Bluestem Prairie

Emo Senator: All those MNGOP kids with their pumped-up kicks can run on property tax hikes

As we rejoin the Emo Senator, star of Southern Minnesota's best-loved telenovela, our hero is appearing in the pages of the Waseca County News with a gaggle of local elected officials who are mistaken by a headline writer as legislators.

The Belle of Waseca County brags to area mayors and county board members concerned about rising property taxes that the Senate Caucus has rummaged through the adults' closets for footwear:

Parry said the Republicans “took a hit” by getting rid of the Market Value Homestead Credit. “We’re taking the blame but we can take it. We’ve got big boots and high heels. The governor accepted it and it’s time to quit playing games,” he said.

Kuntz said not everybody understood the ramifications of the change.

“No one did the homework on this. Outstate Minnesota took a bath,” Johnson said. Jasinski said the elimination of MVHC caused huge shifts, 15-20 percent higher values, and much more tax on businesses.

His own business saw an increase in taxes of 13.8 percent and the tax on his home increased by 10.2 percent, Parry said. The elimination of the credit came in during the last hours of budget negotiations and is what happens when there isn’t adequate time to do the research, he said. Still, Parry said the Republicans don’t want to revisit the issue.

“As you deal with LGA, remember MVHC,” Whiting said. Almost all the city officials told Parry their cities are not able to reduce their budgets any further; that they are at the bare minimum in revenue.

Meanwhile, those dirty hippies at MNPublius chastize the GOP for the bump in property taxes (though nothing about the fashion sense):

While they fought tooth and nail to protect millionaires from paying their fair share, the Republican legislature had no such qualms about hurting the middle class. Their cuts to local government aid and changes to the property tax system mean real pain for Minnesota families.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. Here’s what a nonpartisan House Research study concluded:

Statewide, property taxes would increase by $413 million, or 5.2%, if all local taxing jurisdictions were to adopt their proposed levies…. Increases on the largest property types are 4.9% on residential non-homestead property, 8% on regular apartments, 4.2% on commercial industrial property, 11.4% on agricultural property, 11% on low-income apartments, and 4.8% on seasonal-recreational property.

When you dig into the details, things looks even worse — especially in Greater Minnesota.

Don Davis's Capitol Chatter has more:

Property taxes outside of the Twin Cities are rising faster than for those in the state’s largest metropolitan area.

Taxes to be paid this year are up an average 3.1 percent in the Twin Cities, a Minnesota House report shows, but for others the increase is 8.7 percent.

Increases reach the double digits for rural townships, cities in taconite mining areas and Duluth.

Parry flounced down to the Waseca City Hall to talk about shoes following a rumored closed door meeting in his senate office with his key (and possibly only) campaign advisor Ben Golnik (our sources claim to recognize that voice anywhere).  Bluestem will be curious to see how many meetings Parry has with members of his congressional campaign in his state senate office.

It's not illegal on the federal level, but such behavior may raise eyebrows about our beauty's behavior.

Parry is trying to position himself as a reformer ready to storm The Beltway, but than frame may simply be a signal that our hero is having another bout of amnesia equal to that suffered in last spring's episode, during which Emo claimed he needed all the per diem money he could snatch since he had no other source of income.

Fans cheered when he later remembered that he owns a Godfathers Pizza in Waseca and position himself as a small business owner.

As a reformer (he heads a state senate committee with the word "Reform" in it, right?) will Parry follow the high road taken by Dick Day, his predecessor in Senate District 26?

As the Rochester Post-Bulletin reported in 2008 when Day was running in the Republican primary for the honor of losing to Walz in November of that year:

Day said he raised about $25,000 for the first quarter but did not pursue donors aggressively because the state Senate is still in session. He said he was uncomfortable meeting with donors before adjournment in mid-May.

Parry does love consorting with corporations, to the point that he bragged about corporations that hoped to get contracts with the state submitting budget estimates.

In 2000, Common Cause criticized DFLer Steve Novak,* then chair of the Minnesota Senate Jobs and Energy Committee, for taking over $40,000 in contributions for his congressional campaign from lobbyists, business executives and PACs for businesses that had issues coming before his state committee. Under state ethics rules, legislators can't collect contributions for state-level office from lobbyists while the legislature is convened.

Federal law doesn't forbid it, however; but if while the Senate meets, Parry chases contributions from companies that would benefit from the sort of outsourcing and privatization that Parry considers to be state government "reform," it will be curious to see how Golnik pitches that revenue stream to the media. Who defines reform this way? What fashion sense does tht show?

Bluestem wouldn't want to be in his shoes. We fear what sentiment that might foster in the people.

But the first FEC report that reveals a slice of fundraising during the session won't be due and public until mid-April.  Until then, Emo Senator fans can speculate among themselves as to whether our hero will prove to be as ethical as Dick Day.

Image:  The Emo Senator, by Tild

*   (Update: An earnest Washington County Commissioner took it upon herself to write and tell me that the story below is 12 years old; yes, dear leader, the story about something that Common Cause objected to in 2000 is twelve years old, and it's reprinted here because it's no longer online at the Star Tribune--hence the need to document.

That little star thingie [*] is called an asterisk, and people who paid attention to basic conventions of reading and writing in junior high understand that it usually signals that another asterisk will appear below the main article and, following the second asterisk, an explanation or footnote will appear. It this case, it's an article that documents my statement about  Common Cause's 2000 criticism of a Senate committee chair who took money for his congressional bid from interests appearing before his committee.)

Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
May 6, 2000, Saturday, Metro Edition
Legislators' in-session fund-raising draws fire;
A watchdog group says that PAC and lobbyist donations to five state senators and representatives who are running for Congress, while legal, aren't right.

Conrad deFiebre; Staff Writer

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 5B

LENGTH: 945 words


Five of six state legislators who are running for Congress have raised a total of more than $60,000 in campaign money from lobbyists or interest groups during the legislative session, a practice that drew criticism Friday from Common Cause Minnesota.

     "This may be legal, but it doesn't make it right," said Bruce Miller, executive director of the political watchdog group. "No wonder people are cynical about government when things like this happen. It has all the appearances of a shakedown."

      He called for the legislators to give the money back.

     The biggest in-session fund-raisers didn't return calls for comment Friday. But Sen. Steve Kelley, DFL-Hopkins, said he had no intention of sending back the $3,750 he has received during the session from special interests.

     "My current reaction is no," he said. "I think I've acted legally and appropriately." He also said the contributions had no effect on his votes in the Senate.

     Rep. Mary Jo McGuire, DFL-Falcon Heights, who listed a single lobbyist donation of $250, also said she won't issue refunds to lobbyists. "I felt that to be a viable candidate I had to take their money," she said. "The rules are there, and I have to play by them until I can change them."

     Since 1990, Minnesota legislators and party caucuses have been barred from raising money for their legislative campaigns from lobbyists and political action committees (PACs) during legislative sessions.

     But a series of state and federal rulings has created exceptions for legislators running for other offices. That has allowed Kelley and Sen. Jerry Janezich to raise money legally from lobbyists and PACs for their U.S. Senate campaigns. Likewise, McGuire and Sens. Steve Novak and Linda Runbeck have accepted special-interest money for their campaigns to replace U.S. Rep. Bruce Vento.

     Only Rep. Betty McCollum, also running for Vento's seat, has refused lobbyist and PAC money during the session.

     The ban on in-session fund-raising is intended to avert the possibility or the appearance of special interests buying legislators' votes. But a Star Tribune review of the six candidates' federal campaign finance reports for the first three months of this year shows dozens of lobbyist and PAC donations since the legislative session started Feb. 1.

.

Chairmen cash in

     By far, most of the cash has flowed to Novak and Janezich, the only two in the group who head legislative committees.

     Novak, DFL-New Brighton, is chairman of the Senate Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee, which wields influence over Minnesota utilities. The $37,900 he raised from lobbyists and PACs during the session largely came from lobbyists and PACs for utilities interests such as AT&T, MCI, Minnegasco, Northern States Power Co. and U S West Communications.

     Novak's total does not include several thousand dollars more from executives of those and other utilities who are not registered lobbyists.

     Janezich, DFL-Chisholm, is chairman of the Senate Economic Development Budget Committee. He raised $17,600 from lobbyists and PACs for a broad range of economic interests, plus $2,500 from three Minnesota Indian tribes that are not listed as PACs.

     As a freshman state senator, Kelley does not head a committee. Runbeck, R-Circle Pines; McCollum, DFL-North St. Paul, and McGuire are members of minority caucuses and also do not head committees. Runbeck and McGuire each raised $1,000 or less from special interests.

     McCollum said Friday that her refusal of money from lobbyists and PACs was only for the legislative session, which she hadn't expected to extend beyond today's DFL endorsing convention in the Fourth Congressional District.

     "I unilaterally disarmed enough during the session," she said. "But I have raised all the money I needed to go after the endorsement, even though I knew I stood to be criticized for not raising a lot of money."

     As it stands, McCollum goes into the convention having raised $12,875 through March 31 of this year, far behind Novak's total of $91,225. McGuire reported raising $15,900 overall.

     Runbeck raised a total $34,886, including $1,000 from a PAC, en route to winning the Fourth District Republican endorsement last Saturday.

     Kelley, meanwhile, noted that nonlegislators running for Congress face no complaints about the source of their funds and no drain on their campaign time from serving at the Capitol.

