A Bluestem Prairie

For Chad: One moment more

We've learned a friend has gone to see his mother one last time. For him, this Mindy Smith video:

Moo! Redistricting won't move rural Minnesota's fences in 2010 election

Twice Blessed at Conservative Cravings is a confident and able writer who wonders Will Minnesota have more Conservative Representation in 2009?  She sees Congressman Walz as tacking rightward in recent votes:

Walz has been leaning a bit more center in recent votes against the bailout. His website also touts an energy policy that includes drilling for oil. Walz is probably the more center leaning of any of the Democratic congresspeople from Minnesota and should be with a modest constituency of Republicans in Rochester and the southern border counties around Sioux Falls.

So I have hope that with Paulsen and a more center leaning Walz that 2009 will shape up to be a more conservative voting year for our Minnesota delegation.

Since the only remaining Republican state legislator representing Rochester after years of GOP control is the genial state senator Dave Senjem, we'll not quarrel with her assessment of the "modest constituency of Republicans in Rochester and the southern border counties around Sioux Falls" nor do we disagree that the quality of 2008 Republican candidates in the 1st and 7th might have had something to do with the lopsided votes in these non-metro districts. 

Walz's ideology continues to be a subject of debate, with conclusions often depending on which rating system one favors. The National Journal ranked him among centrists, while his colleagues in the NRCC most certainly did not.  The blogger isn't alone in her assessment of Walz as more centrist than other DFLers in Congress.

We do feel compelled, however, to point out a flawed assumption underlying her analysis. She writes:

The key question for the 2010 elections are the Republicans chances of running a successful candidate against Walz and/or Peterson. Redistricting could also have profound results on these contests.. . .

We're told by the Clerk of the House that there's some connection between redistricting and that Census thingie which will be conducted in 2010, but maybe people in Edina are smarter about this sort of thing than blogging bovines.

Despite our rustic brainpower, we do have a sneaking suspicion that redistricting will not have a "profound impact" on the 2010 elections. Just a hunch we got when we hit the button to expand the question, "What is the process for the reapportionment of seats in the House of Representatives?" at the link in our last paragraph.

Writing about profound impacts made us recall a favorite Dead song, covered here by by Jane's Addiction. We don't care much for match of GD & JA graphics used to accompany the song, but Perry Farrell's voice is lovely on this up-tempo version of classic Robert Hunter lyrics. We dedicate it to all of our friends who've tossed their lots into Minnesota's rural waters:

Outsider Baseball: Portrait of Kory Kath as a young representative-elect

One of the surprises for some in the 2008 statehouse elections was Kory Kath's win in the Steele-Waseca County seat opened by the retirement of Republican Connie Ruth. We weren't shocked by it so much as by the convincing majority by which he took the seat.

In Kory Kath hits the ground running, Mankato Free Press political reporter Mark Fischenich works an extended baseball metaphor to cover Kath.  This is an impressive article: the reporter worked his ground well, going beyond the conventional wisdom about this being a Democratic year to actually suss out what happened on the ground in this race. Fischenich writes:

. . . This year, the Democrats finally found their stopper. And it was a rookie who had never run for public office before — Kory Kath, Gustavus Adolphus College political science graduate and Owatonna High School teacher.

Kath is 31 years old, married and the father of two children. But, at least to older folks, he looks young enough to be mistaken for a student at Owatonna High.

He was far from naive, however, about the challenge involved when he was thinking about running for the District 26A House seat. Ruth had decided to retire, so it was going to be an open seat. Still, the GOP had owned Waseca for two decades and the Owatonna portion of the district for even longer.

“I definitely knew the statistics,” Kath said.

He decided to try anyway.

“I’m not easily discouraged.”

Unexpected blow-out

Like lifelong fans of the Chicago Cubs each spring, Democrats in Waseca and Steele counties went into the fall with hope that this year might be different — and with the knowledge that, in the end, “close” is about as good as it gets for their team. . . .

. . . Kath won 57 percent of the vote to 43 percent for two-term Owatonna Mayor Tom Kuntz, a lopsided margin in a district that typically votes for Republicans by that margin in everything from presidential to gubernatorial elections.

While some writers look to identify a "secret weapon" in surprise victories, Fischenich finds that Kath's political skills and penchant for hard work took the contest:

Kath said he and his team — knowing that traditional approaches to campaigning hadn’t been successful for Democrats — tried to think of fresh ideas for everything from direct-mail pieces to yard signs. But mainly, it was about working tirelessly to connect with voters and listen to their concerns.

“That’s one thing I heard from so many people, ‘You have so much energy,’” Kath said. “... I think it’s a testament to how hard I’m going to work, too. I think people recognized this is somebody who’s going to fight for us.”

Along with crediting his campaign workers and extended family, Kath said Walz and his congressional campaign were very helpful with advice.

“One statement he used was ‘Run as if you’re always two votes behind,’” Kath said of Walz.

He took the advice and ended up 2,817 votes ahead.

Earlier, Fischenich drew the obvious parallel between Walz and Kath:

It’s not unprecedented that a south-central Minnesota school teacher would pull off a political upset.

Mankato English teacher John Dorn knocked off incumbent Republican state Rep. Mark Piepho in 1986 and went on to win nine more times. Mankato geography teacher Tim Walz shocked Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht in 2006. Neither teacher had run for political office previously.

Walz was praised for his high-energy campaigning. Dorn attributed his success partly to the relationships and trust he built with students and their parents during his teaching career — and joked that he had enough relatives in Mankato to tip most elections his way.

Read the whole article about the energetic guy who may just end up being the 2009 session rookie of the year. The MFP tops it off with some fine shots by photographer John Cross.

Looks like the conventional political wisdom about Southern Minnesota is going to be shaken for years to come. So here's a song from John Fogerty for Southern Minnesota native, House Speaker Margaret Kelliher, on what to do with her rookie:

Tuesday digest: the field behind the plow edition

KAAL-TV reports in Top Stories of 2008: Gas Prices:

And as the election approached, politicians tackled the issue as the economy took center stage.

