A Bluestem Prairie

Saturday afternoon digest: recovery, Hmong, and housing edition

The Albert Lea Tribune reports in Tax credits will impact workers and businesses:

Money for workers in the $787 billion federal economic stimulus package isn’t set up the same way it was in last year’s $700 billion measure.

Many people used their stimulus checks last year for big-ticket items or for battling debts, rather than everyday spending.

This time, the dollars are coming in the form of a tax break. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act calls for fewer tax dollars being taken out of paychecks of 95 percent of Americans.

“The total cumulative effect of the measure makes it the largest tax cut for the middle class ever,” said 1st District Congressman Tim Walz.

The Making Work Pay credit starts April 1. The math works out to be on average of $13 a week more in your wallet if you have FICA taxes taken out of your paycheck. It lasts two years, so in January, the average amount will be $9.

Read the rest at the Tribune. The paper also reports School leaders hoping act will save teacher jobs and City awaits word on airport assistance. From the latter:

Albert Lea city staff will find out this week whether the economic stimulus funds they applied for through the Federal Aviation Administration have been approved.

If obtained, the money would be used for the runway project at the Albert Lea Airport.

City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the city already has $2.1 million of federal funds for the project and has applied for $5.15 million more through economic stimulus funds.

In the Winona Daily News, we read the article Walz, Kind, other lawmakers call for protecting Hmong in Thailand.  The LaCrosse-Winona area is home to many Hmong people. The gist:

U.S. Reps. Tim Walz, Ron Kind and 17 other members of Congress have written to the State Department on behalf of 5,700 Hmong refugees in Thailand who fear they will be forced to return to Laos.

Many of the refugees have been in Thailand since the 1970s, after unsuccessfully fighting against the communist movement that became the government of Laos. 

“Many Hmong people fought alongside us in Vietnam and sacrificed a lot for our country,” Kind, D-La Crosse, Wis., said in a statement. “Reports coming from a number of my constituents who have friends and family in Laos indicate there is still discrimination and persecution towards Laos’ Hmong population.”

Kind discussed the issue Wednesday with Damrong Kraikruan, Thailand’s acting ambassador to the U.S.

Walz, D-Mankato, and the other 18 members of Congress want the United Nations High Commission on Refugees to be allowed to screen the detainees to determine their refugee status.

The Austin Herald reports HRA to get stimulus funding and the Jackson County Pilot reports in Public housing gets $124K in stimulus:

The first economic stimulus funds allocated from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will put $124,617 into the hands of the Jackson Housing and Redevelopment Authority's board of directors, according to an announcement Friday by U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn.

"We're very excited about the AARA," said DeeAnna Bakken, executive director of the Jackson HRA. "... We were hoping so and talking to our legislators about this because they keep cutting our capital fund. We're very relieved to see it in there and that it didn't get cut out."

Bakken said the local HRA board will meet next Friday, March 6, to approve a plan for how that money will be spent.

Stricter regulations for the one-time allocation require projects to be completed within a year, she said, so spending is likely to go toward projects already on the agency's five-year plan.

The Jackson HRA will still get its annual appropriation of approximately $85,000 in October, as well.

"We appreciate our legislators at the federal level who have been going to bat for us and encouraging others to approve the inclusion," Bakken said.

HRAs across southern Minnesota were the recipients of $4.5 million to modernize and develop public housing.

“I am thrilled that just two weeks after I voted for the economic recovery package we are beginning to see funds flow directly to local communities,” Walz said. “This funding will create and save jobs by investing in improvements and expansions to public housing across Minnesota.”

Back to the geekfest.

Friday digest: transportation edition

Will state transportation funds freed by federal recovery dollars be used to speed the upgrade of Highway 14, one of the most dangerous raods in Minnesota? Maybe not, the Owatonna People's Press in Freed state funding may not be used for Highway 14:

When Minnesota congressmen announced federal funds would be earmarked for U.S. Highway 14 in the 2009 appropriations bill, it sounded like great news. But, the nearly $2.4 million may not actually help the project.

The $52 million project — expanding Highway 14 from two lanes to four from Owatonna to Waseca — already had state and federal funding set aside for construction to begin in 2009.

The hope of congressmen and Minnesota Department of Transportation representatives is that this new $2.375 million would free up state matching funds that could be put toward another section of Highway 14.

However, those freed state funds would not necessarily be put toward a Highway 14 project.

“If the money gets freed up, it goes back to the Statewide Corridor Project. So it wouldn’t go for necessarily a Highway 14 project,” said Kristine Hernandez, a representative for MnDOT District Seven. “It could go anywhere in the state.”

In 2008, the Minnesota Department of Transportation applied for more federal funding to expand that section of Highway 14. However, the 2009 appropriations bill was not passed in 2008. Instead, it passed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday and is expected to pass the Senate yet this week.

“Normally, the appropriations bills get done in the fall, but because of a disagreement with President Bush it didn’t pass,” said Meredith Salsbery, director of communications for Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn. “We’re discussing with MnDOT how we can work together to use that money. Our hope is that they can use it in substitute for some of the state allocated funds. At this point, we can’t change that earmark.”

The funding for Highway 14 is distributed by the state corridor system, this includes federal earmarks and funds from the state. Bids for the Owatonna-to-Waseca project were let out in January, with the funding to be paid for in the 2010 fiscal year which starts July 1.

“The problem was the bill came after we let the project,” Hernandez said. “Luckily, the project is what we call an ELLA, an Early Let Late Award project. If it is not an ELLA, we would award it within 30 days of the letting and this money would have been too late.”

Hernandez said MnDOT District Seven has applied for funding of the Highway 14 portion from Owatonna to Dodge Center in 2010 and hopes this new money can be used in that direction.

An environmental impact study was completed in 2008 and a design decision has been made. However, no money has been granted for right-of-way acquisition or construction.

“We will continue to look at trying to find some additional money in the 2010 package. I think that project should be complete and ready for bids in 2010, and hopefully with the federal government’s help and some assistance from the state we can move that project instead of seeing it go into 2015,” said Owatonna Mayor Tom Kuntz.

Salsbery said Walz also hopes the freed state money will be re-allocated to another portion of Highway 14.

“People are eager to see those improvements,” she said. “We’ll do everything we can to make sure they can use the money.”

The Mankato Free Press said that St. Peter benefits from stimulus money:

The Highway 169 reconstruction project through St. Peter was the big benefactor in the area from federal stimulus money.

The project will get $11 million and construction will begin this spring.

It is one of 60 transportation projects in greater Minnesota that will get funding from the federal stimulus package. Gov. Tim Pawlenty stopped at the Mankato airport Wednesday as he traveled around the outstate to announce the projects. . . .

The paper has posted a searchable list of MNDOT projects funded by the recovery bill. The article notes that Highway 14 isn't among the projects toward which Pawlenty is directing recovery money:

The ongoing construction of Highway 14 into a four-lane was not given added funding through the stimulus bill. MnDOT officials said the stimulus money needs to go to projects that are “shovel ready” and the next phase of the Highway 14 project — from Owatonna to Dodge Center — isn’t ready to go this spring.

“That project from Owatonna to Dodge Center will get done,” Pawlenty said. “It just didn’t fit here.”

Still, the recovery bill bumped up available federal funding:

Greg Ous, assistant district engineer for MnDOT, said the $19 million for the Mankato district is significant. “It almost doubles the amount we’d get from the federal government normally over two years.

“It’s quite a boost.”

Funding for area roads is also coming via earmarks in the House spending bill. The Free Press also reports in Area projects secure in spending bill:

A federal appropriations bill that will bring nearly $4 million in earmarks for south-central Minnesota is long delayed but moving much faster than normal through the U.S. House and Senate budget-setting process.

The omnibus appropriations bill is for the current fiscal year, meaning it was supposed to be enacted last year. Disagreements with then-Pres. George W. Bush prompted Democratic congressional leaders to put off passage of parts of the bill where agreement couldn’t be reached.

Now, with a Democratic president in place, the bill is moving quickly. It passed the House on a heavily partisan vote Wednesday. And the Senate version of the bill is basically identical to the House version, meaning a long conference committee to work out a compromise shouldn’t be necessary, said Meredith Salsbery, communications director for Congressman Tim Walz.

“Once it goes through the Senate, it’s pretty much headed to the president,” Salsbery said.

Read more about the Mankato area projects in the Free Press. The Rochester Post Bulletin notes in Transit center in line for federal funding:

A transit operations center in Rochester is one of 10 southeastern Minnesota projects that will receive federal funding through the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved it 245-178 Wednesday. The Senate will act on it in the coming days. If passed, it will be sent to President Obama for his signature.

The $712,000 apportioned for the operations center would help pay for the multi-million dollar facility, which will include a 60-bus garage and a park-and-ride facility for Rochester.

"Any type of funding is welcome," Rochester transportation director Tony Knauer said Wednesday. "We're still waiting for the stimulus."