     "Our competitors are out contacting delegates and raising money," he said. "We've been spending most of our time doing our jobs. It makes it nearly impossible for people in office now to run for federal office."

Legislators' fund-raising

     Five state legislators running for Congress have accepted campaign contributions from lobbyists and/or PACs during the legislative session, which began Feb. 1.

 

                       Lobbyist              PAC

Legislator        contributions    contributions      Total

Sen. Steve Novak,

     DFL-New Brighton $18,900           $19,000    $37,900

Sen. Jerry Janezich,

     DFL-Chisholm       $3,405           $14,200    $17,605

Sen. Steve Kelley,

     DFL-Hopkins        $2,750            $1,000     $3,750

Sen. Linda Runbeck,

     R-Circle Pines          0            $1,000     $1,000

Rep. Mary Jo McGuire,

     DFL-Falcon Heights   $250                 0       $250

Rep. Betty McCollum,

     DFL-North St. Paul      0                 0          0

     Source: Candidates' federal campaign finance reports for Jan. 1-March 31, 2000.

Cornish denies rumors he's running for Blue Earth County Sheriff day after spreading them

Bluestem admires rural conservatives for their consistency and allegiance to principle, if not truth.

Take State Representative Tony Cornish, who has been putting in a cameo appearance as Chief of Police of sunny Lake Crystal for the past four years. As part of yesterday's evening news, KEYC-TV reported in Rep. Cornish Retires from Police Chief Position:

State Rep. Tony Cornish has announced he's retiring his post as an area police chief. . . .

Cornish says he's not running for Blue Earth County Sheriff as rumors have suggested. He says he's looking forward to more free time for hunting.

And those pesky rumors plaguing Tony? Wherever do the good citizens of Blue Earth County come up with this stuff?

It's certainly not from the mouth of babes.

Nope, these gems of wisdom dripped from the dewy lips of Representative Cornish himself, who told KEYC-TV that his career in law enforcement was "getting a little long in the tooth." (His self portrait, not Bluestem's choice.)

The day before the KEYC-TV story, Mankato Free Press political reporter Mark Fischenich reported in Cornish to resign as Lake Crystal police chief:

“I haven’t ruled out running for sheriff,” said Cornish, who has served in a variety of law enforcement jobs over 37 years. “That would be two years down the road.”

Cornish mulled a 2010 run for Blue Earth County sheriff but ultimately chose to seek re-election to the state House when incumbent Sheriff Brad Peterson decided to seek a fifth term. Cornish, 60, said he will consider running only if Peterson opts not to seek re-election.

“I wouldn’t run against Brad,” he said. “... I think he’s going to retire.”

Being a thorough reporter, Fischenich contacted the younger man to see if he planned to step aside as sheriff and let Corish indulge his Richard Stanek fantasies. But Cornish's rumor was news to the current Sheriff of Blue Earth County:

“It looks more like I would be running than not,” said Peterson, who hasn’t faced a challenger since toppling Sheriff LaRoy Wiebold in 1994. “... I still enjoy my job. I still enjoy going to work and working with the people.”

There’s a practical reason to seek another term, as well, he said. Although his 33 years in law enforcement qualifies him for a full pension, Peterson is just 55 years old and won’t qualify for Medicare for another decade.

The current cost of continuing his county health care coverage out-of-pocket would be approximately $25,000 annually.

“So that’s over $200,000 over 10 years,” he said. “I don’t think I can afford that.”

Fischenich reports that Cornish already retired from law enforcement in 2003, after a long career as a crappie cop for the DNR, and that provides for Cornish's living expenses once he retires again. And presumably, he's also racking up another nest egg via those per diem payments that are counted toward his legislative pension.

It's generous of him to now deny those rumors of a bid for sheriff, and Bluestem hopes that Cornish has a way to pay for his health insurance.

One more thing. A reader observes that Cornish came right out in the Mankato Free Press article and said:

“Just too busy,” Cornish said in explaining his decision [to retire as police chief]. “Not able to do justice to two jobs.”

Not that Minnesota has a fulltime legislature, but then, Cornish does head a committee. Reasonable people might wonder how he could be sheriff of a large rural county, put in a full day's work, and still find time to hunt. 

Fortunately, Cornish has now denied the rumors he started, and the citizens of Blue Earth County can sleep soundly at night.

Photo: Representative Tony Cornish. His tiny handcuffs strike fear into the hearts of elves everywhere.

If Waseca's zombies seek brains during crawl, should Sen. Parry run or join their search?

The Waseca County News reports in Zombies 'crawl' for a cause:

Last October the police received a report of a man covered in blood sitting out in front of PJ’s Tavern who was believed to have been part of a bar brawl.

Upon further investigation the police found 39 other people covered in blood — dressed like zombies. This year, organizer Tim Miller said they have already alerted authorities about the upcoming Second Annual Zombie Crawl scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 24 from 6 p.m to 1 a.m.

The crawl is a charity event designed to help kids enjoy Halloween:

All of the money raised from the crawl goes to purchase Halloween costumes, make up, accessories, pumpkins and carving kits for kids. They will be given away on Saturday, October 8 at the Miller Armstrong Building. The kids will also receive goodie bags filled with all kinds of donations. ...

“Last year we gave away 60 costumes,” Miller said. “The crawl is awesome, but I think the best part is seeing these kids walk away with some great stuff and huge smiles on their faces.”

“This is a really cool event,” said Jennifer Hamilton. “Parents get dressed up and have a good time plus we are raising money for kids.”

Hamilton explained that if dressing up like a crazy, brain eating zombie is something you would enjoy, then by all means mix up a batch of fake blood and have at it.

Costumes are optional, however.  Read the entire article at the County News.

Photo: Waseca's very hungry zombies. Submitted photo at WCN.

Chronicles of Cottonwood County: it's time for real beer to come out of the shadows in Windom

Cottonwood County is one of Minnesota's rural gems, and Windom's Mari Harries would like more people to get to know it. The young policy associate at Minnesota 2020 is working on opening River City Eatery and she's run into a regulatory roadblock that will prevent diners from truly appreciating the prairie.

3.2 beer.

More precisely, Windom's beer license regulation, which unlike her restaurant's state license, restricts her to serving 3.2 beer. This is a real shame, because she won't be able to serve the great sacred local beers flowing from the waters of nearby Lucan and New Ulm, nor any of the truly micro breweries in Southwest Minnesota.

She writes at Hindsight 2020:

As River City Eatery starts to take shape and my dream of opening a restaurant in my rural southwest Minnesota town are coming true, I'm getting thirsty from all this hard, but oh so much fun work.

I'm getting thirsty for some great, local craft beer.

The beer and wine license I have obtained from the state of Minnesota allows River City Eatery to sell “strong beer,” but the Windom city ordinance only allows us to serve 3.2 beers. It’s an issue I’m certain many other small towns face.

Local micro brews don't come in the 3.2 style, which leaves my only options as a restaurateur in the City of Windom being Miller or Budweiser. . . .

As one friend tweeted, "Strong beer for a strong local economy."  This is true, and Windom itself is the place--during the government shutdown-- I first learned of the Prohibition-era song popular in labor circles, "No Beer, No Work." (Revised version here).

Minnesotans brew up some pretty tasty beer, and our local economies could use the boost it can give restaurants. Here's hoping that Windom and other small towns drink in Harries' wisdom.

Her restaurant looks like it's going to be pretty swell, too. Follow her progress at my $.02: Finding Windom. 

Related posts: No Beer, No Work: a song for the end of the shutdown

Last call on shutdown: Minnesota's looming beer riots send state's leaders back to bargaining table

Sacred local beer honored among "Top Ten" breweries in 2011 US Open Beer Championships

Prairie ramblings: Brau Brothers Brewery in Lucan

New Ulm's creator of sacred local beer honored for service to humanity

Spring flooding report: New Ulm budget woes jeopardize sacred local beer reserves

All Saints Day, Jeffers Petroglyphs, Cottonwood County

Obama stops for pie and "hi" in SE Minnesota; Bachmann tells lie about Iowa family reunion

It's the little things in today's news that provide both telling details and nice end rhymes for what may seem the end times of American politics.

Obama stops for pies and "hi's"

The Rochester Post Bulletin reports in Obama's stops at Cannon Falls deli, Zumbrota coffee shop a thrill for diners that the Presidential bus stopped in Zumbrota for that most fundamental Minnesota treat, a little pie:

President Obama's visit to Zumbrota was a sweet deal for Dean and Carol Jackson, co-owners of The Coffee Mill, a coffee shop known for its homemade pies.

While he was there, Obama bought a coconut cream pie, two German chocolates, two graham cracker creams, two apple and two pumpkin, Carol Jackson said. "Enough to feed the whole bus."

According to the PB, the coffee shop owners owners only had fifteen minutes notice that the president was stopping by. Read the rest of the article to find out about his turkey sandwich.

The PB also notes that the President stopped to say hi to a bunch of kids in President Obama makes unscheduled stop in Chatfield. CNN reports in Obama Bus Tour's Stop #3: Chatfield, MN:

President Obama made a seemingly unplanned stop at a children's summer camp program in Chatfield, Minnesota. He spent several minutes shaking hands with about 45 kids in colorful "Valleyland Kids" t-shirts. The young kids, ranging from kindergarteners to 7th graders, then posed for a picture with the president. Clearly he needed some help getting up once the photo-op was over.