"If the Democrats are saying the high cost of oil is strictly caused by oil speculation they're wrong. If the Republicans are saying the high cost of oil is because we can't drill that's wrong and not true either," says Minnesota Representative Tim Walz.

As temperatures and demand dropped, so did gas prices to about a dollar and 50 cents.

And as our global recession worsens, the U.S. Energy Department predicts gas will average around two dollars a gallon in 2009.

Earlier this month we posted the response of Land Stewardship Project to President-elect Obama's nomination of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as USDA head.  LSP's Adam Wartheson sent us an update about the group's work with the Obama transition team.

...Last Tuesday, we spoke to these pieces in a conference call with that Obama team:

...Conservation Stewardship Program pd (SAC Papers - Conservation Stewardship Program)


Undue or Unreasonable Preference – refers to livestock pricing and fairness Word doc (Undue or Unreasonable Preference LSP-SAC)

New Farmers and Ranchers – focused on the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Word Doc (New Farmers and Ranchers transition piece for SAC)

You’ll notice each document refers to SAC the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.  LSP is a leading member of the coalition nationally and produced the last two word docs for a larger transition packet the coalition is submitting available at http://sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/.

While we at LSP didn’t produce the CSP paper, it is top priority and what I spoke to on the call last week, as a group from the Midwest who works directly with farmers.

 Along with South Dakota representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Congressman Walz worked in the 110th session to get beginning farmer and rancher language inserted into the new Farm Bill. Walz received advice on the policy question from LSP, Minnesota Farmers Union, Farm Bureau and other ag groups. 

That work by family farmers and LSP deserves a song. Here's a YouTube of Nathan Rogers singing his late father's great tune,"the Field Behind the Plow."  A Canadian song writer, but the words ring true for many prairie farmers.

Fairmont paper forgets to tell readers their congressman returned his raise

In Members of Congress should give up raises, three editors of the Fairmont Sentinel make their case:

Times are tough for many working men and women. Millions are having to deal with unemployment. Many more understand that next year will be tough for their companies. Pay raises normally given out for good work may not occur.

Unless you are a member of Congress. Members of the House of Representatives and Senate are to receive $4,700 salary increases Jan. 1. That will take the base pay of 535 lawmakers up to $174,000 per year.

There will be no need for lawmakers to vote on the proposal. Several years ago, Congress passed a measure that makes such cost-of-living increases automatic. They can be stopped only if senators and representatives vote specifically to suspend them.

It will not surprise you that there has been little interest exhibited in that idea, at least on Capitol Hill. According to one report, a bill to suspend the raises has been introduced in the House - but it has just 34 co-sponsors.

We realize that some members of Congress work hard. We understand that living in Washington is expensive. But many taxpayers work hard and have trouble making ends meet too. A substantial number of them are having to tighten their belts because of the downturn in the economy.

Members of Congress should set a good example by refusing the raises.

We agree with the editors, faulting them only for a glaring omission: neglecting to tell their readers that Congressman Walz has already refused his raise--and last year's raise as well. He will continue to send both sums back to the U.S. Treasuury.

Readers of Bluestem Prairie and the Minnesota Independent know this, since both venues reported it within the last week; those First District readers who only look at this editorial will have no idea that their own Congressman is turning down raises for the second year running.  Idle minds might think that this basic fact is relevant to the discussion, but perhaps the only newspaper in the First to endorse Walz's opponent has good reason to leave Martin County in the dark.

Being a mere blogging bovine, we're probably  just not clever enough to figure out what that reason might be.

Photo: Congressman Walz talks to constituents in a district grocery store. Photo from Minnesota Public Radio.

State Senator Ropes to hold health care meeting Tuesday

A friend sends us notice of a meeting in Winona tomorrow:

Here’s an excellent opportunity to get your voice heard on healthcare reform —

Minnesota State Senator Sharon Ropes is holding a meeting for the public to give their views about healthcare problems and solutions. Your ideas will be submitted to the Obama Transition Team and will serve as a direction for future discussions on a regional level.

Community Healthcare Forum
Tuesday Dec. 30 at 6:30 pm
3rd floor auditorium
Community Memorial Hospital
Winona

Senator Ropes is a registered nurse and Naval veteran,

Sunday evening digest: year in review edition

We're back after a brief stay at a friend's isolated weekend place in the sticks. He hadn't had the very long driveway plowed, so we had to pull on the Steger mukluks and hoof it to the house. Fortunately, the snow banks had a sturdy crust and so we could walk on rather than through the snow. It's that time of year.

It's also time for reviewing the year that was. The Albert Lea Tribune reviews Freeborn County's year in quotable quotes in What they said:

“If you love this country, if you love your community ... then you take responsibility for it. One of the ways you take responsibility for it is you vote.” — Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie during a visit to Albert Lea in October.

“This is the most important election of our lives. You’re not voting for the next four years, you’re voting for the next four generations.” — First District Congressman Tim Walz during a campaign stop in Albert Lea in October.

MnpACT! takes an end-of-the-year inventory in The Top 10 Best Political Persons in 2008 Minnesota. Congressman Walz makes the number two spot right behind Minnesota Secretary of State Armk Ritchie. Blogger Dave Mindeman mentions that he had been critical of Ritchie in 2007's end-of-year "worst" list.  He had been scathing toward Walz in the past as well, especially in regard to the First District Congressman's August 2007 FISA vote and war funding.  Mindeman writes:

2. Rep. Tim Walz. Tim Walz has emerged from the First Congressional District to become a state wide force in Minnesota politics. Although it is very hard to classify him as a progressive, it is also hard to classify him in any labeling way. He came out of nowhere in 2006 to defeat a strong GOP incumbant and then followed it up with a nearly flawless 2008 campaign to win the district handily. Flattering calls for Tim to run for Governor in 2010 were quickly squashed by Walz himself as he prefers to work on the enormous job facing the next Congress. Walz has made some controversial votes while representing the First District. Many of them have given Progressives some cause for alarm. But, I have to say I have been impressed with the thought and thoroughness of examination that goes into each vote he takes....even when I disagree with it strongly. Tim Walz's future in politics has no boundaries. As his tenure grows in Congress, his practical solutions to problems will be given more credence. That will be good for Minnesota and good for the country.