In Winona, the Daily News reports WSU child protection center may get earmarks

The Winona State University-housed National Child Protection Training Center may be on firm financial footing after years of scrambling for the funding just to stay open.

The 2009 omnibus budget passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday contains two earmarks that devote $1.2 million to the center. The funding should give the center financial stability for the next 24 months, director Victor Vieth said.

Founded in 2003, the center provides training to law enforcement and child protection professionals who handle child abuse cases.

“We’ve never had a moment before where I could say we look solid for two years,” Vieth said. “That’s really encouraging.”

Minnesota’s Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Tim Walz requested $700,000 for the center’s main office at WSU. If approved by the Senate and signed by President Barack Obama, the funding would build on the $1.22 million appropriated to the center in 2008.

“These funds will do more than just create jobs,” Walz said in a press release. “These dollars strengthen the fabric of our communities.”

Despite the funding, the center nearly closed its doors last year because bureaucratic delays held up the money for months. This new appropriation should eliminate cash flow problems at the center for the foreseeable future, Vieth said.

Another earmark in the bill includes training for teachers in science and other disciplines (STEM) according to the WDN article Earmark may help SMU teacher training:

In some rural districts, science teachers may be forced to handle disciplines for which they were not trained. Continued teacher education can help someone certified in chemistry instruction also teach biology courses, but not every district can afford that training.

“School districts can only provide so much,” said Rebecca Hopkins, SMU graduate school of education dean.

SMU has for years provided training and certification programs to teachers, but it can be hard for teachers to drive to Winona from western Minnesota for a workshop. The program expansion would attempt to bring the workshops to teachers through video and online systems, Hopkins said.

The emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a priority for the Pawlenty administration, business, and education leaders. We can't wait to hear the Republicans whine about this earmark.

We find welcome news for rural vets in an AP story, Obama proposes expansion of VA health care:

Obama would provide extra funding for programs targeting homeless veterans and those in rural areas. And it would pay for upgrades to the VA's technology system to help eliminate the average six-month wait to have a disability claim processed.

Overall, it would increase the agency's discretionary spending by 10 percent to $53 billion.

The Army Times quotes Walz in Veterans optimistic about progress on VA ills:

But Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., noted that the Defense Department, which also is dealing with a suicide epidemic, problems with TBI and PTSD, and a disability case backlog, needs to pick up the pace on the front end, rather than passing all problems to VA.

“DoD simply can’t see the warriors as another piece of equipment that, when its shelf life is over, is handed to someone else,” Walz said.

Via Polinaut, we learn that the National Journal's House vote rankings are out for 2008. Walz had the 175th most liberal voting record; go to the National Journal site to figure out what that means.

We're traveling most of the day. Drive carefully and enjoy the sun.

Omnibus bill: Highway 14, renewable energy--and block on congressional pay raise

The House passed the omnibus funding bill yesterday; MinnPost's Cynthia Dizikes summarizes statements by Minnesota's delegation in Peterson joins Republicans and votes against 'omnibus' spending bill.

KEYC-TV reports in Area Projects Benefit From Stimulus Money:

An important vote in the U - S House means extra funding may be on the way for projects in our area...Representative Tim Walz announcing the House approved federal funding today for sixteen projects in southern Minnesota... Projects that will help keep and create jobs in our area.Rep. Tim Walz says, "What these things will do is create jobs in ,pthe short term... like what President Obama said last night... we need to focus on education, jobs, research and health care."Two major projects in our area include over 700 thousand dollars for the Center for Renewable Energy at MSU and nearly 2 point 5 million dollars to support the four - lane expansion of Highway 14 from Waseca to Owatonna.Mayor Gary Zellmer says, "If we can continue to get little bits at a time it's always encouraging... it's been a long struggle so just getting something is really key."The funding is in addition to dollars already set for these projects through the regular state budget and the Recovery Bill...The Senate is expected to take action on the bill this week.

The money for MSUM's project should give more of those young engineering students at last Friday Repower America Town Hall Forum an opportunity to learn more about green energy and jobs.  And more for improving Highway 14?  Simply a life saver.

The bill also ncludes a provision to block the COLA increase for members.  Walz was an original co-sponsor of a separate provision to do so, H.R. 156. Peterson and Kline signed on later. Insert our own snark about Paulsen and Bachmann being for pay raises for themselves buy voting against the omnibus bill and failing to co-sponsor the separate item (H.R. 156).

Walz's congressional office issued a press release about funding in the bill for Southern Minnesota. Other familiar items on the list include funding for the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, Upper Mississippi River navigation and ecosystem projects, the Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University, flood mitigation in Owatonna and other requests from the lists of earmarks (2007 and 2008) that Walz has published earlier in order to help make the process more tranparent for his constituents.

While some political observers like to kvetch about earmarks in the abstract, Walz's specific requests have largely met with approval in the district press.  The Owatonna People's Press pointed out in An Earmark That Makes Sense, an editorial last year about the flood migitation project:

". . .there are times when the projects are worthwhile. The earmark that Mr. Walz has proposed for Owatonna is one such case. What makes it important is that it is not a bridge to nowhere, but funds which will help a community prevent flooding and help residents keep their homes from being damaged. Keeping people and their property safe from the ravages of Mother Nature seems a worthwhile goal for the government."

A day later, we made the case for funding the work of the Hormel Institute in a post Another common sense earmark: Austin's Hormel Institute. The biomedical at the Institute is largely directed at finding cures for cancer.

Yesterday's release:

WALZ ANNOUNCES FUNDS FOR KEY LOCAL PROJECTS, KEEPING JOBS IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

Appropriations requests clear major hurdle, likely to become law in March

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Tim Walz announced that Congress is likely to approve federal funding this week to sixteen important local projects that will help create and save jobs across southern Minnesota.

Walz said the funds are included in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which is expected to pass the House of Representatives later today. The Senate is expected to take action on the bill in the coming days before sending it to President Obama for his signature.

“Projects like Highway 14 are critically important to southern Minnesota’s economic recovery,” said Walz. “These funds will not only create jobs as we expand the existing highway to four lanes, but it will also create economic opportunity for the majority of southern Minnesota’s businesses, who use Highway 14 to ship their goods.”

The funding in the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill is in addition to dollars already targeted for these projects through the regular state budget and through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was enacted earlier this month.

“These funds will do more than just create jobs,” continued Walz. “These dollars strengthen the fabric of our communities. Because of projects like the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, Bolder Options, the Sherriff’s Youth Program, and Winona State’s National Child Protection Training Center, our children will drink clean water, receive invaluable support from caring adult mentors, and be less likely to fall pray to child predators. Investments like these in the future of our country are priceless.”

“Finally, these funds support the ongoing investment in renewable energy production, medical research, and education that President Obama called for last night in his address to Congress. The alignment between southern Minnesota’s priorities and the President’s goals could not be more apparent than in this list of projects I requested on behalf of the community leaders and citizens of southern Minnesota,” concluded Walz.

The FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill funding at the request of Congressman Walz for the following projects:

$200,000 for Bolder Options

To expand Bolder Options' youth mentorship program into the Rochester area

$713,625 for the Center for Renewable Energy at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This funding would support on-going research into cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable forms of energy.

$290,000 for Crop Disease Research at the University of Minnesota

Research into crop diseases that threaten Minnesota's wheat, oat and barley industries.

$235,000 for the Competitive Farm Benchmarking Program at the University of Minnesota Funding for a project that helps farmers compare their costs of production and maximize their efficiencies of operation.

$323,000 for Hormel Institute in Austin Funds would help the Hormel Center develop an International Center of Research Technology to provide cutting edge technology to biomedical researchers from across the country and the world.

$2,375,000 Hwy 14 Waseca-Owatonna

Funds would support the four-lane expansion of Highway 14 from Waseca to I-35 at Owatonna.

$475,000 for 55th Street in Rochester

Funds would provide for final design, right-of-way acquisition and first stage construction of a 1.9 mile extension of 55th Street as a 4-lane expressway.

$27,000,000 for Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Centered in twenty communities in western Minnesota, northern Iowa, and eastern South Dakota, this pipeline provides treated water from the Missouri River to more than 300,000 people in three states.

Several Members of Congress from three states requested this funding. This area is so desperately short of water that there are restrictions on constructing new small business and residences; the pipeline will be essential to the economic viability of these small towns. Many of the communities involved have pre-paid the local share of the project, in order to keep inflationary costs at a minimum, and are only awaiting the federal share.

$700,000 for the National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University

The Center trains social workers, teachers, and health care professionals to recognize and report signs of child abuse.

$500,000 for the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota and Iowa

This project will support land acquisition to add acreage to the refuge.

$181,000 for St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Fresh Start Disease Prevention Program

Funds would support the expansion of a chronic disease management program in Wabasha to help participants reduce their risk of heart disease.

$190,000 for St. Mary’s University’s Teacher Mentorship Program

Funds would help expand the university's educator professional development programs by using technology to allow greater outreach to teachers in MN with impact on thousands of students in critical STEM subjects.