That takes care of the pie and hi, now on to the lie. Michele Bachmann is involved.

Politico on Bachmann lie

Who cites a family reunion as a reason for tardiness, after skipping the gathering? Mrs. Family Values Bachmann, that's who.

Politico reports in Bachmann skipped family reunion she cited:

On her victory lap of Iowa yesterday, Straw Poll winner Rep. Michele Bachmann paid repeated tribute to her local roots, and repeatedly mentioned her family reunion that day, citing it as an excuse for her late arrival at a local party event in Waterloo.

But Bachmann's mother and two cousins told POLITICO's Emily Schultheis that Bachmann didn't attend the reunion, though her husband and children did. Her spokeswoman, Alice Stewart, didn't respond to two emails asking for an explanation of the disparity.

Bluestem thinks---heck, we don't know what to think about this one, other than as an example of the triumph of the post-moronic style, where words lose their meanings and all that is solid melts into air.

Who wants pie?

Photo: The President gets some helping hands from kids in Chatfield. via CNN.

Failed burrito baron back in fast food industry, empty spin sandwich on breakfast menu

Via the Daily Caller, Bluestem has learned that failed burrito baron and Minnesota Republican state chair Tony Sutton is re-entering the food service industry in Cannon Falls, an archetypal small town in greater Minnesota.

Earlier this month, our peep into the state pachyderm party's latest FEC filing revealed that the RPM's federal account owes debts and obiligations of $608,147.51. While Tony Sutton has started drawing a salary of $100,000 a year, he's obviously having a hard time making ends meet, so it looks like he's taken a second job.

According to the Caller, tomorrow morning with find him slinging up  “A Big Ol’ Hunk of Nothing on Two Thick Slices of Nada” in Cannon Falls. Given that the media already has reservations for a later seating at the President's table, it's hard to say who'll bite on the hash Sutton is serving RNC chairman Reince Priebus.

People is Cannon Falls plan to fill the President's town hall. Star Tribune reports in Cannon Falls residents grab tickets to see Obama:

The small river town of Cannon Falls had to wait 83 years between presidential visits, so it was no surprise that there was pent-up demand for tickets to see the commander-in-chief.

Between 1,300 and 1,500 people -- in a town with a population of 4,000 -- showed up Sunday for a chance to attend Monday's town hall meeting with President Obama.

"I've been doing this for 20 years, [and] I have not seen an event where people were so happy and exhilarated about this opportunity," said Police Chief Jeff McCormick. . . .

Can Sutton's nothing sandwich match that level of enthusiasm?

Doesn't look promising. The rest of the failed burrito baron's menu laid out in the re-written press release the Caller has posted? It looks like heartburn and Sutton's signature "outrage," but perhaps the party boss will experience more customer satisfaction than that he met in the waning days of Baja Sol's doomed franchise.

Photo: Minnesota Republican chair and failed burrito baron Tony Sutton frowns for the camera at a Tax Cut Rally St. Paul, Minnesota May 7, 2011. Photo by Fibonacci Blue; used with permission.

Getting snippy: cuts in LGA and Market Value Homestead Credit force rural budget trimming

Greater Minnesota newspapers--from Minnesota's flagship afternoon daily in Rochester to weeklies in places like Little Falls and Waseca-- continue to report plans to raise property taxes or cut back county and city as local governments trim their budgets.

The Post Bulletin reports in Area cities adjust budgets to reflect lost state aid:

Cities and counties in southeastern Minnesota are grappling with how to adjust their 2011 budgets to cover losses in state aid that the Legislature included in the tax bill passed on July 20.

The millions of dollars in cuts to local government aid and the state's market value credit program could result in local property tax increases and/or reductions in services and capital improvements. . . .

The article lists the lost dollars the mostly small cities face. Consider St. Charles, for instance, which lost a major employer to a devastating fire several years back. The new industrial park will cost more:

St. Charles planned to use all of its LGA for repayment of a bond it issued for a commercial industrial park near Interstate 90. The city was supposed to get about $840,000 in LGA but instead will receive about $757,000.

"We were going to use those additional monies to help repay some of the land costs that we expended," said St. Charles City Administrator Nick Koverman. "We'll still have the funds to be able to pay that because we are doing a bond, but it just would have reduced the size of that bond."

Read the rest at the PB. Over in Waseca, the County News reports in Market Value Homestead Credit eliminated, replaced:

In 2011, Waseca County will lose $188,226 in 2011 Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC), a credit on a property owner’s tax statement. By state law, the county must give the credit to property owners on the basis of the property’s valuation and the state is required to reimburse the county for the credit.

The certified MVC in 2011 was $803,304; after the estimated $188,226 reduction, the 2011 estimated MVC is $615,078, to be paid in two installments in October and December.

Up in  Morrison County, the Record's news editor Terry Lehrke notes in Little Falls must cut more than $200,000 out of this year’s budget:

Just a couple of weeks ago, the Little Falls city budget for 2011 was reviewed in a Council work session, showing figures in the black by about $186,000.

Monday night, the Little Falls City Council learned how quickly things can change. Lori Kasella, the city’s finance officer, said that as a result of cuts made in the state budget agreement, the city will lose LGA and MVHC dollars expected for this budget year. . . .

. . .Added together, the cuts total $524,621 for 2011. But Kasella said $86,000 of that will be reflected in the general fund, and some in the debt service funds, leaving $400,000 to cut.

Subtracting from that the city’s budget surplus of $186,000, leaves the city with more than $200,000 it still needs to cut from its 2011 budget. . .

The consequences to homeowners in Little Falls?

Property owners will see a raise on their property taxes because of the state cuts to MVHC whether the city raises its levy or not, said Kasella.

The loss of the MVHC will be felt throughout Morrison County, Lehrke reports:

Nygren said the change was presented as a means to grant homestead owners a similar tax impact as other property owners.

“In reality, it creates a very large shift to all property taxpayers, including homeowners,” Nygren said.

“It is an across the board property tax increase,” said Nygren. “Because of the way the law is written, it will affect every taxpayer in every jurisdiction and every municipal entity.”

Now, what was this the Republicans were saying about not raising taxes? Really?

Photo: Nostalgic for your homestead credit yet

CGMC honors Mayors R.T. Rybak and Chris Coleman as "Friends of Greater Minnesota"

Those who follow Bluestem know that Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman are frequent visitors in rural Minnesota, believing as they do that the connections between the parts of the state are far greater than our divisions.

It's no small part of what makes the state distinctive.  I'm lived in other states like Pennsylvania and Missouri, where the divisions between Philadelphia and rural western regions or the Ozarks & Bootheel and Kansas City & St. Louis are enormous.

But Minnesota? As one friend put it: Go to Uptown on Thanksgiving and it's a ghost town; people are home with their grandparents in Pipestone or New Ulm.

So it's not surprising to Bluestem to get the following press release, as shocking as it might be to those who swallow suburban Republican blather about LGA and rural values, announcing the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities recognizing the mayor as "Friends of Greater Minnesota."

Bluestem's recent digests of news about how the Republican budget deal is hurting Greater Minnesota--such as Fiasco on the prairie: across state, cities, counties and schools pinched by state budget and Worthington editors, mayor and readers scold Representative Rod Hamilton on state budget -- should understand why rural mayors appreciate the urban mayors' help in our fight for the quality of life out here.

That exceptional quality includes the world-class ZZ-Top-quality facial hair gracing Worthington Mayor Alan Oberloh.

From Mayor's Rybak's office:

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak received the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities’ “Friend of Greater Minnesota” award last night at the Coalition’s annual summer conference in Grand Rapids. The Coalition recognized Mayor Rybak’s work with the “Thank LGA” coalition during the 2011 legislative session, which included meeting with mayors and civic leaders in several cities to highlight the critical role that Local Government Aid plays in creating strong communities.

This year marks the second year in a row that mayors from around Minnesota have honored Mayor Rybak with the “Friend of Greater Minnesota” award. The Coalition also honored Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman with the award.

“Working closely with Greater Minnesota mayors is one of the best investments that Minneapolis has made,” Mayor Rybak said. “I am particularly grateful to mayors throughout Greater Minnesota for standing up for Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Duluth this year when the Legislature unwisely proposed eliminating all LGA for our core cities.

“Greater Minnesota mayors know what we all know: we’re one Minnesota and we’re all in this together. They can count on me to keep defending strong communities in Greater Minnesota,” Mayor Rybak continued.

“Having Mayor Rybak’s support and leadership has been critical to greater Minnesota cities. His optimism and energy in promoting our communities is exactly what Minnesota needs at this time,” said Worthington Mayor Alan Oberloh, president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.

The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing 77 cities outside the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area that advocates at the State Capitol for strong, healthy communities in Greater Minnesota.

Photo: Worthington Mayor Alan Oberloh, president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and his world-class beard.

Free-ranging Senator Franken stops for a little piece of pie on the prairie

With the debt crisis bill passed, Minnesota's congressional delegation is out on recess--and Al Franken is using the time to visit Greater Minnesota.