Go over and read his appraisal of Mark Ritchies; we were please to see The Uptake made his list as well.

And how about those Vikes!

Photo: Congressman Walz talks with constituents in a district grocery store. Photo from Minnesota Public Radio's July 24 article and broadcast, A referendum on Rep. Tim Walz.  Having won the seat in November with 62.5 percent of the vote in a three way contest, Walz fared well in the voters' job review.

Saturday digest: rewind edition

In Attitude is more accepting now to high-speed rail proposal, the Post Bulletin reports:

Walz meetings

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz recently met with the mayors of Winona, St. Paul and Rochester to discuss the project. The Democrat said he backs the project but avoids saying which route he supports.

"There are strong arguments on both sides," Walz said. "Obviously the strong argument from Rochester is how do you exclude the third largest city in the state and the largest single employer from being part of the discussion?"

Walz said he will push to get the high-speed rail line included in the transportation reauthorization bill. With U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., chairing the House Transportation Committee, local officials say Minnesota is well-positioned to take advantage of passenger rail dollars. Last year, Congress authorized $3.4 billion to create high-speed passenger rail corridors.

But before any federal money can be given to Minnesota, the state Department of Transportation must finish a statewide rail plan. The plan will establish the routes for high-speed rail and whether Rochester is on it. But the project faces plenty of challenges. The state would likely have to help pay for the rail line at a time when money is scarce. Some lawmakers question whether the rail line is worth the cost.

The Minnesota Independent picks up on the story about how Walz returns congressional raise, again. In Year In Review: Tim Walz, the Political Muse at Liberal in Land of Conservative rewinds some YouTube gold.

Will Republican leadership fight for the title in a grudge match?

From Attitude is more accepting now to high-speed rail proposal, an article in the Rochester Post Bulletin:

"This is going to cost billions of dollars, and in my mind we need to have a cost-benefit analysis," House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said recently at the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce's legislative preview. "I don't mean to throw cold water on the parade, but who is going to pay the bill for this?"

And:

The high-speed rail proposal enjoys support from Republicans and Democrats who represent Rochester

"We need to do it. We certainly need a statewide plan," House Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said at the chamber's legislative preview.

Looks like the copy editor at the PB miss this one: the genial, Rochester-based Senjem is the Minnesota Senate Minority leader.  Or perhaps the remaining Republicans in the Minnesota legislature have concocted a new way to enlarge their numbers via a daring new cross-chamber pollination system.

Photo:  In a dramatic new move to bring Minnesotans back to the Republican Party, Governor Pawlenty (center) announces the grudge match between Marty "The Comb" Seifert (left) and Dave "Dimples" Senjem (right) for the title of Minnesota House Minority Leader at the Moose Lodge in Imogene, MN, on Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

Friday digest: remembering the 38

On this day in 1862, 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato, the largest single public execution in American history. For an exploration of the rushed proceedings that lead to their being found guilty, click here. A general account of the 1862 war can be found here. KEYC-TV looked at one remembrance in Riders Honor Decades Old Tragedy, while the Mankato Free Press covered the ride and today's ceremonies in the Key City in Dakota ride finishes four-year cycle,

The Star Tribune looks at an art exhibit, States, Dates, and Place, which recalls the bitter incident:

Inspired by the 150th anniversary of Minnesota statehood, "States" asserts the primacy of Indians in Minnesota, recalls broken treaties and the bitter hanging of 38 Indians at Mankato in 1862. A valuable counterpoint to official sesquicentennial celebrations, the show is more educational than confrontational, with flashes of ironic humor and quiet dignity.

In the Albert Lea Tribune article, Freeborn County DFL Party leaders have busy year, we read about the service of Art Anderson who served a national convention delegate and an presidential elector.

And as if all of those experiences weren’t enough, in January, thanks to being an elector, the couple will get the chance to go to Obama’s inauguration.

“It’s something we won’t do in our lifetime again,” Art said

Art, who is in his mid-70s, considers himself lucky that he’s been able to take such an active role in the political process locally and nationally.

One person who was invited to Washington, but couldn't afford the trip to the Bush White House is Owatonna's Christine Robbins, according to Owatonna teen invited to White House for ornament design". The Owatonna People's Press reports:

Christine Robbins does not consider herself an artist.

The sophomore at Owatonna High School is not enrolled in any art classes and she’s unsure whether she’ll sign up for any in the near future.

But on a whim, and after some convincing from her former teacher Todd Andrix, 15-year-old Christine entered a contest in November to design a Christmas ornament to hang on the Christmas tree at the White House.

Little did she know that she would be one of hundreds of other designers around the country ranging in ages from 9 to 92 who would have their ornament actually hanging on the tree. ...

. . .The ornament she had to design was a bulb provided by the White House and the theme had to be red, white and blue. Andrix came up with the idea to highlight the Minnesota sesquicentennial and include its logo.

Mary Jo Robbins, Christine’s mother, said she had about a week to work on the contest. Christine hadn’t heard of the contest until Andrix approached her and asked her to participate.

“I wouldn’t have personally chosen to do it but it was Mr. Andrix who contacted me to do it first,” Christine said.

The family sent it to the White House. Mary Jo said they hadn’t received any notice that it would be featured until the Friday after Thanksgiving when someone from the White House contacted them and invited them to the unveiling of the tree.

“It was very exciting for her,” she said.

The only catch, however, was that the family was not able to make it to the unveiling. And afterward, Christine had forgotten about it. Andrix asked during the first week in December if she had any more information.

Andrix, she said, especially didn’t want her to give up and got her more interested in making a quick trip even if it was just for two days to see her ornament on the tree.

