A Bluestem Prairie

Thursday digest: intersection edition

A number of stories Bluestem has been following almost from our beginnings in the summer of 2006 are criss-crossing our reading today. First, we're overjoyed to read in VetVoice:: DoD Stop-Loss Press Release:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 179-09
March 18, 2009

________________________________________________

End to Stop Loss Announced

The Department of Defense announced today a comprehensive plan to eliminate the current use of Stop Loss, while retaining the authority for future use under extraordinary circumstances.  This is an important step along the path in adapting the Army into an expeditionary force.  

The Army Reserve and Army National Guard will mobilize units without employing  Stop Loss beginning in August and September 2009, respectively.  The Regular (active duty) Army will deploy its first unit without Stop Loss by January 2010.  

For soldiers Stop Lossed during fiscal 2009, the department will provide a monthly payment of $500.   Until the department is able to eliminate Stop Loss altogether, this payment will serve as an interim measure to help mitigate its effects.

"Stop Loss disrupts the plans of those who have served their intended obligation.  As such, it is employed only when necessary to ensure minimal staffing in deploying units, when needed to ensure safe and effective unit performance," said Bill Carr, deputy under secretary of defense for military personnel policy.  "It is more easily rationalized in the early stages of conflict when events are most dynamic; but tempo changes in this war have frustrated our efforts to end it altogether."  

The department intends to provide Stop Loss Special Pay to eligible service members until the point of separation or retirement, to include that time spent on active duty in recovery following redeployment.  Stop Loss Special Pay will begin on the date of implementation, and will take effect for those impacted on or after Oct. 1, 2008.

Stop Loss Special Pay implements the authority granted by Section 8116 of the "Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriation Act, 2009."  The appropriation is available to secretaries of the military departments only to provide Special Pay during fiscal 2009.

Upgrading Highway 14 is an important goal for Southern Minnesotans, given the safety and economic factors involved. The Mankato Free Press reports today in H14-CR41 plan advances:

North Mankato may still have a long road ahead when it comes to accumulating nearly $30 million to construct a new interchange on Highway 14, along with related road work.

But city officials are sensing some momentum in the multi-year effort to build the infrastructure they say they need for economic and residential growth.

“I think there’s a meeting of the minds that we’re ready to move forward on this project,” said City Administrator Wendell Sande.

The minds meeting last week included those of Sande, Mayor Gary Zellmer, Nicollet County representatives and officials from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. MnDOT is looking to finish up environmental studies related to the proposed interchange of County Road 41 and Highway 14 in the next few months, Sande said.

And there was preliminary discussion of the interchange design, Sande said. Getting environmental and design work finished could make the project more attractive as a target for additional federal funding — either from a future economic stimulus package or from the upcoming federal transportation bill.

Congressman Tim Walz is expecting a five-year transportation bill of somewhere around $500 billion. Although the bill is to be completed by Oct. 1, Congress often misses its deadline on large multi-year funding bills — sometimes by as much as a year.

Walz said the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Minnesotan Jim Oberstar, is hoping to avoid a long delay in getting a bill passed.

“It won’t take a year,” said Walz, who serves on the committee. “Oberstar assures us of that.”

With the interchange itself projected to cost $23 million, supporting road construction totaling $6.3 million, and the project left out of MnDOT construction plan for the next 20 years, supporters of the project will probably need to rely on a substantial federal contribution to get the interchange in place in the foreseeable future. But even as they await congressional action, money is beginning to accumulate from a variety of sources.

Nearly $660,000 in federal funding acquired for the project by Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar — and matched by a 20 percent local share from the city and county — will be spent in coming months to acquire 40 to 50 acres of land for rightRich Text of way at the site of the proposed interchange. . .

Read the whole story at the MFP. The Austin Daily Herald picks up the news that Walz releases stimulus guide:

Congressman Tim Walz released a guidebook to help citizens understand the funding available under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R.1). The guidebook, which will be posted on Walz’s Web site (walz.house.gov), explains which types of projects can receive funding under the Recovery Act and provides contact information for the various federal, state and local agencies responsible for distributing the funding.

