps inform me and the publics that's here. They've made it very clear what we need to do out in Washington and as their representative out there I need to make sure we're going to get that done and we heard them loud and clear and having different ideas to share among the panel will hopefully help elimiate the problem of meth," {said Representative Walz].

"The advantage of this is we have federal officials, state officials, local officials, all in the same room talking about the problem, sharing their experiences and sharing potential solutions, and that's very helpful."

Help that will lead to hope in the fight against meth. In Mankato, Nathan Harrington, news 12.

Leigh Pomeroy at the Minnesota Monitor offers more in-depth coverage in Progress Against Meth, but Problem Still Critical.

Farm bill meetings coverage
The Albert Lea Tribune covers Monday's meeting in Walz visits AL to discuss farm bill:

Area farmers and residents gathered Monday afternoon to participate in a forum designed to find out the local effects of the farm bill.

A forum of discussion is the best way to find out the concerns for this type of legislation, Minnesota’s 1st District Congressman Tim Walz said at the forum, which was at Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services.

His stop in Albert Lea was one of several planned throughout the district to gather input about the federal bill, which is up for reauthorization this year.

“Everybody has a right to be heard,” Walz said. “Every point needs to be articulated.”

He said he and the other House Agriculture Committee members were asked by committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson to gather input from their constituents in April and May to make way for the drafting of the new bill in the following months. The feedback he’s gotten so far, Walz said, has amazed him. . . .

Find out why in Sarah Light's article.   

AgriNews is out with more coverage by Janet Kubat Willette in Plenty of opinions offered at farm bill hearing and Conservation, commodity programs draw farm bill hearing interest.  Tomorrow's Farm Bill hearings: 

10 a.m. - Jackson
Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Room Y101 

2 p.m. - Blue Earth
Town and Country Plaza - Ag Center Building,
415 South Grove Street (Hwy 169)

Thursday--Connecting with Government: Public Forums with Minnesota's Elected Officials
City slickers and those rural Minnesotans who have dug themselves out of the winter storm by Thursday should consider heading to the U for Tim Walz's speech about teaching foreign policy:

"Tomorrow's Foreign Policy: What We're Teaching Today's Students and Why  It Matters"
Thursday, April 12, 2007
10:00am - 11:30am
Cowles Auditorium
Humphrey Center
301 19th Ave S., Minneapolis

Light refreshments served after event

The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance is hosting a series of public talks by prominent government leaders as part of our ongoing commitment to fostering informed and substantive discussion on important matters of public policy. "Connecting with Government" will allow Minnesota's elected officials the opportunity to rise above the talking points and fractious back-and-forth of the legislative process to make substantive statements about issues of importance for Minnesotans. It also creates a forum for students and citizens to listen and raise questions with their elected officials.

The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance works to develop practical solutions to pressing political and policy challenges. CSPG provides non-partisan research and forums to foster more effective and efficient governance, increase the transparency of government processes, and rebuild public trust in order to counteract negative influences that threaten our democracy.

These events are free and open to the public. To request disability accommodations, please call 612-625-2530 or email cspg {at} umn {dot} edu.