“It was just too short of notice to plan a trip that quickly and then come home so quickly,” Christine said.

Andrix then spent some time after school on Dec. 8 looking for any donations to purchase two plane tickets. The cost was about $1,500.

Andrix said Monday they weren’t able to find someone to pay for the trip itself. The closest they got was from someone who offered frequent flyer miles, enough for one free trip. . . .

Earlier, BSP had errored in reporting, based on information at the White House Christmas website crediting Andrix with the ornament. We'll fix the original post.

Another young woman in Southern Minnesota was more fortunate. The Fairmont Sentinel reports in White (House) Christmas wows:

A Red, White and Blue Christmas" - celebrating the patriotic spirit that unites Americans - is the theme for 2008's White House holiday decorations.

It's fitting that Neal Breitbarth and his daughter, Becky, were among the 60,000 guests touring the White House this season, considering the devotion the family has shown throughout the years to the nation and the Republican Party.

"Everything is just beautiful," Neal said, recalling the difficulty he had leaving the White House last Thursday. "... Having been there with my daughter, it was really moving - one of those memories that will last forever."

Becky, 21, was invited to attend the Holiday Open House for her role in the Republican National Committee during the convention in St. Paul, campaigning this fall and the Minnesota Senate recount. . .

. . ."It was a trip of a lifetime," said Neal.

His reaction is precisely the reason Becky chose her father - an active member of the Republican Party as a First District delegate and former First District chairman - to accompany her since she could only bring one person.

"I wanted to choose someone who I knew it would mean something to," Becky said. "... My dad's been bringing me to events my whole life, especially political events, so it was time I returned the favor." . . .

Merry Christmas from the Bluestem Prairie

We hope Sandy Claws was good to everyone; Seasons Greetings to friends celebrating holidays other than Christmas.

This card marks our 3000th post at Bluestem Prairie. We thank everyone, especially Laura, a thoroughbred lady and rebel girl.

On a sadder note, we observe the passing of another kitteh goddess, the sexy Eartha Kitt, seen here singing a cheery holiday song.

Christmas eve digest: time for giving

It's Christmas Eve, and we wish all of our readers a Merry Christmas. Reading around the papers today, we're moved by the story of the anonymous donor who gave $1 million to the families left homeless by a fire in a Burnsville apartment complex. This works out to each family getting $17,500; many of those displaced had little to begin with. We read:

A bleak holiday grew a bit brighter this morning for residents who returned to a fire-ravaged Burnsville apartment complex to receive their portions of a $1 million anonymous donation.

Each family from Building A, which was destroyed in Monday's blaze, will receive a check for $17,500, courtesy of the donor, whose only request was that the Burncliff Apartments residents would receive the gift in time for Christmas.

We are blessed to have this kind person living among us. There's a less dramatic story unfolding in Waseca, though the benefit to the community will persist for years. In A season of giving, the Waseca County News reports:

Paul and Sue Rosenau hope to touch as many people as possible with funds from their lottery winnings, but they didn’t expect the endowments to be Christmas gifts.

That’s just how it worked out, according to Sue Rosenau, because somebody had a better plan than they did.

Since the day in May when the couple won the largest Powerball jackpot in Minnesota history, that is how it has been, Paul Rosenau said. They took home nearly $60 million out of a $180.1 million jackpot and set out to fulfill the responsibility they believed came to them through those winnings. And all along the way, they felt someone was guiding them.

So, over the last two weeks, the Rosenaus were busy delivering news of local endowments.

The largest of their gifts was made to Grace Lutheran Church.

“It’s a substantial gift that will be utilized to meet people’s needs,” Associate Pastor Dan Doering said about the 11 different endowments made to the Rosenaus’ church home, the church that sustained them when they lost their granddaughter, Makayla, to Krabbes Disease five years ago.

The vast majority of the endowments will go to meet the needs of the community. That the endowments come at Christmas is to Doering so appropriate because it is the season in the church of God’s greatest gift.

Read the rest of the article for more of the story. A separate piece, Community groups benefit from Rosenau gifts, details the endowments:

Funds have been established at Grace Lutheran Church for Grace Garden, Habitat for Humanity, matching gifts, pastors’ discretionary endowment, staff development, worship endowment and youth endowment. Other funds in the planning stage include a fund to offset costs of medical crisis in Waseca and other communities; a scholarship fund for students pursuing a church vocation; and a disaster relief fund to offset recovery costs after a natural disaster. The church purchased the former Countryside Motors showroom building and parking lot and an additional lot with a gift of $270,000 from the Rosenaus. Future use of the building is still undecided.

Other local endowments have been made through the Waseca Area Foundation to Waseca area law enforcement, Waseca and Woodville Fire Departments, Waseca Parks and Trails, Waseca Public Schools, Waseca Medical Facility, Cally Jo Larson Fund, Barb Penny Fund and Farmamerica.

Waseca School District Superintendent John Rokke said a $500,000 endowment was made to the schools: $200,000 for k-12 technology upgrades; $100,000 for scholarships for students pursuing the medical field; $100,000 for scholarships for talented and gifted students who don’t otherwise qualify for scholarships; and $100,000 for the marching band program. The funds are not for the school budget.

Grace Garden is a day care center; all of these gifts are a wonderful acknowledgment of the comfort the Rosenaus received when their grand-daughter's illness shattered their own world:

They felt alone when Makayla was diagnosed with a disease they knew nothing about, Paul said, but the community supported them and now they want to help others in a similar crisis.

The Cally Jo Larson Fund and the Barb Penny Fund are administered by the Waseca Foundation. A small town of about 8500, Waseca has had its share of woe in recent years, and Grace Lutheran has played a strong role in healing the town's heartaches. What an incredible story.

In other issues, Agri-News editorializes in Midwest is the place for ag policy power with Vilsack:

With President-elect Barack Obama's selection of former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as the next agriculture secretary, the epicenter of agricultural policy is right here in the Midwest.