Call Walz’s Mankato office at (507) 388-2149 or (877) TIM-WALZ.

Or you can just download the pdf here.

Walz votes to get bailout benjamins back from bonus-binging brokers and bankers

The "bonus tax" has passed in the House. Minnesota's congressional delegation voted along partisan lines, with Ellison, McCollum, Oberstar, Peteson and Walz voting for H.R. 1586, and Bachmann, Kline and Paulsen opposing it.

The Minnesota Republicans' unified position was not reflected iamong their colleagues from across the country, however, as the House Republicans split nearly evenly, with 85 supporting the measure, while 87 opposed it.

A press release from the congressional office:

Walz Votes to Recover Big Taxpayer-Funded Bonuses from “Bailed Out” Wall Street Executives

(Washington, DC) – Today, Congressman Tim Walz voted for H.R. 1586, the Bonus Recoupment Tax Bill, to force the wealthy executives of financial institutions that have received bailout money from the American taxpayers to repay 90 percent of any bonuses that they receive. H.R. 1586 passed the House by a vote of 328-93.

“Wall Street executives who ran their companies into the ground and brought this economy to the brink of collapse shouldn’t be rewarded with taxpayer funded bonuses,” said Walz. “I voted three times against the Wall Street bailout because it didn’t include adequate protections for the American taxpayer. With failed companies like AIG paying executives big bonuses with taxpayer dollars, Congress needs to act to recoup those bonuses and put the taxpayers first,” Walz said.

Walz continued, “Today, I supported H.R. 1586, because it will take back the taxpayer-paid bonuses these executives have received. This bill will make sure that taxpayer dollars aren’t funding lavish bonuses at companies that have received bailout funds. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to put middle-class families first.”

To recapture bonuses that are going to the executives of failed big banks, H.R. 1586 will impose a 90 percent income tax on bonuses paid after December 31, 2008, by companies that have received over $5 billion in Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) funds, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. The tax would also apply to bonuses paid by entities affiliated with these companies. Three-fourths of the TARP funds that have been spent went to companies that would be covered by this bill, though the many smaller, community banks that received less than $5 billion will not be affected. This tax will not apply to any bonus that is returned to the company in the same taxable year that the bonus is paid. The bill will only affect executives with adjusted gross income above $250,000.

We wonder what Bachmann, Kline, and Paulsen are holding out for? Stephem Colbert's suggestion:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Keeping Our Heads
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Mark Sanford

Walz signs Ross letter opposing assault weapon ban

We're not the only Democrats around who favor gun rights. Oregon-based Blue Steel Democrats reports 65 Congressional Democrats tell Holder "No" on the Assault Weapons Ban:

Led by Arkansas Congressman, Mike Ross, sixty-five pro-gun Democrats--including Oregon's inestimable Pete DeFazio--signed an open letter to Attorney General Eric Holder opposing any effort to renew the so-called Assault Weapons Ban. 65 Congressmen represents a significant portion of Democratic house majority; enough to show clearly the assault weapons ban (AWB) is dead in the current Congress.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, respectively the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, have already gone on record publicly opposing any new AWB. It is my sincere hope that the perennial anti-gun legislators will recognize the futility of bringing forward any new legislation to ban any currently legal class of firearm, thus avoiding political theater that could only damage Democrats despite the hard work by so many Democratic Congressmen.

Politico posted a pdf of the letter here.

Speaker Pelosi thanks Walz for pressing president to drop veterans pay plan

The Washington Post reported yesterday evening  in Obama Drops Controversial Third-Party Billing Proposal for Veterans:

President Obama today abandoned a proposal to bill veterans' private insurance companies for treatment of combat-related injuries after the measure prompted an outcry from veterans service organizations and members of Congress.