$200,000 for Sheriffs Youth Program in Rochester.

Funding would support the expansion of SYP’s services for at-risk youth.

$712,000 for Transit Operations Center in Rochester

Would fund the construction of a new 60-bus garage facility; as well as a new park-and-ride facility in Rochester.

$8,604,000 for Upper Mississippi River Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program

This multi-state project was requested by several Members of Congress. It will provide for the first phases of construction of new 1,200 foot lock chambers at several locks and dams along the Mississippi, implement small-scale navigation aids; and begin ecosystem restoration projects along the Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway.

$951,000 for Veterans Re-Entry Education Program in St. Paul

Funds would help Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and three state agencies create programs to help returning veterans find employment and educational opportunities.

While most of the federal funding for FY2009 was delayed until now, some funding bills did become law before President Bush left office. In the FY2009 bills that became law last year, Walz also secured the following funding:

$2 million for the Minnesota National Guard Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program

$704,000 for the National Guard's Minnesota Army National Guard Armory Emergency Response Generators

$1.3 million for the Minnesota Helicopter Civil Band Radio Communication $2.224 million for Minnesota Satellite Multi-Modal Collaborative Crisis and Training Network $400,000 for flood mitigation in Owatonna, Minnesota

Wednesday quick digest: always late edition

We're off to a meeting in the Cities, so a few quick hits for now. The district media is filled with Congressman Walz's response to Obama's speech to the congress last night. The Albert Lea Tribune reports Tim Walz says he was ‘very pleased’.

 “I was very pleased,” Walz said, during a Tuesday night conference call with Minnesota media. “I think he hit on everything we wanted to hear and the people of Southern Minnesota wanted to hear.”

 Walz said Obama touched on several key areas that southern Minnesota is well-positioned to succeed in, including the need to reinvest in renewable energy and healthcare reform.   

 Walz cited the region’s wind farms as an example of the region’s commitment to renewable energy and cited the Mayo Clinic and the Hormel Institute as the region’s commitment to health care and cancer research.

Walz also said he agreed with the president’s comments on aiming to have the largest number of college graduates in the world by 2020.

 “We’ve got work to do, but we have a very clear path ahead of us,” he said.

 Walz was joined at Tuesday night’s speech by Rushford-Peterson Schools Superintendent Chuck Ehler. Walz stated he chose to invite Ehler to highlight not only the jobs that will be saved in the Rushford-Peterson schools because of the Title I  and special education recovery funds coming their way, but also because of the potential to create jobs by reconstructing a school that is in a dire state of disrepair. . . .

KEYC-TV reported Walz Discusses Obama's Speech, the MinnPost, Minnesota's members of Congress analyze Obama speech and the Post Bulletin says in Obama plan to rebuild gives hope:

Rushford-Peterson Superintendent Chuck Ehler, who attended Obama's speech as a guest of First District Democratic Rep. Tim Walz, said he was encouraged by the president's emphasis on education including early-childhood education.

Obama's speech gave Ehler hope that the deteriorating Rushford school may also get some federal help to rebuild. He will be meeting with federal education officials this morning with Walz to see if federal stimulus dollars might be available to help rebuild the 103-year-old school.

"Why not Southeastern Minnesota? If those dollars are going to be available, I feel our school has as great a need as any school in the nation," Ehler said.

Walz said he liked Obama's emphasis on renewable energy, considering the local wind farms and biofuel research.

"Nobody anywhere in this country is better positioned than in southern Minnesota from the infrastructure that is there," he said.

The MSU Reporter covers Friday's Town Hall meeting in Clean and green.

We hear from a friend that Congresswoman Bachmann was economizing by reading 12 day old issues of the WSJ on a recent flight to Washington, D.C. No doubt about it, she feels your pain.

From the Rochester airport, a buddy tweeted our cheatin' governor's press conference about recovery bill road projects.  Since the plane was late and Pawlenty was in bash and spend mode, we thought that Merle Haggard's cover of a great old cheating song, "Always Late", would be ideal for a sunny day before the storm:

Photo: Congressman Walz and Superintendent Ehler.

Sunday digest: lucky Bockfest yes-we-can edition

The Star Tribune reports on The Great Stimulus Scramble. Walz bit:

Members of Minnesota's congressional delegation have been traveling around the state to help constituents make sense of the 1,703-page bill, and in some cases to help tout local companies. Last week, Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., visited the Miller Felpax Corp. in Winona, a maker of railroad equipment, which could see a bump in business from the Obama administration's new emphasis on high-speed rail.

We've been looking at some online tools for learning about projects submitted for possible funding under the Recovery Act and will be posting about these web sites later this evening or tomorrow morning.

The Mankato Free Press reports about the Energy Town Hall in Ethanol a 'step' to next stage:

. . . The Democrat from Mankato said that cellulosic technology shouldn’t include giant refineries such as corn ethanol plants but instead include more small operations.

Creating a new clean energy economy was the topic of the forum Friday at Minnesota State University.

Walz and other panelists, including former congressman Tim Penny, said the financial crisis and the stimulus package offer an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of the nation’s economy. “We have to get it right,” Walz said.

Dan Juhl, a wind energy business owner, said it’s vital to keep the new energy dollars local. Because of current tax credit laws, some 80 percent of the tax credits aimed at promoting wind farms goes to overseas conglomerates.

“We can keep our energy dollars in our communities and create jobs,” Juhl said.

Walz, who represents the 1st District, said Congress is working on rewriting the tax credit to get it to local wind cooperatives and businesses.

J. Drake Hamilton, of the group Fresh Energy, said the stimulus package can do what few imagined. “We got a big, huge kick-start from the economic recovery bill.” . . .

KEYC-TV has video from the town hall in More Green Jobs Coming.  The Fillmore County Journal has the local slant on the story of  Superintendent Ehler invited to attend Obama address to Congress by Congressman Walz.

The Campaign Diaries blog notes:

After voting for George W. Bush in both 2000 and 2004, MN-01 swung to the Democratic column by 8% to give Barack Obama a 51% to 47% victory. That makes Democratic Rep. Tim Walz look less vulnerable than he did since his upset victory in the 2006 midterms.

The absence of any public discussion of a Republican seeking endorsement for 2010 might also be a factor.

The New Ulm Journal reports that Schell's brewery got into the spirit of the times in Bockfest 2009: ‘Yes, we can!’

Bockfest 2009 must have put Schell's President and Brewmaster Ted Marti in a presidential mood Saturday afternoon.

When the Bockfest Boys took a short break from their performance, Marti spoke briefly to the crowd. His remarks echoed one of President Obama's now-famous speeches.

"They said we couldn't have an outdoor beer-drinking festival. Well yes we can!," Marti proclaimed. "They said we could have  a band that plays 'Ring Of Fire' 13 times?...Well, yes we can!"

The paper says 6000 people attended; the Journal's office was invaded:

THUMBS UP: The Journal was invaded by suspicious looking masked characters Friday afternoon. The Narren had once again kidnapped Mayor Joel Albrecht and were parading him around town, declaring that everyone was to take the day off and start celebrating Fasching.

We ignored their directive. After all, if Congress can make no law abridging freedom of the press, neither can the Narren. Besides, who would put their picture in the paper if we all took the day off?

We hope the city will take a sterner stance with the Narren than in the past. The City Council should refuse to negotiate with kidnappers of public officials. Whatever ransom the Narren demand for the mayor should be denied. They've got him, and they can keep him.

In the mean time, happy Fasching and Bock Fest to all.

The Albert Lea Tribune reports People come out to make their voices heard by the state legislature. Doesn't sound like most of the 200 people were too happy with Governor Pawlenty's proposed cuts. Maybe they need a beer, or perhaps the Narren should kidnap Pawlenty.

The Owatonna People's Press reports that the actor who plays the head bad guy in "Gran Torino" attended the local high school before moving to St. Paul. He wasn't typecast.

This evening's hymn is from The National, and is dedicated to all those who ever thought they were being followed by a guy with a talking dog:

Friday digest: repowered catch-up edition

A local energy group notes in Southeast CERTs News: Town Hall Clean Energy Forum in Mankato that the event at MSUM starts at 11 a.m. in the Student Union. The MSUM Reporter also noted the forum in Going green - Campus News.

Yesterday, the Winona Daily News looked at a visit to a local business in Walz says stimulus will create jobs in region:

Steve Blue is like other CEOs in America today — he’s not inclined to spend until he knows when the hard times will end.

Blue, CEO of Winona-based Miller Felpax, said Wednesday he had to lay off two employees in recent months as the company’s sales dropped 18 percent. . . .

. . .Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., toured Miller Felpax, which designs and makes locomotive parts, and said during a tour Wednesday it could benefit from tax credits in the new federal stimulus bill that encourage businesses to make capital investments. Walz touted his support for the stimulus bill but acknowledged Congress must do more to aid homeowners facing foreclosure and to address the causes of America’s economic collapse.