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin leads the Senate ag committee and Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson holds the same job in the U.S. House. The threesome have a special opportunity to shape future agricultural policy and establish new directions that are badly needed. . . .

. . .Vilsack, 58, has a big job ahead.

With Peterson's and Harkin's help, he might be able to push through meaningful and lower subsidy payment limitations.

Vilsack will become only the second Iowan to be ag secretary in modern times, which is somewhat surprising because Iowa is the No. 1 agricultural state. Henry Wallace served President Franklin Roosevelt well in the trying days of the Great Depression.

Reform, greater USDA efficiency and stronger oversight will be on his plate.

We wish him well.

President-elect Barack Obama promised change during his successful campaign. Vilsack is in a strong position in that regards. He should get plenty of help from Peterson and Harkin, who have consistently been at the forefront of congressional ag policy debate.

The Washington Post explores what some of those changes might be in Targeting Obesity Alongside Hunger: Obama Administration May Look to Tie Food Assistance to Improved Nutrition:

For decades, the government has treated hunger and obesity as unrelated phenomena. But at a news conference last week in Chicago, Tom Vilsack, President-elect Barack Obama's  choice for agriculture secretary, said he would put "nutrition at the center of all food assistance programs," a signal that he will get involved next year when Congress moves to reauthorize nutrition programs that support school breakfasts and lunches as well as summer food for children.

"For a long time, we've looked at hunger and obesity separately," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the committee that will draft the legislation. "It's not a zero-sum game.". . .

. . .In the 2008 farm bill, Congress allocated $20 million for a pilot program to explore how to create incentives to purchase fruits, vegetables or other healthful foods in order to improve the diets of food stamp recipients and potentially reduce obesity. Several nonprofit groups and foundations are experimenting with similar incentives.. . .

Read the whole article at the Post. An article in the New York Times' Dining and Wine section takes a foodie approach to the issue in Is a New Food Policy on Obama’s List. It's the more pessimistic report of the two articles today in two of the nation's most important papers.

With the recount of Minnesota's U.S. Senate race still unsettled, it might seem too early to start thinking about candidates for Minnesota's state house and senate. A keen-eyed farmer friend spotted a GOP filing for the state senate seat now held by Sharon Ropes. Good luck to frequent LTE writer, WELS pastor and RPM official Paul Ibisch.

When we last heard from him, Ibisch was urging that people donate to area food shelves by participating in the CP's Holiday Train's stop in LaCrescent. We completely agree with him on that.

The Winona Daily News reports in  Food giveaway helps feed hungry:

Approximately 350 families were helped through Compassion Winona, a food giveaway of more than 32,000 pounds of food by Community Bible Church.

The food came courtesy of Feed the Hungry, a Christian relief organization based in South Bend, Ind.
The church received the food Dec. 4 and gave it away Sunday through Tuesday to anyone in need.

The Rev. Craig Hensel, a pastor at Community Bible Church, said they plan on following up with some families in the future to see how they’re doing.

Hensel said many of the recipients of the food were single moms or elderly.

“Most people really are really trying to make it,” Hensel said. . . .

WDN columnist Jerome Christenson writes in It’s not really about the children:

. . . It’s said the Lord leaves nothing to chance, so there’s good reason the angels were sent to a bunch of tired farmhands stuck working the night shift.

It was poor, tired shepherds who needed to hear the Christmas promise: “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy.”

That’s a message for adults.

Adults who, unlike children, know too much and at the same time know too little. Disillusioned, weary, fearful of the encroaching darkness. Buffeted by depression, recession, unemployment; by life, death and loss.

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy.”

The Christmas story is truly a story for adults, with meaning for any of us who have been turned away in time of need, faced the slammed door, found ourselves humbled. Alone. Afraid.

In every adult life, there is a time when the Christmas story is, painfully, our story. The story of those moments when we need, desperately, to hear glad tidings and remember what then happened next. For there, with the cobwebs and filth, amid the stink of manure and nighttime chill, was brought forth the glory of the ages with the eternal promise of “on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” . . .

Merry Christmas, everyone, from the Bluestem Prairie.

Congressman Walz to continue returning pay raises to U.S. Treasury

We read on Saturday that U.S. Representatives were getting a pay raise. This item in Fox News, Pay Raises for Lawmakers Anger Watchdog Groups, is typical:

As Americans across the country grapple with one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression, members of Congress quietly are getting a pay raise.

Each lawmaker's annual salary is due for a $4,700 cost-of-living increase starting in January, which will amount to a cost to taxpayers of $2.5 million in 2009, infuriating watchdog groups. . .

. . .Lawmakers have received automatic raises since 1989. As part of an ethics bill, Congress gave up its ability to accept pay for speeches and made annual cost-of-living pay increases automatic unless lawmakers voted otherwise. . . .

The article notes that some members of Congress return the automatic raises to the Treasury or donate them to charity. Remembering that Walz had returned an earlier raise, we asked Walz District Director  Meredith Salsbery if he would continue this practice of refusing to take a raise until the budget is balanced.

Via email, she said that Walz would indeed be returning this year's raise to the federal coffers--along with the sum from last year's automatic raise as well. From the email:

[He] has to keep declining [the last raise].  We'll send Treasury a letter that will deduct an amount equal to this year's COLA and last year's COLA from each paycheck.

Salsbury said that no new statement would be released about Walz sticking to his practice.

Why does Walz this? The Minnesota Independent reported in January:

“I am committed to fiscal responsibility and to changing the way Washington works,” said Rep. Walz in a press release. “The reinstatement of pay-as-you-go budgeting has finally put this country back on the right track towards a balanced budget, but until we reach that milestone I will refuse any pay increase.”

Walz has refused to accept a pay increase until the federal budget is balanced.

“I came here to change our priorities in Washington. I don’t think it’s fair for Congress to give itself a pay raise when it can’t stick to a budget,” said Walz. “I made a promise to the people of southern Minnesota, and I intend to keep it.”

Good for him.

We're off to snow shoe with an old college friend, and can't promise a news digest until tomorrow.