The proposal would have authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs to charge private companies for treating injuries and other medical conditions related to military service, such as amputations, post-traumatic stress disorder and other battle wounds. The measure was intended to save the VA about $530 million a year, but the administration's pursuit of third-party billing sparked resistance from leaders of powerful veterans groups, who met earlier this week with Obama.

Huffington Post had noted earlier in the week that Dems Fuming Over White House Plan To Make Vets For Service Injuries:

Democrats in Congress are organizing to squash a White House proposal that would require veterans to use private insurance to pay for treatment of their combat and service-related injuries.

In Pelosi: Administration Will Not Force Veterans to Use Private Insurance to Pay for combat-Related Injuries, the Speaker Pelosi thanked Congressman Walz and othr represneatives for standing up for veterans:

Pelosi made the announcement at a meeting she and House Democrats hosted this afternoon in the Capitol with leaders of veterans' service organizations, who greeted the news with a standing ovation. Below are the Speaker's remarks.

"Good afternoon and thank you all very much for coming. Thank you for your leadership, for your service to our country, for your generosity of spirit to America's heroes, for helping us make better policy to honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, both when they are in active duty and when they come home. As you know, in the military, the expression is: 'On the battlefield, we leave no soldier behind.' And when they come home, working with you, we will leave no veteran behind.

"Particular to today's meeting and a subject of some conversation, I'm pleased to announce that we have some good news. Over the past several days, President Obama has listened to the genuine concerns expressed by veterans' leaders and veterans' service organizations regarding the option of billing service connected to veterans' insurance companies.

"Based on the respect that President Obama has for our nation's veterans and the principled concerns expressed by veterans' leaders, the President has made the decision that the combat-wounded veterans should not be billed through their insurance policies for combat-related injuries. [Applause.]

"I want to thank all of you, our friends came to me from the American Legion and many of you expressed your views on this subject. You had a great champion, of course, in Chet Edwards, who is Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on veterans; the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Bob Filner; the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Skelton, who is here; and the man who writes the budget, and he was never going to put this in the budget, I know, John Spratt.

"I want to thank them and you for making this important change. But it wasn't just the Chairmen inside the Congress, it was our Members as well. Mr. Brad Ellsworth is here, John Hall, Tim Walz, Jim Marshall, Glenn Nye, Vic Snyder; they and so many other members, Gene Taylor.  They -- and many members of the Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees and Mr. Edwards, Appropriations Committee on Veterans Issues -- worked hard to make this clear so that this issue is now behind us . . .[emphasis added]

Photo: Representatives Filner and Walz talking with veterans at the Rochester veterans memorial.

Does Cat Power have a better idea than 90% tax on bailout bonuses? Maybe not.

Back in October, Congressman Walz was scolded by the editorial board of the Star Tribune for voting against the bank bailout bill. He defended his choice in Why I Voted Against the Bailout Bill. One of the things he wrote about the legislation he said no to twice:

It continues to permit excessive CEO compensation by instituting so-called limits on compensation and golden parachutes that are essentially all bark and no bite. As the Washington Post puts it, "executive pay experts said the regulations are too weak to spark major reform in the way companies compensate top officers, and too narrow in scope to change the pay structure that encouraged finance executives in boom times to take on enormous risks."

Enormous bonuses to executives have spurred a public out cry, with Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley going so far as to suggest in a radio interview that "AIG representatives should either “resign, or go commit suicide.” He later called the suggestion rhetoric and that people can recognise that. Since rhetoric is the art of persuasion, we won't disagree with the senator from Iowa.

However, Congress looks to be going ahead with a third alternative to either resignation or suicide. CQPolitics reports in AIG Backlash: 90 Percent Tax on Bonuses Up for House Vote:

While American International Group Inc.’s chief executive says the firm could recover millions in bonuses via voluntary means, that’s not slowing a legislative effort to recoup the money and shift the incentive-based pay structure traditionally used by financial institutions.