“We need a short-term fix to quit bleeding jobs,” Walz said.

President Barack Obama and Democratic supporters project the $787 billion stimulus package will create 3.5 million new jobs nationwide, and 7,800 jobs in the Minnesota First Congressional District that Walz represents. Opponents of the bill, primarily Congressional Republicans, have called it a pork-laden spending spree that doesn’t contain enough of the provisions — like tax cuts — that would have more effectively stimulated economic growth.

Walz acknowledges the bill isn’t perfect. He wanted more money to balance state budgets and more discussion of how to pay for one of the largest economic recovery packages since the New Deal. Reforms to entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security “need to be talked about” in the coming months to make the federal budget solvent, Walz said.

During Wednesday’s tour of Miller Felpax, Walz praised the company as a model of how small businesses can compete in today’s global economy. For example, Blue said the company recently sold parts to the Japanese firm Toshiba to install on locomotives in South Africa.

KTTC-TV also covered the visit. Walz spoke to Winona Radio:

Representative Tim Walz is predicting the federal economic stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama this week will have a positive impact on his First District, including the Winona area.

Walz told Winona Radio News the package will create or protect over 7000 jobs in southern Minnesota. Walz also said there will be some direct benefits to families, education and infrastructure in his district.

While Walz forwarded a wish list of $625 million in projects to be funded by the stimulus package to Governor Tim Pawlenty, Walz said he is not sure how many will actually get the funding.

MnIndy's Capitol Catchall and Minnpost's Daily Glean picked up on the fact-checking of the thanks-for-SCHIP ads running in support of Walz and Paulsen. As the latter says:

Wow — the "Truth Test" season for political ads has begun already? KSTP's Tom Hauser examines a couple of "thank you" ads from a pharmaceutical-labor-funded group aimed at Congressmen Erik Paulsen and Tim Walz, who voted for kids' health insurance. Turns out the valentines are true!

MPR reports in $1 billion bioscience center [is] planned for Rochester area:

A San Francisco-based venture capitalist who manages hundreds of millions of dollars in biotech investments has joined an effort to turn a little-known development in tiny Pine Island, Minn., into a biotech research powerhouse.

The site is known as Elk Run, and these days, it isn't much to look at. It's a fenced stretch of vacant land along Highway 52, about 10 minutes north of Rochester. . . .

. . .Several legislators say MnDOT is also weighing a $50 million project to improve highway access to the site.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, who represents the area, told MPR he met with developers this week to talk about the highway project, including the potential for using federal stimulus funds for highway access.

The Mankato Free Press reported Required levee certification could be costly and so local leaders vow they'll be taking their case against the FEMA regs to Congressman Walz and Senator Klobuchar.  The Jackson County Pilot says that local leaders will be exploring federal funding with help from Walz's office in New avenues for resource center.

The Pipress's column by Ruben Rosario: Stalled suicide report could've saved lives mentioned the DOJ's cronyism in awarding youth program grants and the subsequent investigation that followed Tim Walz's inquiries.

The true valentine mentioned by the Daily Glean suggests an old jazz standard. Here's Chet Baker's take:

Rushford-Peterson Superintendent Ehler to join Walz during Obama's address to Congress

Update:  Walz, area schools, and the recovery bill

There's a lot of back story behind Congressman Walz's invitation to Rushford-Peterson Schools Superintendent Ehler to watch President Obama's address to Congress and to meet with leaders while in DC. It's documented in the press release below.

Rushford residents initially took shelter in their high school, but it too flooded and the Red Cross set up a shelter in the empty TRW building.

In a story no long publicly accessible to non-subscribers (but preserved in part in a BSP post), the Post Bulletin noted that Congressman Walz had plans to travel to Iraq the day after the downpour that triggered  the flooding, but canceled his trip in order to visit the flood stricken area. From the PB:

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz got up early on Sunday, Aug. 19. He was heading to Iraq and wanted to finish packing for the trip.

But those plans would soon be disrupted by news of the massive flooding in southeast Minnesota.

Within hours, Walz was heading east toward flood-stricken areas, his trip to Iraq canceled. His first sight of the scope of the devastation came when he reached Rushford, a city of 1,700. There, he found a city underwater -- except for a small, dry bit of land.

"It was pretty dramatic," Walz said. "There was a small island with one church, a part of the school and a city building that was dry, and 15 feet away there were probably half a dozen boats docked, picking people up and shuttling them in and out."

. . .Since the flooding, Walz has made virtually daily visits to the flood zone -- at least six visits in the first week alone. Along with the state's two senators, Walz lobbied for an expedited disaster declaration, so that federal dollars could start flowing to flood victims.

When Rushford was in need of a fire truck because all its trucks were damaged by flooding, Walz's staff called around and arranged to have a tanker delivered from Esko, Minn.

As the flood waters receded, the town worked to get the school ready for opening day.  For Ehler, it was an unexpected twist for a job he had begun less than two week before the water rushed into the building. The Strib reported:

It wasn't the way new Superintendent Chuck Ehler expected to begin his tenure with the district, which enrolls 685 students at Rushford's elementary and high schools and the middle school in nearby Peterson.

But Ehler was philosophical. "In some respects, it's been invigorating from the standpoint that it does test your abilities," he said in his office Friday. "You go into overdrive and try to make the best decisions."

With the lower level of its main school complex swathed in sewage and mud, its school buses swamped by rising water and scores of families suddenly homeless, Rushford-Peterson was perhaps the school district hardest hit by the flash flooding that struck the region without warning.

The Star Tribune noted that the schools opened on schedule in School begins for Rushford's kids amid flood debris

As students reported for the first day of class in the Rushford-Peterson schools on Tuesday, plastic sheeting sealed off the high school building's lower level. Powder that attacks mold and mildew coated the choir room in ghostly white as the flood's dank stench hung in an unusable classroom.

Upstairs, the bathroom sinks and drinking fountains were wrapped in plastic, because the tapwater still was unfit to drink.

But with so much of life disrupted by the devastating floods that struck southeastern Minnesota last month, the school's leaders were determined to open classes on schedule.

Walz returned to Rushford in Oct 2007 and got an earful from the superintendent, according to the Tri County News:

WaIz seemed firmly in Ehler's corner [about the school's needs].

"These are not 'nice to have' things," WaIz said, "these are necessities. If you're going to replace computers or books for this year's classes, they have to be done.

"This is where we can play a role in this and get some answers," he added.

In some ways, the flood has been a test of leadership for both Walz and Ehler.

Flood damage wasn't the only issue for the district; its building is nearly 100 years old. The Rushford school district looked to Walz when the recovery bill began to be crafted,as the TriCounty News reported in Could Obama economic stimulus plan help R-P district schools? The Winona Daily News picked up the story in Rushford-Peterson hoping for federal funding for new school.

Walz fought to keep education in the recovery bill, as we noted in the post Walz takes lead on restoring education cuts in stimulus bill,

During this district work break, Walz toured another one of the First District's school in need of an upgrade.The Mankato Free Press reported in Walz tours USC school:

The United South Central School Board asked area property owners to approve a referendum to replace the district’s crumbling 76-year-old school and was turned down three times in three years.

The school district’s representative in the state House, Rep. Tony Cornish, asked lawmakers twice to cover half of the $25 million cost of a new K-12 school in Wells and was refused twice.

Hoping the sixth time, and the federal government, will be the charm, USC is now hoping a solution to their building problem will come from the federal economic stimulus bill to be signed today by President Barack Obama.

With the cost of the school project now expected to be at least $28 million, School Board Chairwoman Christie Wetzel would love to see $20 million or more in federal stimulus funding come to the district. But even $14 million would eliminate half the burden on taxpayers, possibly making it realistic that they’d see a bond referendum as affordable.

“It’s so hard right now to predict with the economy,” Wetzel said. “... I’d have to say we’d need half the money.”

Congressman Tim Walz toured the school Monday, agreed that the need for a new building was undeniable, but couldn’t offer anything close to a guarantee the school will receive that sort of a contribution from the stimulus bill. Walz, a former teacher at Mankato West High School, played a role, however, in guaranteeing that the district will at least have a shot at some money.

The House bill contained $20 billion for school construction projects. The Senate version had none. Walz helped line up a total of 46 House Democrats who sent a letter to congressional leaders saying school funding needed to be restored to the compromise bill, and $6 billion was put in the final $787 billion bill. . . .

The Star Tribune has posted an article about the Ehler trip to DC, and the comment section is ripping on the Rushford school's need for resources. Too bad they didn't listen to conservative state legislator Tony Cornish, who gets it about schools in the Free Press article:

But after touring the school in Wells, [Walz] thinks it would be an excellent use of the federal funds to get a new school built. Not only is it needed, it would create a substantial number of construction jobs and provide lasting economic development benefits by improving the educational opportunities of students there.

“We think this is exactly the type of project that fits the bill,” Walz said.