Mid-day digest: roads edition

In Blue Earth, the Faribault County Register reports in Legislators do some explaining:

City and county officials from Faribault and Martin Counties had a chance to vent their frustrations to their legislators in Blue Earth Wednesday night.

“We realize our Local Government Aid (LGA) is going to be cut,” one official told the lawmakers. “But it would be nice to know by how much.”

Representatives Tony Cornish and Bob Gunther and Senator Julie Rosen explained the state’s situation to the full house at Hamilton Hall. . . .

. . .Rosen did have some good news for local officials. She reported that local counties will be seeing some major influx of federal funds for transportation projects.

“We met with Congressman Tim Walz today, and he says $85 billion of the $700 billion federal stimulus money is for transportation,” she said. “Of that amount, Minnesota will be getting $875 million, and we will be working on how to disperse those funds around the state.” . . .

Read the whole thing at the Register.

Via an article in the Mankato Free Press, we been reading the Dakota 38 blog, written by a participant on the Dakota Reconciliation Ride that works to remember the largest mass execution in U.S. history and heal  its painful consequences. December 26 will mark the 146th anniversary of the mass hanging in Mankato; the Free Press notes:

On Dec. 26, the riders will gather at the hanging site where the existing library is to hold a ceremony. Later, the riders will eat dinner at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato. Mayor John Brady is writing a proclamation to be read by him or Councilman Jack Considine.

A group of Dakota Indians also makes an annual run from Fort Snelling in St. Paul to Mankato, leaving midnight Dec. 25 and arriving in Mankato at about noon. At the time of departure a vigil fire is started at Land of Memories Park. The run has been held since 1987.

Stay warm on this winter day.

Southern Minnesota governor watch: PB on Walz's "no" and Bakk visit

 A couple of weeks ago, Congressman Walz assured his supporters that he would be seeking re-election in 2010 rather than running for governor. Last week, the Post Bulletin's Heather Carlson heard more in an interview with Walz:

Walz says no, but plenty of Democrats to take his place

In recent days, 1st District U.S. Rep. Tim Walz of Mankato shot down speculation that he might consider a run for governor in 2010. The DFLer said he was honored by the chatter but isn't about to switch jobs.

"I am not a big fan of people running for office and moving on to another one," Walz said during an interview at his Rochester office last week.

But plenty of other Democrats are eyeing the big prize. Speculation has been swirling around Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Then there are other DFLers who have already mobilized campaigns: Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook.

Bakk was in Rochester last week for a legislative panel sponsored by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. He also sat in for an interview with the Post-Bulletin's editorial board, joined by Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester.

Last week, we posted about the Austin Herald's article about elected officials speaking to students at Grand Meadow. Gubernatorial candidate and state representative Paul Thissen put in an appearance. An earlier article in the Post Bulletin chronicling Walz's visit to the Grand Meadow school had helped fuel the chatter about the possibility of a gubernatorial big by the First district congressman.

We'll be keeping an eye peeled for DFL gubernatorial candidates who visit Walz land.

Obligatory Obama Spam post

Austin's most famous product makes the New York Times today, in an article about President Elect Obama golfing excursion. The mid-round snack:

As for Mr. Obama and his group, a snack bar clerk later confirmed that he purchased two hot dogs, two spam musubi, two passion orange sodas, one Powerade and one coke, for a tab of $17.75. The spam musubi, a local luncheon specialty, consists of spam and a fried egg on a bed of rice, all held together with a dried seaweed wrap. (Visualize a very big sushi role, slightly larger than a Hostess Ho Ho.)

Via the Times, the LA Times says of this snack:

People from the mainland are often amused by Hawaiians' affinity for Spam. But do not mock us. We're on to something. For proof, sample the No. 1 picnic food: Spam musubi.

Musubi is a Japanese rice ball -- triangular and wrapped in a strip of nori, or roasted seaweed. Spam musubi is brick-like: rice on the bottom, a slab of Spam on top. It's salty, like Spam, but the rice absorbs the greasiness, and the seaweed wrapper provides that bit of umami.

It's a favorite at picnics and at the 19th hole on the golf course. Soccer moms make them by the dozens for post-game snacks.

Lots of recipes (and the inexpensive mold) online for those who want to try this for their next luau. Those who worry about the President sharing their values may think twice about that when they reached for the canned meat. We'll probably take a pass, lest we end up in the district's other famous institution.

Baby, it's cold outside

The news day is as slow as molasses in January, and it's no wonder: it's below zero on the prairies, guys are attending to last night's drifts, and the Christmas holiday is coming up.

We're heading to the gym and sauna, but somehow we think our adventure there will be a lot less entertaining that what our porcine friend experiences in this clip:

What do you expect from a blogging bovine? Ella Fitzgerald?

Saturday digest: blizzard people edition

Much of Minnesota's prairies are under blizzard and winter storm warnings, which--like the Senate recount and cuts to Minnesota's state budget--are dominating the news.

The Owatonna People's Press reports that Owatonna teen receives congressional award medal:

Seventeen-year old Jeremy Duruji is usually not one to toot his own horn, especially when it comes to community service work.

Duruji, a junior at Owatonna High School, has been volunteering since age 13 while living in Ketchikan, Alaska. During that time, he’s helped organize community book fairs, raise awareness about colon cancer and run scoreboards during athletic events.

And when his family moved to Owatonna in 2006, Duruji continued serving the community by assisting the Awanas at Grace Baptist Church. He also helps with youth wrestling and is a member of the Owatonna High School student council.

For his services, along with his athletic aspirations, Duruji was awarded the Congressional Award Bronze Medal by Congressman Tim Walz Friday at Owatonna High School.

“I’m very excited and honored to be the recipient of this award,” Duruji said.

The award comes from the Congressional Award Program, to promote people between the ages of 14 and 23 to “promote initiative, achievement and excellence,” according to the Web site of the Congressional Gold Medal.

In order to earn the award, one must set goals in four program areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition.