The House is scheduled to act Thursday on legislation (H.R. 1586) that would impose a 90 percent tax on bonuses given to highly paid employees not only of AIG, but of all recipients of more than $5 billion in federal bailout funds, a group expected to include about a dozen financial institutions, according to Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel , D-N.Y. Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co. and Citigroup Inc. would likely be among the affected companies.

“I expect to see an overwhelming vote,” House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md., told reporters Wednesday afternoon.

The House response, and Senate legislation also likely to see action in the coming days, will largely change the incentive structure for many banks on the receiving end of federal bailout funds.

The bills represent a continuation of a huge shift in the government’s approach to corporate management that began last fall, when the government started to take stakes in private firms. . . .

. . .But for lawmakers barraged with calls and e-mails from critical constituents, the corporate bonuses are part of a larger problem surrounding the troubled institutions — the idea that there is no financial accountability for risk-taking.

As one staffer suggested, it's certainly an I-told-you-so moment for Congressman Walz.

Other friends' recent observations foreshadowed Senator Grassley's rhetoric about what to do about those who received both bailout benjamins and bonuses.  Cat Power has a how-to video. Or maybe not--though certainly a lovely voice. We offer the following video for rhetorical purposes only, in order to point out that today's bill simply isn't an extreme moment of the bonus discourse:

Walz votes for GIVE Act; Paulsen joins MN Democrats in vote

The House passed the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, H.R. 1388 today by a vote of 321 to 105. Third Congressional District Republican Erik Paulsen joined all five DFLers in Congress in voting for the measure, which Republicans John Kline and Michele Bachmann voted against.

A press release from Congressman Walz's office:

Representative Walz Votes to Renew America's Commitment to Service

(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Tim Walz joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives in voting for a bill that will launch a new era of American service and volunteerism. The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, H.R. 1388, answers President Obama's call for Americans of all generations to help get the country through the economic crisis by serving and volunteering in their communities

The House passed the legislation, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, H.R. 1388, by a vote of 321 to 105. The Senate is considering similar legislation.

"In his inaugural address, President Obama called for all Americans to dedicate themselves to serve in their communities," said Walz. "This bill will give southern Minnesotans the tools they need to rebuild their communities."

The GIVE Act would more than triple the number of volunteers currently engaged in Senior Corp, AmeriCorps, and Learn & Serve America, from the current 75,000 to 250,000, and increase the education reward they receive to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award. The education award would also be linked to match future boosts in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.

It would create a new national Call to Service campaign to encourage all Americans to get involved in service and would encourage Americans to observe September 11th a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The legislation provides new incentives for middle and high school students to volunteer in their communities. It would create a Summer of Service program to engage students in service and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs.

In addition, the legislation would:

Strengthen existing service programs and create new innovative programs to help improve student achievement and graduation in low-income schools, expand health care access, provide seniors with help living independently, enhance services for veterans, and help build a green, energy-efficient economy;

Establish a Veterans Corp to meet the unique needs of veterans and military families;

Expand the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps to infrastructure improvement, environmental and energy conversation, and urban and rural development, in addition to disaster relief;

Create new opportunities for Baby Boomers and seniors to serve and volunteer;

Recruit scientists and engineers into service to keep America competitive; and

Build a nationwide community-based infrastructure to leverage investments in service.

For a more detailed fact sheet visit: http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/GIVEActSummary20090311.pdf.

An article by David Hawley in today's MinnPost included a look back at the Civilian Conservation Corps, upon which the National Civilian Community Corps (a part of Americorps) is based, as in the Minnesota Conservation Corps mentioned in the article.

One of our uncles was a member of the CCC in Minnesota in the 1930s, working in the North Woods. MinnPost linked to a MSHS YouTube about the CCC in Minnesota, which btrought a number of his stories about work in the camps back.

Image: A poster for the Illinois CCC from the National Archives.

Doug Nopar letter in WDN: Chamber favors profits over people

On Sunday, we noted the Winona Daily News and LaCrosse Tribune's coverage of Congressman Walz continued support for the EFCA in our post Sunday digest: news, link farming and Muse Tube as well.