It's no secret the Frankens are pie lovers, so Bluestem isn't surprised to read about this stop in yesterday's Mankato Free Press article, Franken continues trip through Mankato area:

Al Franken’s wide-ranging tour of south-central Minnesota comes to Mankato today following stops Wednesday at Farmfest near Redwood Falls, Lyle’s Cafe in Winthrop and the New Ulm Medical Center.

The Farmfest stop is a traditional one for Minnesota’s elected officials, and the famous pie at Lyle’s explains the Winthrop stop.

Winthrop is just down Highway 15 from Bluestem's national headquarters in Hutchinson.

It's too bad my state representative Ron Shimanski couldn't enjoy some pie with Al at the restaurant just outside Minnesota House District 18A, but the Minnesota Independent reports that the Silver Lake apple grower was headed far farther south.

No wonder constituents like Gus Ziemer send letters with headlines like Party politics caused lawmakers to stray from their duty to the Hutchinson Leader. Heck of a party.

Franken's progress across the prairie demonstrates there's plenty to do in sunny Greater Minnesota and that Al talks fluent Minnesotan. The Marshall Independent reports in Franken talks agriculture at Farmfest:

With a debt ceiling deal reached in Washington, national legislators are coming back to Minnesota. U.S. Sen. Al Franken was present at Farmfest on Wednesday, speaking at the main forum tent and meeting with members of the public. However, questions from audience members at the forum tended to center more around topics like ethanol subsidies and the next Farm Bill.

Franken gave an update on his involvement with agriculture-related issues in Congress. Agriculture is a key part of Minnesota's economy and traditions, Franken said. "I know that in representing Minnesota, a large part of my job is representing you," he told audience members. . . .

The rest of the article is a fascinating read about Franken's fairly technical responses to the questions--but the discourse is pretty familiar stuff out here on the prairie. That gal in the bib-overalls may not have an Ivy League degree like the junior senator, but raise a point about federal farm policy, impossibly complex, and she'll sound like the expert she is. And has to have been to stay in an brutal business.

Franken fits in pretty well with the farmers.

His remarks at the farmshow parallel a column in the ECM chain, Sen. Franken fights for future of Minnesota farmers, which touches on renewable energy and railroad issues. Go check it out.

The West Central Tribune reports in Sen. Franken talks agriculture, debt vote at Farmfest stop:

. . .Dressed in khaki pants, a dark collared shirt and cowboy boots, Franken fit right in during his Wednesday afternoon radio interview with Lynn Ketelsen of the Linder Farm Market.

The Democratic senator, back in Minnesota while Congress is in recess for a month, said he was not pleased with how the negotiations went to keep the country from defaulting on its obligations. . . .

In addition to the radio interview in front of an audience under the Forum Tent at Farmfest, Franken spoke to the crowd there for about 15 minutes about various issues facing Minnesota farmers, including the 2012 Farm Bill that Franken said he hopes is actually completed in 2012.

Franken said that direct payments to farmers and agriculture research could “take a hit” in next year’s legislation. The current farm program includes “direct payments” to farmers that are paid each year on qualifying crops regardless of market conditions, and “countercyclical payments” that are paid only in years when market prices fall below a set level.

“It seems an emphasis is on a safety net program to make sure we keep farmers farming,” Franken said.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Franken said he is working on legislation to capitalize on wind energy and give small farms and cooperatives the opportunity to own wind.

Franken also spent time Wednesday at the University of Minnesota tent at Farmfest and meeting his constituents on the grounds of the annual show. . . .

The focus shifted from ag to health care for the New Ulm stop, the Journal reports in Franken talks health care, debt ceiling:

Sen. Al Franken stopped by New Ulm on Wednesday for an update on the status of the New Ulm Medical Center's (NUMC) Heart of New Ulm program.

NUMC Administrator Toby Freier and Heart of New Ulm Community Coordinator Betsy Pieser led a brief presentation on the status of Heart of New Ulm before taking questions from Franken.

The main highlight was a Center of Health Care Innovation at Allina study showing a drop in New Ulm heart attacks and the HeartBeat Connections program that provides health coaching. . . .

. . .Franken said after the meeting that he thought Heart of New Ulm was overall moving in the right direction.

"It's unrealistic to for people to expect an incredible transformation this soon," said Franken, "But, as pointed out, it's doing a good job of bucking obesity trends nationally and in Minnesota."

Health Care

Franken said there needs to be a national push to approach health care like the Heart of New Ulm, which emphasized keeping people healthy as opposed to just treating illness.

Staff writer Josh Moniz covers Franken's reaction to the debt ceiling bill in depth. Definitely worth a read.

Though Franken established himself first as a comedian, it's clear from the coverage that he's growing comfortable in his relatively new senatorial skin, at ease with policy and the wide range of people on the prairie.  Doggone it, we like him.

Fiasco on the prairie: across state, cities, counties and schools pinched by state budget

Looking around the state, it's clear that the results of Republican resistance to dealing with the need for increased revenue are hitting hard across the prairie.

The West Central Tribune's Carolyn Lange reports in Kandiyohi Co. finds itself in a financial squeeze due to state budget that one county commissioner was blunt about the impact of the package:

All told, the legislation approved during last month’s special session will have more than a $1.1 million financial hit on Kandiyohi County’s 2012 budget.

“Fiasco” was the word Commissioner Harlan Madsen used to describe the end of the legislative session as he listened to a report Tuesday during the meeting of the County Board of Commissioners.

Some of the elements of that fiasco:

Kandiyohi County will get less state money than it currently does to fund state-mandated programs and, at the same time, will be required to pay a greater share of some programs — like long-term sex offender treatment — as a result of the new state budget deal.

The double whammy will make it challenging for county officials to plan the 2012 budget, said County Administrator Larry Kleindl, and will result in more local cuts, restructuring or higher taxes.

Kandiyohi County will get nearly $200,000 less than expected in program aid next year, which will affect the county’s total levy.

Individual taxpayers will feel a pinch because the state reduced Kandiyohi County’s market value credit by $524,150.

What that means is that property taxes will increase for every county resident who takes advantage of the state homestead tax credit.

There's a lot more; read about the details in the West Central Tribune. Asked about the homestead credit reduction, Republican state senator Joe Gimse takes refuge in the passive voice:

Regarding the reduction in the homestead tax credit, Gimse said legislators were “seeing a lot of pressure” to reduce local government aid and credits to help balance the state budget.

Really, Senator Gimse? Who was pressuring the state senate to do that? Certainly not the governor, small and big cities or local chambers of commerce. Apparently, these groups can't pressure Gimse. He should be honest about those who acted to reduce LGA and credits: suburban Republicans, the state party and the state chamber.

Apparently, Gimse forgets the local paper's coverage from the end of March, W. Central Tribune: big city & small city mayors seek more compromise, less finger-pointing.

It's not just Kandiyohi County. On Monday, Mankato Free Press staff writer Mark Fischenich reported in North Mankato eyes 10 percent levy increase for 2012:

10 percent hike in the property tax levy will be at the heart of a 2012 budget recommendation by city staff to the North Mankato City Council next month.

The double-digit jump in property taxes is necessary to offset nearly $500,000 in lost state aid and will add nothing in terms of city services, City Administrator Wendell Sande said Monday night.

Sande will make that suggestion at the council’s Sept. 6 meeting, the same meeting where he will lay out a proposal for addressing a nearly $740,000 shortfall in the current budget that ends on Dec. 31.

Read about how North Mankato got there at the MFP.

Turning to the impact of the state budget deal on schools, consider today's editorial in the fairly conservative Owatonna People's Press, Lazy legislating hurts schools:

. . .As part of a deal to end a three-week state government shutdown, legislators agreed to defer — or “holdback” — 40 percent of promised state aid to school districts. . . .

In fact, officials with the Owatonna school district — which will see about $13 million in state aid deferred to next year — have already secured a line of credit with Associated Bank and they expect to have to borrow about $2 million this year and an additional $3 million next year. As with any other credit deal, if the district doesn’t repay the loans in the required time frame — in the case of the Owatonna district, 45 days — interest fees will be applied.

Do you think the state will reimburse districts for fees and interest incurred on similar loans due to deferred state aid? If you answered no, you would be correct.

No, the district — and, in essence, the taxpayers — will be on the hook for any penalties incurred by late payments. . . .

It is a disgrace that our legislators in St. Paul have opted to balance the budget by placing a further burden on school districts. Officials around the state have already made staffing and curriculum decisions to cope with less state and federal aid.

Minnesota leaders took the cowards way in ending the shutdown, essentially pushing the problem further down the road and digging a deeper hole for the state’s already beleaguered education system. Now is the time for them to lead and come up with a solid solution to funding education in the future and make their promised payments on a timely basis.

Speaking of leaders, Governor Dayton was at Farmfest yesterday, but where are Minnesota's Republicans? Folks like Senators Mike Parry and Gretchen Hoffman said they'd be talking to their constituents, but news of those meetings are scarce to non-existent. Where are they? (Readers reports the field are very welcome, in the comments or via email).

Photo: Rural Kandiyohi County scene.

MNGOP hating on Mayberry, RFD: anti-business property tax shifts to plague greater Minnesota

There's a steady tattoo of news in greater Minnesota newspapers these days, echoed in a Minnesota Public Radio report, Cities could raise property tax to make up for state budget cuts.

Will voters remember thse stories next fall when the Republican party and its homophobic allies beat their hackneyed drum about "rural values"?