Cornish, R-Good Thunder, agreed.

“I can’t think of a better place to spend these dollars than education — a core function of government,” Cornish said. [emphasis added]

We hope Ehler speaks up in DC for all rural schools--and that people listen.

More on the UCS story from KEYC-TV in Walz: Stimulus Bill Could Help Revive Area School. [end update]

The press release from Walz's office:

strong>WALZ TO BE JOINED BY RUSHFORD-PETERSON SUPERINTENDENT WHEN OBAMA ADDRESSES JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

Rushford-Peterson school in dire need of recovery funds to create and save jobs through school reconstruction

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Tim Walz announced he has invited Rushford-Peterson Schools Superintendent Chuck Ehler to hear President Obama address the Joint Session of Congress to be held on February 24, 2009. Rushford is located in northeastern Fillmore County.

Walz, who like all Members of Congress received only one additional ticket to the Joint Session said, “I chose to invite Superintendent Ehler to highlight not only the jobs that will be saved in the Rushford-Peterson schools because of the Title I and special education recovery funds coming their way, but also because of the potential to create jobs by reconstructing a school that is in a dire state of disrepair.”

Walz toured the Rushford-Peterson High School shortly after the 2007 flooding which damaged the already crumbling 1906 structure. In December alone, the district spent more than $17,000 to heat the aging, inefficient building. Because of the flood, the small community of Rushford lost part of its property tax base and the community continues to be unable to support a bonding referendum to rebuild the school.

Superintendent Chuck Ehler said, “We have the tremendous task of providing a quality education for all students during these difficult economic times. Our children are one of our greatest resources, and it is our duty and responsibility to provide them with an education that will prepare them for an ever-changing global economy and world.”

“Schools across the State of Minnesota and the nation need financial resources to continue providing education for our future,” continued Ehler. “In our situation, we also desperately need a modern facility that assists us in supporting our educational mission, rather than diverting precious resources from the task of educating our children.”

Dr. Charlie Kyte, Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators observed, "You cannot cut your way to success. To have a strong future economy, the current generation of children must be able to compete in a global economy. Funding for education in the American Recovery Act will help preserve the jobs of our excellent teachers and will create new jobs as we retrofit school buildings to be more energy efficient."

The Walz office will be arranging an opportunity for Superintendent Ehler to meet with federal Department of Education officials to discuss ways the Rushford-Peterson school might get funding for the reconstruction of the school while he is in Washington DC next week.

“Imagine how many jobs we could save if the Rushford-Peterson heating bill was cut in half every month,” continued Walz. “Making this school more energy efficient would not only create short-term construction jobs, but also save enough money long term to keep more teachers teaching in their classrooms.”

President Obama will address the Congress on the 24th of February in a State of the Union-style address. Obama’s first official State of the Union will happen in early 2010.

Congressman Walz and Superintendent Ehler will be available via conference call immediately after the speech to share their reaction to the address. Details TBA. For interview requests prior to February 24, please use the contact information listed above.

Video of the Rushford-Peterson High School is available here (click “A Case for Change”): http://www.r-pschools.com/rp/newschool

Photo: Rushford's high school, as flood waters recede in August 2007. Credit: Star Tribune.

Our own posts under the tag "Minnesota August 2007 floods" begin right here. A worthy chronicle offlood and recovery news since August 20, 2007.

Moo News: Governor and LSP go to the mattresses on ag and local control

 In an Agri-News story,  Pawlenty's meeting with producers dominated by budget talk, we find Governor "Cheatin' Heart" Pawlenty pointinf a finger at the Land Stewardship Project:

Pawlenty said farmers are dealing with issues of modernization, competition, price and hostile planning and land use issues in some parts of the state. The state should be in the business of trying to expand the livestock industry, which is the original value-added agriculture, Pawlenty said.

He doesn't take a position as to size, but says livestock agriculture needs to be competitive and that Minnesota should be in the business of expanding its share of the market.

Local officials' decisions on land use are inconsistent, Pawlenty said. Some counties and townships do a great job, but there's not a lot of consistency to the decisions made. Decisions need to be based on sound science, he said.

The Land Stewardship Project pummeled the state when it tried to make changes to the decision-making process, Pawlenty said.

He went on to advise dairy farmers that they need enough legislators to stare down the LSP to make changes, saying the LSP isn't going to help them modernize.

Agri News reporter Janet Kubat Willete does the remarkable in this age of little dilgience. She contacted the Land Stewardship Project for a repsonse to the governor's attack:

"The governor doesn't have any accomplishments to point to, so he's pointing his fingers at us," said Bobby King, a Land Stewardship Project policy organizer, contacted later for his response to the governor's comments.

The governor hasn't moved any policies forward that support family farmers on the land, King said. Instead, the governor has tried to weaken the corporate farm law and local control.

Meanwhile, the LSP has worked with Reps. Collin Peterson and Tim Walz, both Minnesota Democrats, to include the beginning farmer act in the 2008 farm bill, he said. The LSP has also reached more than 300 people with its Farm Beginnings program, King said.

The program provides participants with first-hand information about low-cost, sustainable farming. More than 60 percent of graduates are farming and more than 6,000 aces of land is owned, rented or otherwise farmed by program graduates.

"We are working for livestock farmers," King said. "All he's trying to do is increase the number of livestock. We care about who owns the livestock. It needs to be independent family farmers."

Meanwhile, away from the political realm, the Caledonia Argus reports that cows and robotic milkers are teaming up in Houston County.  Don't tell your friends who fear cows. Or robots.

Image: Robot cow from Popular Mechanics, May, 1933. This image of a robot produced for the World's Fair doesn't really have anything to do with the story above, not even the robotic milker part; we just want to give the Political Muse the willies.

White House releases state by state numbers for the recovery act

A friend at the Alliance for a Better Minnesota forwarded this White House press release to us. We're posting it here in order to make the links to state-level details available to our readers.

From the Congressional level estimates of jobs:

Minnesota                                     66,000

Congressional District 1 Minnesota     7,800
Congressional District 2 Minnesota     9,200
Congressional District 3 Minnesota     8,300
Congressional District 4 Minnesota     7,700
Congressional District 5 Minnesota     7,900
Congressional District 6 Minnesota     9,500
Congressional District 7 Minnesota     7,500
Congressional District 8 Minnesota     8,100

Interesting that the three districts gaining the most are held by Republicans who voted against the recovery bill (we're still not happy with Peterson, either). The press release and links:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Save or Create 3.5 Million Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House today released state-specific details on the local impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a nationwide effort to create jobs, jumpstart growth and transform our economy to compete in the 21st century. The compromise package of $789 billion will create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years. Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90% in the private sector.

Below are links to tables and fact sheets outlining the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The estimates are derived from an analysis of the overall employment impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act conducted by Christina Romer, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist for the Vice President, and detailed estimates of the working age population, employment, and industrial composition of each state.

OVERVIEW ON AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT

IMPACT OF AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT ON WORKING FAMILIES

EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS BY STATE  

EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS BY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

EDUCATION FACT SHEET

ENERGY FACT SHEET

HEALTH CARE FACT SHEET

INFRASTRUCTURE FACT SHEET

And speaking of the ABM, go entertain yourself with its expose of our unfaithful celebrity governor.

Walz at Winona Rotary on Wednesday, February 18; Town Hall on Friday

Congress is in recess for President's Day week, making this a district work week for Representative Walz. We've just learned that Congressman Walz will be the guest of Winona's Rotary club tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.:

Winona Rotary
Winona Health Watkins Manor
175 East Wabasha
Winona, Minnesota

For more information, contact Winona Rotary. We posted earlier about the green recovery Repower America Town Hall meeting in our earlier post, Town hall meeting Friday, February 20 in Mankato.

What: Repower America Town Hall Forum

Environment Minnesota is joining with Congressman Tim Walz and other local environmental groups to host our Repower America Town Hall Forum at the Minnesota State University Mankato. We'll focus on green jobs, the federal economic recovery plan, and our local economy. We’ll discuss how we can fight global warming while creating a clean energy economy for Minnesota. This includes efforts to use the federal economic recovery package to fund “ready to go” clean energy and public transit projects, which will significantly reduce global warming pollution and create jobs. We will also discuss other local, state, and federal opportunities to boost clean energy and fight global warming.

Who: Congressman Tim Walz of Minnesota’s 1st District

Samantha Chadwick, Environment Minnesota, citizen-based advocacy organization

Gerry Parzino, United Steelworkers and the Blue Green Alliance

Dan Juhl, CEO of Juhl Wind

Tim Penny, former Congressman, President and CEO of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

J Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director with Fresh Energy

Dr. Vincent Winstead, professor at Minnesota State University Mankato

When: Friday February 20th, 11:00 AM

Where: Centennial Student Union Heritage Room, Minnesota State University Mankato

For more information: Samantha Chadwick, 612-379-1475, [email protected]

Photo: Tim Walz at a meeting in Luverne. Photo courtesy of Corner House Comments.