Today the WDN has printed a letter supporting Walz's position by local DFLer and progressive activist Doug Nopar,

The criticism in Sunday’s paper of Rep. Tim Walz and the Employee Free Choice Act by Della Schmidt and the Chamber of Commerce is certainly predictable. It is part of an ongoing national campaign by corporate business interests to maximize profits at the expense of working people.

What is deceitful about the chamber’s opposition is the suggestion that this legislation somehow “robs workers of a fundamental, democratic, American right.” Now, wait a minute. Are we supposed to believe that Big Business opposes this legislation because it would hurt workers? Maybe we should believe that Big Business had spent the past 30 years defending workers’ rights as well. Instead, both nationally and internationally, the corporate business community has used every tool available, legal and illegal, to prevent workers from organizing. The result has been the greatest slide in working people’s real wages the nation has ever seen, while those at the top have amassed more and more wealth.

Do we as a nation really want to keep widening the income gap between the haves and the have-nots? I don’t believe this kind of income disparity helps anyone, be they rich or poor. Thank you, Tim Walz, for looking out for what is best for all of us.

TakeAction Minnesota health care group planning meeting in Rochester on Tuesday

The Rochester Post Bulletin reports in Health care group to meet Tuesday:

TakeAction Minnesota will have a planning meeting from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rochester Public Library, meeting room A.

The group is focused on building grassroots support for quality, affordable health care for everyone in Minnesota.

The meeting will include information about the group's one-on-one outreach, planning for the April public meeting and preparations for U.S. Rep. Tim Walz's upcoming Economic Recovery Fair.

For more information, e-mail Chris Conry at chris@takeactionminnesota.org or call (651) 379-0760.

More information about Tuesday's meeting is available on TakeAction Minnesota's website. The group is part of the Make Health Care Happen coalition.

New Gallup Survey shows public support for EFCA

Southeastern Minnesota labor leader Russell Hess tweeted a link to Employee Free Choice Poll Gives Labor Backers Big Boost at Huffington Post. Sam Stein reports:

Proponents of the Employee Free Choice Act received a big boost Tuesday morning with the publication of an independent poll showing majority support both for the legislation and the greater concept of increased unionization.

Gallup Surveys released a study on Tuesday finding that 53 percent of respondents favored a new law that would "make it easier for labor unions to organize workers." Only 39 percent of respondents opposed such a law.

When asked how important it was that Congress pass such a law, 26 percent of respondents said "very," 29 percent said "somewhat," 23 percent said "not too important," and 20 percent said "not important at all."

Meanwhile, an anti-EFCA letter in the Mankato Free Press repeats a debunked claim about the legislation. Media Matters has collected and dispatched a number of similar instances on its "American Workforce and Labor" page.

Tuesday digest: a new Recovery Act tool edition

Once upon a time in some Midwestern states, the rooster was a symbol of the Democratic Party. The  photo of the watchful bird gracing this digest is drawn from a post by Rachael Spiegel Photography - Blog: Minnesota Congressman Campaign Photo .  Spiegel certainly captured that chicken's essential roosterhood. Click on the link above for some lovely shorts of a Southern Minnesota farm in summer, and a great picture of Tim and Gus Walz talking with the farmers. Photo used with the photographer's permission.

We're going to be doing some birding this afternoon along the Minnesota River Valley in Nicollet and Blue Earth Counties, and will let readers know if we see any birds with that much attitude.

Via I Love Bettyful, we learn of more praise for Congressman Walz from the National Geographic Society:

Last month I urged you to ask Congress for action on geography education. A huge "THANK YOU" to everyone who participated! Nearly 6,000 emails went out, and in late February the House introduced a bill called Teaching Geography is Fundamental (H.R. 1240). Not only does TGIF have the best acronym on the Hill, it has a strong, bipartisan set of lead sponsors: Chris Van Hollen (MD), Roy Blunt (MO), Vernon Ehlers (MI), and Tim Walz (MN). TGIF will provide funding for teacher training and research in geography, currently the ONLY core subject without a dedicated source of federal support. Thanks. You guys rock!