MPR's Mark Steil reports:

According to projections by non-partisan state House legislative staff, the budget deal could lead to property tax increases of 4.6 percent statewide. Communities outside the Twin Cities would see the biggest jump, about 6 percent on average. Metro area taxes would rise about 4 percent.

Cities in south central Minnesota could see the biggest increase, about 7.3 percent. Property taxes in the Iron Range and Duluth are projected to rise 7.2 percent, while in east central and southeast Minnesota the hike will be just under 7 percent. . . .

Steil cites suburban Republican leigslators who disagree with the nonpartisan staff, but in looking at local reports around the state, Bluestem thinks the legislative staff might be on to something. And if no property tax shifts are coming, then there's belt tighten for the already slender.

From west central Minnesota, the Monte News reports in Administrators say compromise delays resolution of budget problem:

The state of Minnesota is beginning to function again following a 20-day government shutdown that was resolved last week when Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law a number of bills passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The new biennial budget has been widely criticized by DFL legislators and the Independence Party of Minnesota as once again deferring rather than solving the chronic state budget deficit.

That perspective seems to be shared by city and school officials here. The American-News asked Montevideo City Manager Steve Jones and Montevideo Super­intendent of Schools Luther Heller for their reactions to the budget.
 
City of Montevideo
“The main impact on the city for 2011 is that we have to cut $326,000 from our existing 2011 budget,” wrote Jones in an e-mail. “Staff has sat down this week and has a plan in place.  . . .

What does that mean in concrete terms?

“We cut funds for items such as plow trucks, mowers, heavy equipment, police cars, park improvements, park maintenance, trees, computer equipment and building repairs and upgrades,” he wrote.

The city will face a similar revenue shortfall in 2012, according to Jones.

“For 2012 we will also have $326,000 less than anticipated, so the capital improvement fund will continue to be underfunded for future equipment, replacement and repair needs. Very little, if any part-time summer help will be hired, and except for needed maintenance projects, upgrades and major repairs could be delayed.

“Our real fear is for 2013 and beyond. Because the state chose to delay real reform, we will go through this same scenario in 18 months, and we will be weaker and less financially able to weather the storm in 2013 than if they had made all the necessary changes now.”

Snowplow. Streets.

The headline up in Detroit Lakes? DL prepares for disappearing state aid: A conservative budget. The news:

The ever-changing local government aid and market value credit are changing once again.

City Finance Officer Lou Guzek told council members to plan on only getting the amount for LGA that the city received in 2010, about $550,000, even though it is slated to receive $690,500 in 2012.

Guzek said if the city should happen to get the full amount promised by the state, he recommends the unbudgeted $140,000 be put into the debt service fund.

“I’d take the conservative approach and budget with the $550,000,” he said.

For market value credit, in 2011, cities will receive what they did in 2010, and next year “it disappears as a payment to the cities,” Guzek said.

The city budgeted for $202,000 in MVC in 2011.

For 2011, the city levied about $3.4 million in taxes. That came half from residential and half from commercial or “other” properties.

But with recent changes in market value, if the city levies for $3.4 million again next year, commercial properties will feel the squeeze much more than homeowners.

Homeowners won’t see much of an increase at all, but commercial property will see about a 12 percent hike in city taxes.

Guzek said that cities without LGA will also be without MVC, so it doesn’t affect the larger metro cities that already don’t receive LGA.

“We’re out fighting this battle by ourselves,” he said.  . . .

DL-Online's editorial board called it as they saw it in Mn tax shift is anti-business:

We know the state is in a tight financial bind, but this is just plain bad tax policy that could really hurt greater Minnesota, and especially businesses in greater Minnesota — and the jobs they provide.

Rural Minnesota lawmakers should push for a change to this stink bomb of a tax law when the Legislature meets again next year: Property taxes are already a major concern of small business owners, and this change just makes it worse.

Lawrence Schmumacher at PIM's Capitol Report has more (including news of the affects of the budgt here in Hutchinson) in Local governments look to hedge LGA uncertainty.

Driving Republicans to distraction

No wonder the legislative majority's leadership has to carrying on about how Ballot measures are key part of GOP agenda , as Briana Bierschbach reports elsewhere in PIM:

The passage of the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage was the defining moment of the final days of Minnesota’s 2011 legislative session, and the first modern Republican-controlled Legislature is gearing up to bypass DFL Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature again next year and add a few more to the 2012 ballot.

After a gubernatorial veto last session, a move to put voter photo identification on the ballot is already afoot. And during internal caucus negotiations on the special session budget deal, a group of hard-line House Republicans exacted a promise from leadership to pass an amendment to require a legislative “super-majority” to raise taxes in exchange for their budget votes. In addition, GOP Capitol hands say there are eager talks about throwing a right-to-work amendment into the mix.

Perhaps those distractions will prompt rural Minnesotans to pay no attention to those job-killing property tax hikes.

Photo: Mayberry RFD.

LGA freeze forces rural mayors to eye cuts, tax hikes, moonlighting in ZZ Top cover bands

With support from local newspaper editorials and local chambers of commerce, small town mayors fought to keep local government aid for cities of all sizes in the state's budget. The united efforts helped keep LGA alive.

And since the final deal freezes LGA at 2010 levels, local governments have to decide whether to cut services or raise revenue, or a combination of both.

In a short column in the Globe, Worthington Mayor Alan Oberloh  writes:

Any high school class from Worthington, Willmar or Wadena would have produced a far better budget for Minnesota property taxpayers and their communities.

The governor and Legislature took a bad state budget situation and made it worse. Their decisions not only prolong the state budget challenges because of their borrowing; they also once again passed the buck down to local officials to make the hard decisions on spending cuts and tax increases.

This budget will result in Greater Minnesota families and businesses once again being hit with property tax increases and significant cuts to critical community services like police, fire, snowplowing and economic development.

Given Oberloh's truly admirable beard, perhaps moonlighting in a ZZ Top cover band for extra cash would be another option for raising revenue.

Across the state, on the northern edge of Drazistan, the Red Wing Republican Eagle reports in Local leaders have mixed feelings about state budget that mix ranges from dismay from local officials to severe pain in the part of Republican legislators who disclocated their shoulders while patting themselves on their backs in praise of the final deal.

The reality for the City of Red Wing? Tough choices:

In the days since the budget was approved, concerns have surfaced from those seeing cuts in state funding.

For example, the new budget allots $619,586 in Local Government Aid to Red Wing for 2011, the same amount it received in 2010. But the city was slated to get more than $1.7 million.

Red Wing city officials have said if LGA funding was low again this year, it could mean significant cuts to city services and could drive up local property taxes. That could be the case throughout the state, especially in rural areas.

And in Albert Lea, there's a similiar story in the Tribune, LGA freeze puts city on heels:

The state government may be up and running again, but now the city of Austin must cope with the Local Government Aid (LGA) freeze put in place when the shutdown ended.

When Minnesota legislators voted to end the 20-day shutdown, they also voted to freeze LGA at 2010 levels, meaning Austin will miss out on more than $687,000 of its certified LGA amount for 2011, according to city Finance Director Tom Dankert.

Half of the city’s $7.1 million LGA check is scheduled to be sent to the city by July 27; the other half of the funds will be sent in December. The 2012 LGA payment will also be the 2010 amount, which is $7.1 million.

The LGA freeze coupled with the elimination of market value credit will create a loss of more than $1.3 million for Austin over the next two years.

“1.3 million dollars — that won’t be easy for the city of Austin to deal with,” Dankert said. “We are in the realms where we’ve never been before.”

Mirroring the decision Minnesota legislators had to make to balance the state budget, Austin City Council members will have to decide whether to cut services or raise revenue, or a combination of both.

It will be interesting to watch how cities throughout the state deal with the choices facing them. I know that Hutchinson already made some tough calls even before this latest development.

Photo: Worthington Mayor Alan Oberloh, via the Globe.

Trees and branches block Luce Line Trail after Minnesota's July 1 "shutdown storm"

A line of storms that whipped up violent straight-line winds across much of Southern and Central Minnesota hit Hutchinson's city forest hard Friday night.

By yesterday afternoon, most of the debris had been removed from city streets and the Luce Line Trail in town. Once joggers and bicyclists using the trail reach city limits, it's a different story.

West of Hutchinson, the state trail was blocked by toppled branches and trees.

The Hutchinson Leader reported in Storm blows through Hutchinson Friday night city helping with tree damage clean up:

High winds in Hutchinson Friday night downed many trees, broke off thousands of branches, tipped a semi-truck over along State Highway 15 north of the city and rip much of the roof off of the Hutchinson Animal Hospital at the corner of State Highway 7 West and California Street.

City workers will be helping residents with the extensive clean-up, Mayor Steve Cook told the Leader Friday night. Residents may place downed branches and limbs in the boulevard along the street (not in the street) and crews will begin picking them up Tuesday.

I live in the northwest part of town, not far from that corner, and biked down to the community gardens to check my plot after the early evening storm passed. It was tough going on the Luce Line Trail in town, since dozens of large branches covered the trail. I saw quite a few trees down as well.

Yesterday, the trail was cleared--until I reached the edge of town, curious to see how the shutdown might affect the hundreds of people who jog, dog-walk and bike the path. I didn't get far, since just west of town, branches and trees had fallen across the trail. While I was snapping photos, one muscular runner with a Marine buzzcut and smile roughed it, picking his way through the obstacle course. No one else tried.