Walz said it was an honor for him to present the award and encouraged Duruji’s peers to consider community service as a way to serve their country.

“It’s hard to fit them in, but they’re critically important,” he said. . . .

Duruji hopes to attend the U.S. Naval Academy after high school graduation, the OPP reports.  Elsewhere in the paper,  readers learn in Legislators talk policy over coffee :

Although Gov. Tim Pawlenty highlighted millions in budget cuts Friday, legislators are anticipating the budget to be ready after the February forecast.

And after consulting with numerous state economists, state Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna, said the forecast is not sounding good because it may wind up increasing the state budget deficit by another $2 billion.

“All of us are pretty nervous how we’re going to handle this,” Day said.

Day, along with state Rep.-elect Kory Kath, DFL-Owatonna, met with business leaders Friday at Fireside Coffee Beans in Owatonna to hear their concerns about the economy and what to expect out of the upcoming legislative session.

Kath said the upcoming session will be like someone going back into a burning building and trying to retrieve anything they can. He doesn’t believe a 10 percent cut across the board is the way to go in solving the budget crisis. . . .

Read both articles at the OPP.

In Money will determine when street project can start, the Post Bulletin reports:

It's scheduled to start in 2010, but construction of Olmsted County's 55th Street extension can start sooner or later than that, depending on a variety of factors.

Money is the biggest issue. The county has about $8.5 million less than the $23 million estimated price to complete the project. That figure includes price estimates for acquiring right-of-way, a considerable portion of which remains to be bought. . . .

. . .Federal funding has been solicited for the project, but the prospects do not appear promising.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz included $4 million for the project in the federal appropriations bill, but few of these types of appropriations are likely to pass Congress, said Walz spokeswoman Meredith Salsbery.

We close with two Christmas related stories. If the Post Bulletin's Wish of Rochester soldier comes true and Al Batt's childhood story, "A Red Feather" in A bird can change the direction of a day don't move your heart, we don't want to know you.

Thinking about Christmas dinner? A little holiday cheers from the Swedish Chef:

Land Stewardship Project: Statement on Vilsack nomination for USDA chief

We'd asked the Land Stewardship Project for its reaction to President-elect Obama's nomination of former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack to head the Department of Agriculture.  we just received this statement focused on several policy shifts:

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn---The Land Stewardship Project congratulates former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack on his selection by President-elect Barack Obama as his nominee for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. We look forward to working with the Secretary once he is approved by the Senate and begins to implement the farm and rural platform of President-elect Obama.

Food and agriculture policy is in need of real reform and new direction. The 2,900 member households of the Land Stewardship Project call on nominee Vilsack to work with LSP and other farm and rural organizations to:

- Fully fund and effectively implement the nationwide Conservation Stewardship Program passed in the 2008 Farm Bill.
- Prevent anticompetitive behavior facing family farmers by banning packer ownership of livestock and ensuring family and independent farmers have fair access to markets, control over their productions decisions, and transparency is prices;
- Encourage sustainable agriculture and local and regional food systems as engines of community economic development and elements of improved public health; and
- Fundamentally reform the nation’s commodity policies, which are excessively expensive and counterproductive to the goals of the care of the land and vital family farms.
- Better target federal resources to support family farmers and small businesses instead of big agribusiness, absentee landlords, and factory farm livestock operations who have disproportionably reaped the benefits of many farm programs.

As President-elect Obama stated at yesterday’s press conference:

“It’s time for a new kind of leadership in Washington ….And it means ensuring that the policies being shaped at the Departments of Agriculture and Interior are designed to serve not big agribusiness or Washington influence-peddlers, but family farmers and the American people.”

For a link to Obama Biden “Real Leadership for Rural America” click on, http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/RuralPlanFactSheet.pdf

For more on the Land Stewardship Project go to www.landstewardshipproject.org

Land Stewardship maintains its Southeastern MN office in Lewiston, Minnesota. Local projects focus on LSP's Farm Beginnings program for young and new farmers, and the Community Based Food Systems Program. 

The organization worked with Congressman Walz to get some of its policy goals inserted into the last Farm Bill. Perhaps the highest profile success was language from a separate bill that Representative Walz and Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD) introduced, then wrote into the more comprehensive bill. The Chatfield News, the Winona Daily News, and the Fillmore County Journal all covered LSP's early work with Walz on the Farm Bill.

Photo: Walz meets in Lewiston with LSP members in Lewiston, 2007 (Chatfield News)

Friday digest: small towns talk economic stimulus edition

Many of the district's papers are reporting about area leaders' hopes that Obama's proposed economic stimulus package might take some of the sting out of state budget shortfall.  In Lawmaker warns businesses that state might target taxes, the Post Bulletin's Heather Carlson writes:

The Senate Tax Committee chairman issued an ominous warning to Rochester-area business leaders today: Lawmakers and the governor might look to property taxes to solve the state's massive budget deficit. . . .

. . .Bakk joined six other legislators in speaking to members of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce as part of the group's annual legislative preview. Other speakers included Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, Assistant House Minority Leader Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview, Assistant House Minority Leader Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield, Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall.

. . . John Eckerman, the chamber's vice president for government affairs, told lawmakers it is critical that businesses get the tools they need to weather these tough times, including economic development tools, affordable health care and transportation upgrades.

But getting that wish list filled will likely prove challenging. Both Republicans and Democrats doubt there will be a bonding bill because of concerns about the state's debt. The hope is that Minnesota will benefit from a federal stimulus package being pushed by President-elect Barack Obama.

Demmer said he was told by U.S. Rep. Tim Walz that Minnesota is in line to receive $870 million in federal stimulus money.. . .

Read the entire article at the PB. The Caledonia Argus notes in Federal program may help fund highway department complex. 

. . .Houston County Finance Director Casey Bradley laid a potentially fantastic Christmas present on the laps of the county commissioners at the end of the Dec. 16 board meeting. Bradley informed the board he learned of a federal program that could fund up to 100 percent of the construction costs of the new county highway complex.