We received  Walz congressional office press release about a new tool for understanding the Recovery Act--and post the pdf of the guidebook below:

WALZ RELEASES ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT GUIDEBOOK

Document will help citizens understand funding available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Walz released a guidebook to help citizens understand the funding available under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R.1). The guidebook, which will be posted on Walz’s website (walz.house.gov), explains which types of projects can receive funding under the Recovery Act and provides contact information for the various federal, state and local agencies responsible for distributing the funding.

“Many individuals and local governments are seeking access to important recovery funds during these tough economic times,” said Congressman Walz. “Some funding is being distributed by the State of Minnesota and other funds are available directly from federal government agencies. This guidebook will be a good starting point for folks seeking more information about recovery funds.”

Walz also encouraged individuals to call his Economic Recovery Coordinator, Meredith Salsbery, if they have questions after reviewing the guidebook. Salsbery can be reached in Walz’s Mankato Office at 507-388-2149 or 1-877-TIM-WALZ.

Download a copy of the Walz Recovery Guidebook by clicking on this link Walz ARRA Guide..

Monday digest: recycling edition

We've seen a lot of today's news before, but since we're all supposed to be into recycling, we'll just dust off those stories and present them in their new packaging.

 Nebraskan Republican congressman Adrian Smith writes about the House rural Caucus's call for a White House Office of Rural Policy in Ag Day 2009 from the McCook Daily News. Walz is vice-chair of the caucus.

The Rochester Post Bulletin reports in Winona Historical Society exhibit earns National Endowment grant:

Within the oldest and finest buildings in this city are stories waiting to be told. The main characters are the spectacular mansions where lumber barons once lived, banks and churches designed by some of the most prominent architects of the 20th century and other notable buildings so far spared from the wrecking ball.

The Winona County Historical Society intends to share the stories of Winona's architectural wonders in a future exhibition titled, "Identities in Brick and Stone: Society and the Built Environment on the Mississippi."

First District Rep. Tim Walz recently announced the project was awarded a $39,177 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Our friend at LILOC disagrees with our observations on emotional health in the First and Sixth. We think we're going to cry.

Sunday digest: news, link farming and Muse Tube as well

It's interesting how the same article by the same reporter is packaged differently by two different nearby newspapers in the same chain. The LaCrosse Tribune chose the headline Minnesota Rep. Walz confirms support for disputed labor bill, while the Winona Daily News picked Business leaders criticize Walz for backing labor bill. The lead (clipped directly from the WND):

American workers would gain leverage to organize unions under a controversial bill that Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn., recently confirmed he will support.

Federal lawmakers, particularly in the U.S. Senate, are ginning up for a bruising fight on the Employee Free Choice Act, which supporters say could help reverse decades of declining influence for American labor. Business leaders have fiercely criticized the bill, calling it a “job killer” and saying it would rob some workers of the right to a private vote on whether to unionize.

The act would enable employees to unionize without a secret vote that is now required, if a majority of workers sign cards to support forming a union. It also would set deadlines to force employers to negotiate contracts with newly formed unions or enter binding arbitration moderated by federal labor officials.

Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., and Walz voted for the act in 2007 before it stalled in Congress, but this year, Walz waited until last week to co-sponsor it — causing a business leader in Owatonna, Minn., to speculate earlier this month that the congressman might be undecided. But Walz said Thursday he hasn’t wavered on the measure.

Employees should be able to control their destiny,” Walz said. “We’re just trying to make sure that people have the opportunity to make a living wage.”. . .

You'll have to go read either paper to find out the management view. we're happy Walz is sticking with a campaign pledge and vote during his first term.