No saying when storm damage on other state parks and recreation areas will be cleaned up. Before the storm on Friday, the Marshall Independent reported in Area state parks: open … but not:

Camden State Park closed down on Thursday in anticipation of a state government shutdown, but will still be available for day use this Fourth of July weekend. . . .

If the shutdown continues throughout the weekend, day use will be permitted until 9 p.m. but law enforcement personnel will enforce closing hour.

"Day use is OK, but you can't rent anything and you'll have to hike in," Dinesen said. . . .

The storm damage changed all that in the area an hour and a half southwest of Hutchinson. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported yesterday in DNR: Fallen trees make Camden, St. Croix parks unsafe:

Minnesota wardens are urging residents to stay out of two state parks that sustained severe tree damage in a recent thunderstorm.

Chris Niskanen of the state Department of Natural Resources said it's unsafe to enter Camden State Park and St. Croix State Park. He said hundreds of trees were toppled in Friday's storm, leaving roads impassable and other trees unstable.

He said the parks were closed anyway because of the state government's shutdown. But he said it's extra-urgent to stay out because of safety issues.

Niskanen said once the shutdown ends, it could take several days before crews can clean the damage and reopen the parks.

The trail and parks have me wondering: how would greater Minnesota cities' budgets been affected by the cost of the storm clean-up had LGA payments not been deemed essential by the court?  As Bluestem posted in A win in an ugly war: LGA payments deemed essential to cities and counties:

That's a victory of sorts, the Marshall Independent reports in LGA call a win for cities, counties:

Cities and counties across the state of Minnesota won a battle in the midst of an ugly war this week when Ramsey County District Court Judge Kathleen Gearin ordered that Local Government Aid must be paid regardless of a government shutdown.

While Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and top Republican lawmakers continued their clandestine-like negotiations Thursday to come to terms over the state's $5 billion deficit, cities and counties breathed a little sigh of relief over Gearin's decision.

"We certainly welcome the court's decision," Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes said. "Most people agree that it makes sense. The intent of Local Government Aid is to be sure that basic essential services are provided in communities." . .

On Friday night, I heard fire trucks and other emergency vehicles  at least  a half a dozen times. Good to know they were running. Now, who will clear the trails outside of town for runners and bicyclists?

Photo: Luce Line Trail west of Hutchinson on Saturday. City crews had clean the trail inside city limits.

Mankato Free Press: Minnesota has always been a small town state

Here in greater Minnesota, late-coming warm temperatures finally have unleashed an army of wood ticks. Can the state's air force be far behind, singing the woods and prairies in the key of summer?

Not only that, but the legislature's adjourned for now as well, and the likes of Drazkowski and Parry haunt the scenic byways of Southern Minnesota as well. Break out the garlic and citronella candles.

One thing they probably aren't talking too much about are the value of small cities--a notion that the Mankato Free press correctly identifies as conservative in Sunday's editorial, Our View: Don’t ignore importance of cities.

The editors conclude that legislators ought to conduct a discussion of the value versus the cost of cities, rather than merely promote the notion that small towns are simply parasites sucking the blood of the body politic:

There’s plenty to think about. Minnesota has always been a small-town state. There are hundreds of small towns that are viable. There are only a few big cities. States like South Dakota have let their small towns go away. States like Wisconsin have several large cities that dominate.

The discussion on local government should include debates about just what kind of a state we want to be: One dominated by big cities with the naturally occurring urban problems, or one that has a good mix of clean metropolitan areas not overly crowded and a good number of small towns that offer the value of communitarianism.

That’s the simple idea that small businesses can serve home-grown markets. It’s the idea that the community, not just official institutions, have a role in educating children, keeping them safe and policing the problems.

It’s the reason crime rates are much lower in small towns and smaller communities. If the populations of small towns in Minnesota were added to the urban populations, you’d likely see all the costs of urban centers increase, thereby leading to increased costs for the state as a whole and its taxpayers.

So, it’s unfortunate the Legislature was not able to have a debate about local government aid in the context of value versus cost.

The editors in Mankato probably didn't read some of the recommendations provided by conservative bloggers, the advance teams in Senate Majority leader Michael Brodkorb's messaging empire, which suggested that Minnesota's small town heritage should go the way of the VHS player and cassette tape. Take this post, for instance. 

I'm being to wonder if small towns serve their greatest value for the Republican Party of the Minnesota suburbs as a rhetorical device for "nice" anti-gay and anti-brown bigotry. The real towns themselves? Not so much.

Stir together this tendency with the anti-big city rhetoric and what do we have? Perhaps a future as caustic as that other summer hazard: poison ivy. A whole field of it.

Photo: Poison ivy.

DL Online: "outstate cities are wise to fight back against a divide-and-conquer attack"

Yet another voice has been raised against the cyncial suburban mallrat Republican legislative mindset governing decisions on LGA.

The common sense coming out of Detroit Lakes echoes that heard about transportation earlier today in Winona.

In Going to bat for Twin Cities, the DL Online editors write:

When it comes to the battle over the future of Local Government Aid in Minnesota, outstate cities are wise to fight back against a divide-and-conquer attack by House conservatives.

In an opinion piece, Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden and Granite Falls Mayor Dave Smiglewski decry efforts to slash LGA to the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

LGA is basically state money to cities to keep local property taxes down.

“As mayors of cities that have been hit by disasters including tornados and floods, we know that we can count on Minneapolis and Saint Paul for assistance — unless the House majority succeeds in marginalizing the state’s two biggest cities,” the two write in their opinion piece.

The editors use common sense:

Minnesota’s strength lies in its diversity and in its economic interconnectedness, and those who are active in city governments in outstate Minnesota understand the benefits that Minneapolis and Saint Paul provide to rural communities.

Likewise, the mayors of the Twin Cities understand that if the whole state isn’t healthy, their communities will not do well, so it is hard to understand why the legislature is turning a blind eye to that fact.

They conclude:

We join the two mayors in hoping that House members and the legislature as a whole will continue to reflect on their actions and change their minds about reversing a policy that has led to an economically strong state.

The rural values I know are at work in that editorial.

Photo: Suburban Republican leadership. Don't take pretzel logic on LGA from these guys and gals.

Related posts: WDN: Draz anti-rail amendment "fast track to hell"

Worthington Globe tells MNGOP legislative mall rats: big cities and small, we're one state

Legislative lamprey logic; or, farmers and editors in Albert Lea know suburbs are like sucker plants

Winona and Willmar: two views on LGA politics from greater Minnesota

The Winona Daily News smells something fishy, and it's not just rising river water.

Nope: the editorial board is looking at Minnesota Republican shenanigans with local government aid (LGA). To the west, the Willmar paper reports on the reaction by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities to proposals by the legislative majority to scale back or eliminate LGA.

The ever-lively editorial writers at the WDN pull no punches with Our View: Rochester's LGA funding smells fishy. It's not with Rochester itself that the Winona editors take issue, but the Republican legislation favoring the Mayo City--the state's third largest--over Minnesota's other large cities:

Minnesota Republicans: Your colors are showing.

And, ahem, it's not pretty.

...we're beginning to see the GOP go right down its predictable roads.

The latest case in point: the GOP's local government aid targets.

While Greater Minnesota gets support, three of the largest cities in Minnesota get nothing, and there are plans to cut funding from other metro areas.

Except one.

St. Paul gets whacked. Minneapolis gets hit. Duluth is docked.

But not Rochester. . .

Yet, it's also not hard to figure that many of the urban and suburban legislators aren't a member of the political party in power.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Rochester, where Republicans want to keep hold of their political lock.

Instead of pulling LGA funding from the four "first class" Minnesota cities, the GOP leadership in the Legislature decided to give Rochester an exception. . . .

The GOP has taken a tough budget decision and turned it political.

The GOP just can't seem to quit Rochester's allure. But it does so at the literal expense of the taxpayer and other Minnesota cities.

If the GOP is really so principled, it should start by sticking to those principles.

Cut Rochester's LGA, too.

Or is it because there's more to it than that?

Perhaps the GOP will stick to those "principles" and follow one Twin Cities' conservative blogger's recommendation and let Minnesota's small towns become ghost towns--asserted as a historical inevitablility with an ideological certainty worthy of the most doctrinaire Marxist jonesing for a classless and stateless society at the end of time.

However, his vision might be a hard case for the Republican Party of Minnesota to make when also pitching a lazy small-town pastoralism, which asserts that rural Minnesota is somehow superior to the fleshpots of Minneapolis. In truth, our virtues and vices--and shared values--are much the same.

The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities is having none of it, the West Central Tribune in Willmar reports. In Coalition is seeking approval of current LGA level, David Little writes:

The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities is urging the Legislature to retain the 2011 level of local government aid to cities at $527 million, 5 percent less than the amount certified by the state in 2002.

Cities are relying on the state to honor appropriations that local officials used to establish their 2011 budgets, according to a coalition spokesman.

If aid to cities is cut, the reduction would come in the middle of cities’ budget year, force cities to further reduce services and dry up cash flow accounts or engage in short-term borrowing. . . .