Walz continues fight to give farmers more planting flexibility

We were posting about Farm Flex legislation back in our March 2007 Tuesday Spring Fever edition; Congressman Walz and other representatives aren't quitting the fight to give farmers more freedom to grow fruits and vegetables for processing.

A press release from the Walz congressional office:

Walz continues fight to give farmers more planting flexibility

Says support of bipartisan Farm Flex bill builds on his success in 2008 Farm Bill

(Washington, DC) – Building on his successful push in last year’s Farm Bill to give farmers greater freedom to plant fruits and vegetables, Congressman Walz today announced he is cosponsoring the Farming Flexibility Act of 2009.

The Farming Flexibility Act of 2009 expands upon a pilot program Walz helped establish in the 2008 Farm Bill that gives farmers greater freedom to plant fruits and vegetables on their farmland. Many farmers in the Midwest are currently penalized by planting restrictions that discourage farmers from diversifying their crops. Walz said that these planting restrictions create an unnecessary cycle of reliance on federal farm program payments and make it more difficult for processing companies across the Midwest to secure a reliable supply of fruits and vegetables.

“Farm Flex is an overdue correction that will benefit family farmers and food processors,” said Walz. “Southern Minnesota’s processors need a steady supply of crops and Minnesota’s farmers want to diversify their operations. This legislation helps them both and prevents producers from being penalized for growing something other than traditional farm program crops.”

The Farm Flex bill would result in significant cost savings for the federal government, is supported by a coalition of food processors and family farmers, is consistent with free market principles, and improves World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance.

Understanding Farming Flexibility

2002 Farm Bill:

Under the 2002 Farm Bill, farmers who planted one of the big five commodity crops - corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice - automatically received “direct payments” for planting those crops. These payments were directly proportional to a farm’s base acres, which are a historical average of its planting of a commodity.

A farmer was not obligated to grow the crop to receive a direct payment for that crop, and could plant any crop except fruits and vegetables or no crop without losing these benefits. The prohibition against growing fruits and vegetables is known as the “planting restriction.”

The 2002 Farm Bill doubly penalized farmers who chose to plant fruits and vegetables on their base acreage. These farmers not only had to forfeit their direct payments for those base acres on which they planted fruits and vegetables, they also had to pay an additional penalty based on the market value of the fruits and vegetables they did plant.

Consequences of 2002 Farm Bill:

Most producers could not reduce their reliance on the farm commodity programs by rotating vegetable production onto their land and pursuing canning contracts. Processors experienced inadequate supplies of fruits and vegetables for canning.

2008 Farm Bill:

The 2008 Farm Bill slightly altered the restrictions put in place in 2002, but did not ease the duplicative financial penalties. At Representative Walz’s insistence, the Farm Bill contained a pilot planting flexibility program for fruits and vegetables that were grown for processing. Beginning in the 2009 crop year, seven Midwestern states have acreage caps allowing farmers to plant, on base acres, a limited list of fruits and vegetables grown for processing. However, the acreage caps do not cover all states and farmers who wish to plant fruits and vegetables for processing.

2009 Farming Flexibility Act:

The Farming Flexibility Act would correct the shortcomings of the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills by providing states planting flexibility for all fruits and vegetables for processing. Because vegetables grown for processing are wholly different from those grown for fresh market, it would not adversely affect fresh fruit and vegetable producers.

Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin, who is sponsoring the bill along with Republican Mike Pence, also posted about the bill on her website.

Image: Walz continues to stand up for Minnesota canning concerns. That's good, since that giant hasn't sat down since the 1920s.

It's the jobs: Walz works to help struggling dairy farmers

Back on February 10, we posted Walz to USDA: Help America's dairy farmers, which linked the potential economic calamity confronting milk producers as prices they receive plummet (so far, we haven't noticed any lower prices being past along at the grocery store).

Walz's move, asking USDA Secretary to use his agency's "so-called Section 32 funds—funds that are available at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase surplus commodities--" to spur demand for dairy products, has been widely covered in the district press.

KEYC-TV picked up on the story right away in Walz Urges Swift Action For Dairy Industry, as did the Twin Cities-based Minnesota Independent in Paul Schmelzer's Capitol Catchall: Walz urges action on milk crisis. . .

The Owatonna People's Press reported yesterday that Walz works to remedy effects of milk surplus:

After raw milk prices took a 50 percent drop in a space of a few months, legislators and dairy farmers alike have been scrambling for a solution.

The effects have not yet played out in the general public. The startling, rapid drop in milk prices has not lowered retail prices in grocery stores, but U.S. Congressman Tim Walz said on Friday that people should not assume all is well.

“When people see high prices, they assume it’s all fine in farm country,” Walz, who represents the First Congressional District in Minnesota, said. “Dairy producers are usually pretty recession-proof, but they can’t continue to produce and lose money on each gallon.”

Walz takes the position that Minnesota cannot afford to lose the dairy industry. According to a release prepared by Walz’s staff, Minnesota dairy producers directly contribute more than $1.2 billion to the state’s economy and generate more than 27,000 jobs.

Walz said that the dairy producers will need help from the government to maintain a vital industry that constitutes a large contribution to Minnesota’s economy during what one local dairy farmer called “the biggest downcycle since the Great Depression.”

To wit, Walz wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack with two proposals, “two quick ways to prevent a total meltdown.” . . .

Read the rest at the OPP, along with the companion Q&A: Rep. Tim Walz on the steep decline of raw milk prices.

The Winona Daily News looks at the story from the perspective of local dairy farmers in A future uncertain: Dairy farmers fight dropping milk prices:

Jason Kalmes and Keith Speltz milked cows Friday afternoon on a farm two miles west of town, but the milk they sell probably won’t be worth enough to pay the men who collect it.

Maple Acres Dairy, where they work, will be paid $10.40 per hundred pounds when the milk is bought by Plainview Milk Products Cooperative, said their uncle Mark Speltz. That’s about 50 percent less than the price of milk last summer and, by Speltz’s estimation, more than $6 below what the farm needs to break even on its dairy operation.

“We don’t know what to do,” he said. “We won’t make payroll next period.”

Plunging dairy prices have forced many area farmers like Speltz into an untenable position — where they are losing money with each load of milk they sell. Most expect prices to continue falling. While congressional leaders push for government assistance to curb the drop, the timeline for a price rebound remains unclear. The uncertainty may force some farmers out of the industry and has even the long-timers pondering the future.

“It just makes you wonder why you’re even doing it,” said Speltz, who has farmed for 32 years. “It’s never been this bad.”

The article discusses the solution:

Most dairy experts predict the fall to get worse before it gets better. Farmers talk about prices dropping down to $9 per hundredweight by the end of this month. Action on the milk future market indicates that prices will still be below the break-even point in six months, Lefebvre said.

Congressional leaders have been working to change that outlook. U.S. Democratic Sens. Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl of Wisconsin and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota were among more than 30 senators who sent a letter late last month to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging measures to address the price drops. Minnesota Democrat Rep. Tim Walz sent a similar letter .

USDA could use funds set aside to purchase surplus commodities to increase the demand for dairy products and help producers, Walz said in the release.

The government could buy the surplus dairy products and then give them to food shelves and other organizations serving those hurt by the hard economic times, [executive director of Minnesota Milk Producers Association Bob] Lefebvre said. He calls the idea a “classic win-win.”

“It’s a two-for-one deal,” he said. “You talk about economic stimulus. This is not just an economic stimulus; it’s a people stimulus.”

Walz's request to Vilsack made news across the state. Little Falls Radio reported on Thursday:

--Falling milk prices are squeezing the budgets of central Minnesota dairy farmers Lobbying at the Capitol in St. Paul, dairy farmers told legislators their priorities including keeping recent tax incentives and assistance programs from drying up in the effort to balance a $5 billion dollar state budge deficit.  Pat Lunemann, a Todd County dairy farmer and president of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association,  says farmers hope the legislature will continue the Livestock Investment Grant and Dairy Profitability Enhancement programs, as well as streamline permitting and helping farmers meet new environmental compliance regulations, set to kick-in next year. . . .

. . .--Congressman Tim Walz is urging the U-S Agriculture Secretary to step in and purchase surplus milk and processed milk products to shore up collapsing dairy prices. Walz says just a few months ago farmers were getting 17-dollars a hundred-weight.  Walz says a dairy collapse would result in a number of lost jobs. Minnesota's dairy industry generates more than 27-thousand jobs, including direct employment of more than six-thousand workers. Last year, similar action was taken to address the drop in pork prices that threatened the livelihood of many farmers.

We'll be following this challenge for rural Minnesotans.

Image: (Upper photo) Not Tim Walz, regardless of what you read in the Political Muse's Weekly Romp through the MN Blogs. No, Eric: that's Superman.

We think our friend at Liberal in the Land of Conservative panicked a bit at the chess piece we mailed him. Who knew the he'd be so alarmed upon receiving a package containing a knight?