Bob Collins at MPR: News Cut:writes about The 'earmarks factory', giving a hat tip to Bluestem for our earlier post about the PMA Group pay-to-play scandal.  We like the post, but commented with a cautionary note about overly dramatic political rhetoric:

Thanks for the hat tip.

However, isn't "ensnaring" somewhat overblown rhetoric?

Can you demonstrate which of the individual contributions from employees of PMA Group clients to Minnesota's federal lawmakers are linked with the corruption probe? As you point out, that probe seems more linked to the big honchos at the PMA Group giving money to others to contribute to campaign and leadership PAC committees. This violates federal law.

The other scandal--which though legal--is the apparent quid-pro-quo of contributions for earmarks. Again, the connection between our lawmakers should be established prior to claims of ensnarement.

Both instances underscore the need for meaningful reform in the appropriations process. How's about a civil conservation about that?

It seems difficult when burdened by loaded language. While the Star Tribune used the Taxpayer for Common Sense's recent report on all earmarks as the basis for an article larded with loaded language like "pork", the careful reader of Taxpayer s for Common Sense documents will note that the organization never uses that sort of language. At the recent Transparency Camp in DC, a thoughtful employee of the TCS explained to me that the group's choice of words was deliberate so as to avoid oversimplification of the debate.

An excellent point, though it seems to have gone over the head of reporters like Kevin Diaz. I hope that MPR will avoid dramatic hyperbole as well. Jeff Rosenberg called for a rational discussion of earmarks at MnPublius recently. Good idea. [final link added here at BSP]

The Albert Lea Tribune has posted answer to questions about public service in Sparks, Dorman and Walz answer questions on service. Interesting read.

Our friend the Political Muse at Liberal in the Land of Conservative: has posted three MNMuseTubes on Tim Walz. The YouTubes are posted below. He writes: 

Over the past few weeks Congressman Tim Walz has given a few one minute speeches on the floor of the House of Representatives. The first came the day after the speech to Congress by President Obama. Walz highlighted how the 1st District would benefit from the investment (energy, health care, & education) priorities laid out by the administration.

Here's the first MN MuseTube:

The second, on veterans :

The third:

We appreciate the Muse's putting together these YouTubes almost as much as his Weekly romp through the Blogosphere.

The New Ulm Journal reports Irish carry on St. Patrick’s Day Tradition. And you thought New Ulm was just about Germans and great beer. A sample:

The Irish in New Ulm are hopeful that the new stimulus package that President O'Bama is working on will finally lead to a 4-lane highway leading into New Ulm. "It will make it easier for the Germans to leave and the Irish to move in," said O'Connor.

It would also ease the traffic jams leading into New Ulm on St. Patrick from all the tourists coming to town to see the parade. The traffic sometimes backs up as far as Nicollet.

Southern Minnesota: To know Mayberry 2.0 is to love it.

Photo: Our friend DJ is tired of seeing our stock pictures of Congressman Walz, so he supplied this gorgeous picture of a 6-lb pot roast from a union meat cutting shop.  Don't you just want a slice of that emblem of the middle class American way of life?

Talking bioscience in Austin, Mankato and Pine island

We're happy to see federal funding going to a place like the Hormel Institute, which has assembled an international team to conduct research essential for fighting and preventing cancer. The Austin Herald reports in Hormel Institute 'thankful' for funding:

The Hormel Institute is now officially the recipient of $323,000 in federal funding in an effort to establish an International Center of Research Technology.

President Barack Obama signed the federal funding of 16 important local projects into law Wednesday that will help create and save jobs across southern Minnesota. The funds, which were requested by Congressman Tim Walz, are included in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The bill passed the Senate Tuesday.

“We are extremely thankful for the funding support secured by Congressman Tim Walz and his staff,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, executive director of The Hormel Institute.  “This type of support is needed from the state of Minnesota and nationally, through federal funding, and is vital to continue to grow The Hormel Institute and bring even more jobs and advances to our research center.  One of The Hormel Institute’s greatest strengths is in its strong partnerships.  We are very thankful to Congressman Walz and his staff for the work they do to help us — they, too,  are our important partners.” . . .