The Coalition's lobbyist Tim Flaherty calls out some conservative's candidates' misrepresentation of the reason why LGA was first instituted:

In a Tribune interview, Flaherty said the purpose of local government aid, established in 1971, is to reduce property tax and service disparities among rural, metro and suburban cities. He said some candidates in the 2010 election campaign misconstrued the original purpose, saying it was started to pay for essential services like police and fire protection.

“That’s never been the purpose of local government aid,’’ Flaherty said. He said the program was started to provide tax relief to cities with a lower ability to raise revenue than other cities.

Some cities derive taxes from huge property value created by large manufacturing plants and shopping malls. Other cites don’t have those kinds of tax bases yet still must provide libraries, police, snowplowing and other services, said Flaherty.

“The purpose of local government aid … has been to focus some property tax relief so that we have good services wherever you are in the state at a reasonable tax rate,’’ he said.

“But given that, 65 percent of the LGA program does go to greater Minnesota. That’s because we don’t have the high-valued properties that they have in the metro area. Because of that, more of the money does go to greater Minnesota,’’ he said.

What's more, the coalition members aren't buying the starve-The-Cities approach:

Flaherty said the coalition opposes ending aid for Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and some suburban cities and will continue to work for a statewide program “because it’s important for its political viability long-term but also because it’s the fair thing to do.’’

Personally, having lived in states like Missouri and Pennsylvania, where the divide between urban and rural is much sharper, I find the values and connections that unite rural and urban Minnesota to be quite strong--and deeply resent those whose politics seek to invent a divide (and I don't think much of the rhetorical abilities of urban liberals who can't see their way out of the Republican framing of the issue). Flaherty (and the more snarky WDN) hit the right note. Fairness is a common Minnesota value.

Photo: Downtown Rochester (the MNGOP Emerald City of Oz?) in 2009.

New Ulm Journal: "less pleasant, more expensive place to live"

Republican legislators like to play cities off against each other in the LGA game, though many greater Minnesota mayors are reluctant to play along.

The editors of the conservative New Ulm Journal are siding with the mayors.

In Not all LGA cities can quit relying on it, the editorial board briefly lays out the case:

Local Government Aid was instituted in Minnesota allow all cities to provide equal services to their citizens without beggaring them with property tax bills. . . .

. . .some LGA cities have weaned themselves from the state aid, relying on their own resources.

Not all cities are in a position to do that, however. New Ulm, for instance, has adjusted its budget, anticipating reductions with spending cuts. But LGA still accounts for about 22 percent of the city's revenue. Local property taxes make up about 25 percent of the local revenue. For New Ulm to forego LGA, it would have to make huge cuts in operations and levy huge increases in property taxes.

New Ulm would be a less pleasant, more expensive place to live...

Read the whole thing at the New Ulm Journal.

Photo: Downtown New Ulm.

Dahms & Magnus play LGA Pollyannas in Marshall; GOP caucuses audition for Scrooge in St. Paul

  An article appeared in Friday's Marshall Independent in which two freshman Republican Senators were upbeat about local government aid not taking much of a hit under Republican budget targets.

In GOP plan hits agencies, social services; Senator says Republicans’ proposed reductions in aid to local governments doesn’t mean LGA will be sacrificed, Per Peterson reports:

But District 21 Sen. Gary Dahms stressed Thursday that just because aid to local governments could potentially take a hit, it doesn't mean Local Government Aid will be sacrificed.

"We're working very hard to keep LGA where it was last year," said Dahms, R-Redwood Falls. "You may see some cuts in LGA, but they're not cuts that will wipe LGA out. I still think we're going to see some reasonable numbers coming on LGA. We're going to have LGA; we just need to try to hold it as close to where it was last year, and I feel confident we'll have some success in doing that."

LGA is part of a tax aids and credits spending package that could see as much as a 9.6 percent decrease. Dahms said that package has yet to be broken down, so it's unclear where the cuts will hit the hardest. . . .

. . .Dahms said too many people pick out LGA when the discussion of cuts comes up because it has become one of the more controversial issues of the 2011 session. Both Dahms and Magnus said it's too early to determine the fate of LGA and how deep any potential cuts to the program would be.

Their cheery outlook about LGA cuts by either chamber is rosy indeed in the light of what has seen the light of day and one wonders how much in the loop the news senators were when they spoke to the local paper. What the Republican caucuses offered isn't so rosy.

At MinnPost, Doug Grow writes of the senate plan:

And, as expected, Local Government Aid appears to be a $700 million loser in the Republican plan, though LGA is buried in a category called “tax aids and credits spending” and Senate leadership was not prepared to say just what the fate of LGA will be if Republican wishes prevail. Again, the difference between the governor and Republicans is a robust $800 million in the overall category.

The Star Tribune reports in House plan would decimate city, county aid:

A new plan from the Minnesota House would decimate state funding for cities and counties, leaving the state's local governments to largely fend for themselves.

The plan, crafted by members of the House Property Tax and Local Sales Tax Division, would cut nearly $300 million from local government aid by immediately slashing half of metro suburbs' state help and a quarter of big cities' aid from the state.

The plan would eliminate all state aid to metro suburbs by 2013, and by 2015 city funding would be gone.

And the strategy appears to be playing Greater Minnesota off against metro areas. Minnesota Public Radio reports:

Republicans in the Minnesota House are proposing to dramatically cut state aid to metro cities and counties. The proposal, released by House Property Tax Committee Chair Linda Runbeck, cuts $300 million in Local Government Aid. It proposes to phase out LGA to metro suburban cities that receive Local Government Aid by the end of the biennium. It also proposes eliminating LGA for Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth by the end of 2015.

Rural cities will mostly be spared from the LGA cuts. That's a key signal that House GOP leadership is working to insulate rural members from heavy criticism over LGA cuts.

This geographically divisive strategy-- a divide and conquer strategy similar to pitting public and private workers against each other--isn't getting much purchase among the state's mayors.

City officials across Minnesota are taking a Three Musketeers strategy when it comes to LGA ("All for one, one for all"). Rural mayors say they won't support LGA cuts to metro cities.

State aid to counties, in the form of County Program aid and the Market Value Credit, would also be eliminated in some cases.

The Strib article noted the urban and rural cities' united position:

The House plan would largely spare outstate cities from such severe cuts, but pits suburbs and the urban core against smaller cities. Last week, mayors from places big and small said they would not tolerate such a divide-and-conquer approach.

The coalition that represents the state's small cities promptly shot down the proposal Saturday in a statement: "We are pleased that the proposal recognizes the importance of LGA to homeowners and businesses in greater Minnesota, however we strongly disagree with the exclusion of metro and suburban communities from a policy that has benefited the entire state." . . .

. . .The House committee report was released late Friday night, prompting DFLers in the Legislature on Twitter to dub it a "super secret" plan.

Earlier in the week, the Worthington Globe reported in Governor sides with mayors:

Long-time mayors said they do not remember a mayor-governor meeting over state aid to local governments like occurred in the Capitol Wednesday. While Dayton and mayors agree on the importance of state payments, mayors said it is important to reinforce the Democrat governor’s feelings and provide him with arguments as he and Republicans enter budget negotiations later this spring.

Republicans say cities and other local governments must take their own cuts as the state fills a $5 billion deficit.

“We’ve already done our share to help with the (state) budget,” Granite Falls Mayor Dave Smiglewski told Dayton, referring to Local Government Aid and other state cutbacks since 2003.

Added Thief River Falls Mayor Steve Nordhagen: “Thief River Falls and other cities out there would not exist without Local Government Aid.”

About 20 city officials delivered their message to a governor who wants LGA and other local government payments increased in the next two-year budget.. . .

. . .“We think this is a critical time for the cities throughout the state,” said Park Rapids Mayor Nancy Carroll, who as Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities president hosted Wednesday’s meeting with Dayton.

The future of cities is at stake, she added. . . .

Go read what the mayors said. Local leadership wasn't buying the divide and conquer routine-- even before the details of it came out.

Photo: Governor Dayton and mayors dicuss LGA funding. Photo via Office of the Governor.

Playing politics with pain: Glenn Gruenhagen blames Hutch Tech lay-off on taxes

Update 3/16: While Minnesota Republicans carried on about how HTI's relocation of jobs could have been motivated by a two-year tax credit for businesses relocating to Wisconsin, that's probably not a motivating factor. According to this business source:

"No deduction or credit will be allowed if the person, partnership, limited liability company, or S Corporation has done business in Wisconsin during any of the two taxable years preceding the first taxable year in which the deduction or credit would otherwise be allowed." Since HTI's Eau Claire (above photo) has been open and operating for some time, this MNGOP talking point is clearly nonsense. [end update].

I live in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and so have followed the fortunes of a local company that manufactures suspension drives for computers. Put bluntly, the company's fading from the local scene mostly has to do with shifts in demand for the product, created by changing computer technology, as well as shifts in manufacturing offshore.

That hasn't eased the pain of the people I know who worked there--mostly parents of young friends around college age--who have been laid-off in the last few years from the non-union plant. Fortunately, most have been able to go back to school and switch careers.

Today's Star Tribune reports in Hutchinson Technology laying off hundreds:

Far fewer people will be working for Hutchinson Technology due to the Minnesota company's plan to restructure and move its components operations from Minnesota to its facility in Eau Claire, Wis., and overseas.

Hutchinson, based in its namesake city west of the Twin Cities, said Tuesday that it will cut its current U.S. workforce of about 2,275 by 30 to 40 percent. In Hutchinson, about 600 of the 1,125 jobs will be eliminated.