We're confused that a writer who has the courage to work with schoolchildren and talk common sense about the Crown Hydro project would have such an over-the-top reaction and claim that Tim Walz flies and lives in a Sod Hut of Solitude.

We're definitely not going wrap any of our latest walleye catch and send Hal over with the delivery.

(Lower photo) Tim Walz for real. You didn't think we weren't going to milk this one for all it's worth, did you?

And now a milkman song from Ella Mae Morse, channeling Rosie the Riveter:

Green recovery: Town hall meeting Friday, February 20 in Mankato

Environment Minnesota sent notice of a Town Hall meeting next Friday in Mankato:

What: Repower America Town Hall Forum

Environment Minnesota is joining with Congressman Tim Walz and other local environmental groups to host our Repower America Town Hall Forum at the Minnesota State University Mankato. We'll focus on green jobs, the federal economic recovery plan, and our local economy. We’ll discuss how we can fight global warming while creating a clean energy economy for Minnesota. This includes efforts to use the federal economic recovery package to fund “ready to go” clean energy and public transit projects, which will significantly reduce global warming pollution and create jobs. We will also discuss other local, state, and federal opportunities to boost clean energy and fight global warming.

Who: Congressman Tim Walz of Minnesota’s 1st District Samantha Chadwick, Environment Minnesota, citizen-based advocacy organization Gerry Parzino, United Steelworkers and the Blue Green Alliance Dan Juhl, CEO of Juhl Wind Tim Penny, former Congressman, President and CEO of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation J Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director with Fresh Energy Dr. Vincent Winstead, professor at Minnesota State University Mankato

When: Friday February 20th, 11:00 AM

Where: Centennial Student Union Heritage Room, Minnesota State University Mankato

For more information: Samantha Chadwick, 612-379-1475, [email protected]

The Star Tribune reports that Minnesota's take: About $9.1 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Environment Minnesota sent us a press release that focuses on the green elements of the bill:

Green Recovery Bill Will Deliver Less Pollution, More Jobs through Clean Energy

Washington, DC - This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an economic recovery package containing nearly $80 billion in clean energy, energy efficiency, public transit, rail and green transportation funding.

“With the clean energy and green transportation investments in this package, Congress can deliver a green economic recovery that will repower America and recharge our economy,” said Environment Minnesota Washington DC Director Anna Aurilio.

The final bill invests $32.80 billion for clean energy, $26.86 billion for energy efficiency, and $18.95 billion for green transportation. Environment Minnesota highlighted the following provisions:

* Extending and “recession proofing” the renewable energy incentives, which will prevent 55.8 million tons of global warming pollution per year by the end of the three year extension and create or protect 254,000 jobs in the near term;

* Creating a renewable energy manufacturing tax credit;

* Fully funding the Green Jobs Act at $500 million over 2 years which will train 70,000 workers in renewable energy and energy efficiency job;

* Invest $4.5 billion to upgrade our electricity transmission system to better take advantage of renewable energy and improve efficiency;

* Providing $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program, enough to prevent 9.7 million tons of global warming pollution and create 375,000 jobs;

* Providing $4.5 billion to improve energy efficiency of federal buildings, the nation’s biggest energy user;

* Funding the State Energy Program at $3.1 billion to help citizens and business save energy;

* Providing $3.2 billion in block grants for local government energy efficiency and renewable energy projects;

* Providing $8.4 billion in public transit, which will save 10.3 million barrels of oil and create or preserve 252,000 jobs, with $1.5 billion set aside for expanding capacity and upgrades to existing transit systems;

* Investing $8 billion for new high speed rail projects. In 2008, the wind energy industry installed enough new power capacity to avoid nearly 44 million tons of global warming pollution and increased U.S. wind industry jobs by 70 percent. Fixing the renewable energy tax incentives was a top priority to keep increasing the development of clean, renewable energy and reducing global warming pollution. Environment Minnesota also commended the House and Senate leaders who removed billions of dollars in loan guarantees from the final bill that could have been used for nuclear power and liquid coal. “The clean energy investments we need to protect our environment and start solving global warming will create more jobs and stimulate the economy more than the dirty technologies of the past. We urge the Senate to quickly deliver this final bill to President Obama so America can get on the path to a clean energy economy,” concluded Aurilio.

Anatomy of a smear: Health Care for America Now defends Walz

Health Care for America Now has posted about the need for progressives to stand firm in defending those who stood up for the economy and health care:

Conservatives will also use this vote to hit progressives out in the states. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is taking out radio ads against a handful of House Democrats, hitting them "for supporting a trillion-dollar spending bill chock full of wasteful Washington spending instead of working across the aisle to create real jobs for struggling middle-class families."

This, of course, is a load of crap. As progressives unfortunately know, President Obama and other Democrats offered Republicans numerous concessions, most of which Republicans took. Then they turn around and vote against the final bill. As I argued last night, bipartisanship is all well and good, and if Republicans would like to have bipartisanship, they can start agreeing with Democrats, thereby making bills bipartisan.

The NRCC ad buy is pitifully small, only about $35,000 spread out over almost 30 districts. Still, on their list of targets are a few of the candidates Health Care for America Now helped get elected in November.

So, we'd like to publicly defend Alan Grayson (FL-08), Eric Massa (NY-29), Mark Schauer (MI-07), and Tim Walz (MN-01), along with the other targeted Democrats, and thank them for their vote.

As American families struggle with this recession, they voted to create 3.5 million jobs, against Republican opposition. (Incidentally, they also supported the biggest tax cut in history.) They voted to give millions of families health care coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, and COBRA subsidies. And they voted for billions in medical research that will create jobs and save lives. And today, they will stand up stood up (here's the roll call) and vote "yes" once again for final passage on this bill.

They are serving their districts and their country well; this is what they were elected to do. We applaud them.

Earlier in the post, Jason Rosenbaum looks at the evolution of one example of how the right smears a policy item (and how that smear is funded).  This video from Keith Olbermann illustrates the story well:

It's early in the 2010 cycle, and the Republicans don't yet have any publicly declared candidates seeking endorsement, but we can be sure we'll be seeing more of this sort of thing as the elections approach. Consider giving Walz's campaign committee a contribution here.

Friday digest: anywhere but in between edition

The House has passed the stimulus bill, 246-183-1, with Blue Dog Collin Peterson joining Minnesota Republicans in voting against it.

The New Ulm Journal reports in Walz supports stimulus bill:

Walz expressed impatience with critics of the bill who wanted to take more time to put their own projects and ideas into the bill.

"Timeliness is important," said Walz. "We don't have time to wait longer. As we dawdle, people are losing their jobs and their livelihood."

President Barack Obama had sought an $800 billion stimulus bill, saying that was how much was needed to provide the needed stimulus to the economy, according to his consultations with economic experts.

Asked if the $790 billion package was big enough, Walz said he hoped it was.

"There is real need out there, and we want to get this right. I'm a little uneasy about that. We don't want to pull a car only half way out of the ditch."

Asked about the bill's trimming away $35 million in state stabilization funds, leaving $54 billion, at a time when Minnesota is anticipating a budget deficit of $6 billion to $7 billion, Walz said that was one of his biggest disappointments.

"As far as job creation and stabilization goes, that was one of the most important parts of the bill," said Walz. "If there is an Achilles' heel to this bill, that is it."

The larger amount of stabilization aid, which would help states make up deficits and fund infrastructure and building projects, was based on what the governors had told Congress.

But Walz said Congress will have other opportunities to help states, through the upcoming transportation funding bill and other legislation that Congress usually handles.

The Alliance for a Better Minesota isn't happy with Governor Pawlenty's political ambitions getting put ahead of Minnesotans' needs. The organization has created a website, My Guv Is Cheating on Me, to help citizens express their disappointment.  Even the conservative Journal wonders if Pawlenty is Upping the crisis.

The Muse Tube has been kind enough to post the full video of Walz's floor speech:

PR reports that Minnesota Republicans blast stimulus bill. Walz bits:

1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz said the bill is not perfect but is needed. Walz said he's lost patience with Republican criticism.

"I guess I'm a little frustrated," he said. "I see my colleagues trying to zero in on one tenth of 1 percent that they happen to not agree with and miss the fact that as we dawdle people are losing their livelihoods," he said.

Walz said tax cuts, along with research money in the bill, will help the people of his district. And Walz says it's critical that Congress passes the plan.

"What we're doing is addressing an economy that is as difficult as any that most of us have seen in our lifetime," he said. The numbers are staggering. The outlook is pretty bleak in the short-run. This piece of legislation is meant to be the life preserver to put us in the right direction."

KEYC-TV has posted a good interview in Rep. Walz Reacts To Stimulus Bill Deal.  In the netroots, Jeff Rosenberg looks at Pork: The most meaningless word in politics. It's a fine read that echoes what Southern Minnesotans have known about projects like the Lewis and Clark Regional Water system or flood mitigation projects in Owatonna

This story of a Stockton family getting kicked out of their FEMA trailer is very sad.