“It’s not a sure thing,” Bradley cautioned. “But it certainly is something I felt we needed to apply for. Even if we would receive partial funding, it would be a real plus for Houston County taxpayers.” . . .

The full article will appear in the paper's December 24 issue. The Fairmont Sentinel calls it a "bailout" in Area officials air concerns:

. . .Rosen offered the local officials some good news. She heard from Congressman Tim Walz that of the $700 billion federal bailout, $85 billion is slotted for transportation. Rosen said Minnesota is currently slated for $878 million of that, and $488 million would go toward highways and bridges, with other funds toward buses, clean water and other areas. She said those details just emerged and further specifics need to be worked out. . . .

We find this choice of words by the reporter to be fascinating, since the Sentinel's readers might readily conclude that Congressman Walz was talking about, oh, maybe the Wall Street bailout that shelled out roughly that amount--and which he voted against twice in the waning weeks of the 110th Congress. Who would know that it's an as yet to be approved economic stimulus package that the  111th Congress will debate at the beginning of its first session?

In Budget deficit dominated discussion, the New Ulm Journal reported yesterday:

The projected budget deficit took center stage Tuesday morning as Brown County officials sat down to discuss the upcoming legislative session with the two state legislators that represent the county.

As in years past, the county board scheduled one hour for each legislator. County department heads brought - and voiced - their own concerns to State Sen. Dennis Frederickson of New Ulm and Representative-elect Paul Torkelson of St. James.

Frederickson was the first to meet with the board, one minute after the meeting began. He started the conversation by saying, "I don't like to be compared with Scrooge. I would rather be compared with Cratchet." . . .

. . .The Representative-elect [Paul Torgelson] had a similar outlook to his Senatorial counterpart. He said the budget is "the big topic at the capitol." Local Government Aid is one topic being discussed, but Torkelson said he hasn't been privy to any discussions about the budget.

County Board Chairman Andrew Lochner asked the freshman representative if he had a feel for his committee assignments. Torkelson said he applied for the Clean Water Council and requested to join the finance committees for environmental and natural resources, agriculture, transportation and telecommunications committee, though he thinks the possibility he will be allowed to join those committees are slim.

He mentioned talk of federal money for infrastructure projects as mentioned by President-elect Barack Obama, saying he is meeting with Congressman Tim Walz today to talk about the possible infrastructure investment and what it could mean for this state. . . .

The Rushford Tri-County News also discusses a potential use of money from Obama's stimulus package in Could Obama economic stimulus plan help R-P district schools? Supt. Ehler meets with Congressman Walz:

. . .[The] R-P [school leadership] still made important personal contact Monday with another political figure, namely Congressman Tim Walz, DFL-Mankato. Walz, the District One incumbent in the U.S. House of Representatives, happened to be in his Rochester office and took time to meet and greet three local persons.

Supt. Chuck Ehler, Dan Munson from the board, and Community Education Director Beth Theede made the journey. All went away feeling good about what they were told.

The reason for the visit?

Ehler came across a weekend Associated Press story about President-Elect Barack Obama's plan to rejuvenate the nation's roads, buildings, and schools. Obama, who assumes the presidency from outgoing George W. Bush on Jan. 20, 2009, is hoping Congress will pass a $64.3 billion economic aid plan and create millions of jobs.

It's no secret that the Rushford-Peterson District needs a new school, and obtaining a chunk of federal money as part of the national stimulus package might solve a lot of problems.

Ehler presented a letter to the congressman outlining thoughts on the subject of the district's quest for a new pre-school, elementary, and high school building in Rushford and remodeled middle school in Peterson.

Fortunately, Walz is already familiar with R-P's circumstances in wake of the August 2007 flood. He visited shortly after the disaster. . . .

Read the rest at the Tri-County News, which also contains more news about the costs and character building involved in restoring the town since it was submerging by record-breaking flooding in August 2007.

In the rush to reach for a quick study of Congressman Walz, some writers forget that the educator is a well-educated guy. Not so with one of the First's unversities. St. Mary's in Winona offers its congratulation to Alums elected senator, representative. Mike Johanns, Nebraska's new Senator, former governor and USDA secretary, graduated from St. Mary's in 1971. Closer to home:

. . .Congratulations also go to Tim Walz, who was re-elected as U.S. Representative from Minnesota’s 1st District. Walz, a Democrat from Mankato, is a candidate in our doctoral program in leadership.

Additionally, four alumni retained their seats in the Minnesota House, each of whom have received a Master of Arts from SMU. The group of four will be entering their second terms, including David Bly M’04 (DFL-Northfield), Carolyn Laine M’03 (DFL-Columbia Heights), Robin Brown M’99 (DFL-Austin), and Will Morgan M’99 (DFL-Burnsville). . . .

In Rahm Emanuel's Strategy For Progressives, Chris Bowers at Open Left repeats the story of Rahm Emanuel's reaction to a critical LTE one of Walz supporters sent to a small town paper. The post does note that  Walz is "one of the few Bush Dogs to drop off the list." 

We've noticed that this anecdote, which first appeared in The Hill several weeks ago, seems to have a life of its own, though only one email correspondent has asked about the LTE itself.  We're not certain but pretty sure this epistle from Fillmore County's Neil Haugerud is the document in question, from November 2007. We blogged about it at the time. 

By the time the letter was published, Walz had taken a lot of heat for his August 2007 vote for a bad FISA bill and had voted for the RESTORE Act. In early 2008, attack ads from a Washington PAC had aired in the First urging Walz to vote for another bad spying bill that would update FISA. In June, Walz voted against the final version of that bill and was removed from Open Left's list.

It's Friday; have a fun evening and remember your winter driving skills.

Photo: Local leaders and elected officials in the First are digging talk of a federal economic stimulus package focused at rebuilding infrastructure and schools, rather than bailing somebody out. We're hoping we see more groundbreaking ceremony pictures like this one for the Waeca Highway 14 bypass.  (picture swiped from MnDot).