Leave it to Minnesota's Republicans to seize on a local small town's misery to tout Wisconsin, run by divisive fringe Governor Scott Walker, over Minnesota. My favorite new state House member, Glenn Gruenhagen wrote in an email that went out today:

This is how a stable, low-tax and pro-growth business climate at the federal level can generate revenue for Minnesota. But there is still vast room for improvement at the state level and we continue losing jobs to neighboring states. We recently learned a prominent Hutchinson company will shift its manufacturing operations to Wisconsin at a savings of $45 to $60 million annually. Our tax climate remains among the most unfriendly in the country and Gov. Dayton’s plans to raise taxes would put us at a further disadvantage.

You reach a point of diminishing returns when tax increases push our job creators out of the state, cutting off revenue streams we need for sustainability and a strong economy. Our neighbors – including Wisconsin – recognize this and declare themselves “open for business” instead of strangling the goose that lays our golden eggs.

Is Minnesota's tax climate the reason to blame for HTI's shift in production? Or is Gruenhagen simply demogoguing the pain that workers will be feeling in nearby Hutchinson (Gruenhagen lives in Sibley County, but sells insurance in McLeod County's seat, Glencoe).

A curious closing in South Dakota

Posted on the company's website, the press release announcing the restructuring notes:

Fortun said that improvements in TSA+ yield and output and being ahead of plan with the ramp of its assembly operation in Thailand have provided an opportunity to further lower the company's operating costs. "With a faster than expected transition from our legacy TSA component manufacturing process to our more automated TSA+ process, we need fewer employees to meet customers' volume requirements," said Fortun. "Additionally, progress at our Thailand assembly operation is enabling us to accelerate the transition of assembly manufacturing to that location. The continued transition of TSA to TSA+ and the continued ramp of our Thailand operation, combined with the savings from our consolidation and restructuring, will improve the utilization of our high-volume manufacturing locations and support infrastructure and help us return to positive cash flow and profitability sooner."

And where are those TSA+ components made? The Hutchinson Leader reports in Hutchinson Technology to end manufacturing in Hutchinson:

The decision to consolidate manufacturing in Eau Claire was made because the plant there is better equipped and has the capacity for the production of TSA+, the company's newest line of suspension assemblies.

TSA+ suspension assemblies, which accounted for about 45 percent of the company's fiscal 2011 first quarter shipments, are expected to account for more than half of the company's fiscal 2011 second quarter shipments and two-thirds of its shipments by year end.

Fortun said improvements in TSA+ yield and output and being ahead of plan with the ramp of its assembly operation in Thailand have provided an opportunity to further lower the company's operating costs.

"With a faster than expected transition from our legacy TSA component manufacturing process to our more automated TSA+ process, we need fewer employees to meet customers' volume requirements," Fortun said.

In 2009, the company announced it was resuming plans to build a plant in Thailand, according to news reports in July 2009:

HTI shipped 146 million suspension assemblies in the quarter and about 10 million TSA+ suspension assemblies, a next-generation product made in Eau Claire.

Company officials said sales of TSA+ suspension assemblies have the potential to double in the fourth quarter. HTI also resumed plans to establish an assembly operation in Thailand, which could be operational by the second half of next year.

In April 2009, the local paper in Eau Claire reported:

"Our TSA+ manufacturing processes are critical to providing next-generation suspension assembly products that meet customers' requirements for superior performance and lower costs,"  Pautz added. "High-volume TSA+ production is done in Eau Claire. That team is doing a great job in meeting increased demand, while at the same time continually improving the process.

In 2009, Democrat Jim Doyle was in his second term as governor; Democrats had taken control of the State Assembly with the 2008 elections, while retaining control of the State Senate. Under Republican logic, one would think that Hutch Tech jobs would have flowed to South Dakota. 

And indeed, Hutch Tech did open a plant in South Dakota in 1988, and company co-founder Jeff Green made waves at the time by criticizing Minnesota's business climate. Employment peaked at that plant in 1999, but declined after that time ( Rob Swenson, "Hutchinson Plays Smaller, Vital Role", Argus Leader, September 17, 2008, Nexis, accessed 3/8/2011).

But Hutch Tech closed that Sioux Falls plant in January 2009. 

It moved equipment and a few hundred jobs to Hutchinson and Eau Claire.

There's nothing in the current reportage to suggest that taxation is causing the consolidation to Eau Claire, nor the placement of the TSA+ lines in Wisconsin during the Doyle years.

And this company's leadership isn't shy. Were today's decision made because of the sudden shift in Republican talking point about business climates in Wisconson and Minnesota, we'd have head about it. Instead, the restructuring follows siting decisions made some time ago.

Offshoring of manufacturing

And then there's the shift to offshore manufacturing. In a related blog post at the Strib, business writer Eric Wieffering writes in Hutch Tech: Too little, too late?:

To some degree, the people of Hutchinson have been bracing for this moment ever since their namesake company's fortunes took a dramatic turn for the worse almost three years ago. The company has shed about 2,000 jobs since then. Still, the impact of the latest cuts is hard to overstate: the elimination of up to 40 percent of all jobs, including nearly half in Hutchinson.)

(One measure of how depressingly familiar this type of news has become for Hutch Tech: The quote that accompanied today's news is, word-for-word, the same as the one the company issued in '09, when it shut its South Dakota facility and laid off 300 employees. The only difference was the executive whose mouth the words were attached to.) [BSP: and the state in which the plant was located]

A year ago, Hutch announced plans to build its first overseas production facility, in Thailand. The company is banking on that facility to help claw its way back to profitability, but given that many of its competitors moved manufacturing to Asia a decade ago or more, did Hutch wait too long?

Details, details. Why would Glenn Gruenhagen look at facts when he can use his neighbors' misery to flog Governor Dayton?  Why let facilities and global trends get to the way of a chance to punish a DFLer?

Images: Hutch Tech, Eau Claire (above); Screenshot of Representative Glenn Gruenhagen's email (below)

Flood worries spill out across state; overflow crowd greets Dayton in Montevideo

Today, another inch or so of snow fell in these parts today, and more snow is predicted to be on the way in the next couple of weeks, after one of the snowiest winters on record.

Everywhere across Minnesota, papers report about the probable threat of spring flooding. The Mankato Free Press reports in Firefighters train for flood work:

. . .Every major river in the state is at risk of surpassing flood stage. Locally, the Minnesota River at Henderson has a nearly 50 percent chance of exceeding the river’s record crest from last fall while the river in New Ulm and Mankato has a better than 90-percent chance of exceeding flood stage, according to the National Weather Service. . . .

Cities and counties from Owatonna to Brown County to Houston County discuss buying sandbags. The Fargo Forum cautions pet owners to have a plan for their pets in case of flooding.

On Facebook, a friend active in student government at the University of Minnesota posts his status as going to Moorhead to build an ark, putting an entirely new spin on the old, divine instructions to shipbuild with gopherwood. Moorhead had called for volunteers to fill 1 million sandbags.

Montevideo is predicted to be one of the hardest hit cities in the state, so it's no wonder that over 200 people packed the Montevideo American Legion when Governor Dayton traveled to the Minnesota River Valley town. the West Central Tribune reports in Flood preparation taking shape in western Minn:

Amid warnings to prepare for major flooding, more than 200 people on Friday filled the American Legion Club in Montevideo to hear Gov. Mark Dayton and public safety officials say they are ready to do all they can to help.

“We’re ready to respond to whatever occurs,” Dayton said.

The governor said the state is preparing for widespread flooding.

Adjutant General Rick Nash of the Minnesota National Guard said roughly three battalions and ample supplies of heavy equipment are ready to respond to flooding needs in the Red, Minnesota, Mississippi and St. Croix river basins.

The National Weather Service is “absolutely sure” that major flooding will be experienced in the upper Minnesota River Valley, according to Dan Luna, director of the Chanhassen office.

Luna said the most recent flood forecast projects a 90 percent probability of reaching last year’s flood levels in the Montevideo area, and a 30 percent probability for exceeding 2001 levels.

Staffers in the Walz and Franken offices tell me that "everything is flood preparation now," as one source put it.

The details are shaping up. The Tribune article noted:

Area communities and counties are already actively preparing for what’s coming. Montevideo has plans to erect a clay dike to raise the U.S. Highway 212 levee and the 1969 levee to meet the expected flood levels, according to Steve Jones, city manager.

Communities along tributaries to the Minnesota River are likewise preparing. On Hawk Creek, both Maynard and Clara City have plans to begin filling sandbags in anticipation of flooding. Mayor Richard Groothuis of Maynard noted that last year’s flooding on Hawk Creek saw waters cover the 125-year-old city cemetery, the first time that occurred.

State Reps. Lyle Koenen, DFL-Clara City, and Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, said there have already been discussions in the Legislature about reserving state funds for both flood mitigation and recovery needs after the flooding.

In a phone interview in late February, Congressman Walz assured me that FEMA's plans would not be affected by a shutdown of the federal government.

Here's hoping that Koenen and Swedzinski are right about the state legislature using foresight in funding flood mitigation and recovery efforts. From the sounds of the reports, Montvideo and other cities along the state's many rivers will need all sides to come together in the looming emergency.

Photo:  Past ice jam on the Little Minnesota River. Photo via MNDOT.