We don't often agree with Tony Cornish but his proposal to make ATVs to be road legal makes a lot of sense for rural Minnesotans. Allowing more  classes of ATVs to use shoulders would help nesting birds and take some wear and tear off the ditches.

We had a request for the right side of the aisle for a little Crowing Crows. Here's a little ditty inspired by a novel by Saul Bellow, himself a product of the WPA Writers Project in Chicago. Just one more failure of the New Deal we guess, since art isn't very important.

Youtube of Walz floor statement on stimulus bill

The beginning of Walz's fiery remarks about the stimulus bill on the House floor today are missing from this YouTube, but what the poster captured is worth a watch:

Perhaps the MuseTube can find and post the entire speech.

Walz to Pawlenty administration: Southern Minnesota leaders name recovery needs

Earlier this year, Congressman Walz held stimulus bill listening sessions like this one across Southern Minnesota. Dozens of local officials indicated projects for potential funding. Now Walz has handed that list off to the Pawlenty administration, which will administer the state's share of the stimulus funds.

A press release from the Congressional office:

Walz forwards southern Minnesota recovery needs to Pawlenty administration

Local officials request more than $625 million in federal economic recovery funding to create jobs and build infrastructure in southern Minnesota

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Walz forwarded more than $625 million in requests for federal economic recovery funds to the Pawlenty Administration. Walz, who hosted Pawlenty’s Commissioner of Transportation Tom Sorel in his Washington DC office today, passed on the requests from township, school district, city and county officials in southern Minnesota who are urgently seeking federal funds to complete much needed local infrastructure projects. In its current form, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will send federal dollars to states to be distributed and will create or save four million jobs through infrastructure projects and state aid.

“At the end of January I held several listening sessions with township, city, school district and county officials so I could hear more about the types of projects they want to undertake in order to fix their infrastructure and create jobs in our communities,” said Congressman Tim Walz. “Nearly three hundred local officials communicated their needs to my office and today I made sure that the Pawlenty Administration is also aware of the dire need in southern Minnesota.”

“These projects range from mundane street repair, to sewage systems and water treatment facilities, to new school buildings, to water tower refurbishing,” continued Walz. “Every one of these projects creates jobs and I doubt anyone questions the importance of having chemical-free water or streets without gigantic potholes.”

“This economy is in crisis. But by working together, we can turn this crisis into an opportunity to put people back to work and prepare our state for the long term,” concluded Walz.

Walz also forwarded the recovery requests to Commissioner Tom Hanson, who Governor Pawlenty has designated to lead Minnesota’s process for distributing federal recovery funding. Walz spoke with Hanson last week to urge him to ensure rural areas get their fare share of the federal package.

And now, a some advice from a little girl from Port Arthur, Texas:

Walz to USDA: Help America's dairy farmers

This morning's Star Tribune article Dairy farms: Got hope? featured the plight of Minnesota's dairy farmers in a time when their costs of production aren't covered by the price they receive for their milk. Nor are grocery prices for dairy products coming down, even thought the recession has slackened demand for most lines.

Last week, the paper ran an Associated Press story generated in Willmar, Milk prices slashed in half for Minnesota farmers.

Congressman Walz has appealed to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to act on behalf of dairy producers. From the congressional office:

Walz Urges Swift Action to Assist Dairy Producers

Says action is critically important to head off looming crisis in dairy industry to save good-paying jobs in rural America

(Washington, DC) - On Monday, Congressman Walz wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging him to take swift action to assist dairy producers throughout the country who are experiencing serious economic difficulty due to high production costs and low milk prices.

"I have heard from dairy producers across Minnesota who are very concerned about the future of their industry if swift action is not taken,” said Walz. “I wrote Secretary Vilsack yesterday to encourage him to use funds he has available to purchase surplus milk and processed milk products and help shore up collapsing dairy prices.”

Walz successfully pushed for a similar action by USDA last year to address a drop in pork prices that threatened the livelihood of thousands of southern Minnesota’s farm and ranch families. He said that sensible use of USDA’s so-called Section 32 funds—funds that are available at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase surplus commodities—can increase demand for dairy products and help producers around the country who are facing a crisis.

“During this time of economic uncertainty, it is important that we act quickly to provide assistance and save good paying jobs in rural America,” Walz.

On an annual basis, Minnesota dairy producers contribute more than $1.2 billion to Minnesota’s economy and the total economic impact of Minnesota’s dairy production is an estimated $3.1 billion. Minnesota’s dairy industry generates more than 27,000 jobs, including direct employment of more than 6,000 workers.

In January 2009, dairy producers experienced a significant drop in milk prices that is far below their breakeven costs. Prices are expected to fall even further throughout the month of February.

Download and view a pdf file of Walz's letter to Secretary Vilsack.

Friday digest: the real pork edition

There's a lot of talk about pork these day. We think those who want to understand The whole hog should head to the Minnesota State Spring Barrow Show at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.  The Albert Lea Tribune has all the details.

In the Owatonna People's Press, we learn about the details of a Pilot sweet corn and pea program included in farm bill. The provision is for farmers with contracts with canning companies. The paper also reports that there are more, but smaller, farms in the area, in part because of the organic and local food movement, in Census: Number of farms in Steele County has grown.

The Pipestone Star reports on a fight between a large wind farm and a smaller community project in enXco takes the wind out of Valley View's sails.

A friend in Winona asked that we include the following notice at Bluestem:

2009 Winona County DFL Banquet Set

(Winona, MN) -- Winona County Democrats will hold their 2009 annual banquet on Sunday, March 15 at Westfield Golf Club in Winona. The event begins with a social hour at 5:00 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.  All area Democrats are welcome to attend, to enjoy the company of fellow Democrats and elected officials from across the state.  Special guests will be official and unofficial Democratic candidates for Governor in 2010.

Banquet tickets can be purchased through www.winonadfl.org  or at the Winona County DFL office, 685 West Fifth St. in Winona. DFL office hours are 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.  Deadline for purchasing tickets is Saturday, February 28th, and tickets are expected to sell out quickly.  

Call the DFL office at 507-474-6099 with questions.

Rumor has it that there will be no shortage of DFL gubernatorial candidates, though we're told the organizers are waiting for confirmations on the list. We attended last year's event, and had a great time, though the weather added interest to the drive back.

We enjoyed this Lewis Black segment about Congress members posting on YouTube when it appeared earlier in the week on the Daily Show. The potty words are bleeped out, but it might not be work safe for many readers. We concur with Black's observation about whether Cantor is management material:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Back in Black - Congress on YouTube

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

Important Things With Demetri Martin
More Funny Videos

Walz co-sponsors bill to address railroad shipping rates

One of the classic battles in rural America is the fight over railroad shipping rates, which ebbs and flows according to economic conditions and the regulatory environment. At several of the economic summits we attended, co-ops and farm groups have brought up this issue in the 21st century.

From the congressional office:

Rep Walz Backs Bill to Protect Consumers from Hidden ‘Railroad Tax’

Cosponsors bill to Stop Freight Railroads’ Abuse of Monopoly Power to Overcharge Shippers

(Washington, D.C.) – Recently, Congressman Tim Walz co-sponsored legislation to stop big railroads’ monopoly power over rail customers and to end the hidden tax levied on American consumers by big railroad overcharges for shipping U.S. consumer goods.

“Times are tough and American families are struggling,” said Congressman Walz. “Because the big railroads are free to force unreasonably higher shipping costs to move goods by rail, people are forced to spend more of their hard earned money on everything from food on the table to electricity to light their homes. These higher costs amount to a hidden tax on U.S. consumers for millions of goods shipped by rail each year. It’s long past time we ended the big railroads’ sneaky surcharge on American consumers.

”

Walz has cosponsored H.R. 233, the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act, which would end the major railroads’ broad exemption from the nation’s antitrust law to which all other U.S. business must adhere.

Under the current exemption, U.S. freight railroads have consolidated to four regional monopolies carrying 90 percent of the nation’s freight rail traffic. These railroads routinely exert their market power through increased shipping rates and poor service for captive rail shippers. The legislation would eliminate this exemption.

“For too long rail customers in Minnesota and across the nation have been captive to a railroad monopoly and suffered declining service, unreliable rail shipments and unreasonably high costs, which are then passed along to the American consumer,” said Walz. “This legislation is long overdue. Competition is healthy and will ensure a level playing field in our freight rail system and ultimately protect consumers.”

The legislation has the backing of a broad coalition of organizations representing consumers, businesses, rural America, as well as legal and regulatory experts. These organizations include the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the American Chemistry Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, and National Farmers Union.

“I commend Congressman Walz for standing up to the big railroads on behalf of American consumers,” said Glenn English, Chairman of Consumers United for Rail Equity. “With his help we will finally shed light on the rail industry’s abusive practices that are increasing railroad profits at the expense of U.S. consumers.”