Yesterday, the Mankato Free Press reported that 250 regional leaders at the Southern Minnesota Regional Competitiveness Project had identified bioscience as one of three top growth areas for jobs in the area. The summit  was the capstone for earlier gatherings in which "more than 500 people who have attended regional meetings for the project during the past six months," according to the MFP.

The Austin version of the Post Bulletin reported on Friday that Elk Run's Biotechnology project could partner with Hormel Institute:

Most communities across the United States are facing job losses this year.

But Pine Island and surrounding communities stand on a precipice with the Elk Run biotechnology project that could bring thousands of new jobs to the region, increase construction, draw national attention, boost population growth and add a whirlwind of activity in the coming decade.

California-based Tower Investments, and venture-capital group Burrill & Co., also of California, announced that nearly $1 billion is in play for development of a biotechnology center at Elk Run.

Burrill specializes in the life sciences.

Hormel Institute impact

Officials at Austin's Hormel Institute are watching the development with great interest, because of the potential it has to impact the center.

"We congratulate the leaders who are making the development of the Elk Run BioBusiness Park possible and we appreciate how this project will strengthen the assets of bioscience and biotechnology in our region," said Dr. Zigang Dong, executive director of the Hormel Institute. "The Hormel Institute looks forward to participating in and contributing to Elk Run's development through future collaborations." . . . .

We'll keep an eye on developments for our readers.

Photo: The namesake elk at Elk Run, from an earlier report on the site from Minnesota Public Radio. Developers say there will still be room for the elk in the new project, according to the cutline on the photo by MPR Rochester area reporter Sea Stachura.

For once, the weather agrees: it's Sunshine Week

Today's the first day of Sunshine Week, which

is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include print, broadcast and online news media, civic groups, libraries, non-profits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know.

We won't be doing much different here on the Prairie, where sunlight is a vital part of our ecosystem and transparency a frequent topic. Government data, after all, should be so readily accessed that even cows can get at it; those multi-chambered stomachs are a great tool for analysis.

And what better way to start the week than a cheery tune for atmosphere:

Saturday digest: roads, rest stops, recovery money and urban legends edition

 News is getting out about the projects MNDOT will be funding with Recovery Act dollars. The Jackson County Pilot reports in Stimulus upgrades local rest areas:

Federal stimulus money will pay for repaving of the parking lots at Interstate 90's Clear Lake and Des Moines rest areas in Jackson County, according to a list of state projects announced Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The $320,000 parking lot overlay and rehabilitation of curb and walkway at both rest stops is expected to start in September.

Bridge work in Windom was the next closest state project.

MnDOT earlier announced federal stimulus package projects being undertaken by local governments, of which one was the replacement of the Highway 20 bridge over County Ditch 3 a mile and a half west of Okabena by the Jackson County Highway Department. That project has a price tag of $378,000 and construction is expected to start right away this spring.

Click here for a map and click here for a list of the state transportation projects funded by the federal stimulus program.

Click here for a list of the local transportation projects funded by stimulus money.

In We need solutions, not slogans, an LTE from DFL activist Phil Castrovinci published in the Rochester Post Bulletin, we read:

Just three months into his second term, right wing Republicans have begun their attacks on Rep. Tim Walz, as demonstrated by Mr. Klinger in your paper on March 4.

Shame on them.

Rather than come up with sound solutions for the devastating problems facing our country, they want to use funny names (like "Porkulus," coined by Rush Limbaugh) and associations with tired old rhetoric to describe Democrats (tax and spend).

Sadly, right wing ideologues have made it clear they are rooting for failure that seems to be their only hope.

Mr. Klinger, Rush Limbaugh and the other right wingers should take a deep breath and actually think about proposing solutions rather than partisan slogans.

Thank you to Rep. Tim Walz for standing up for Main Street rather than for the Wall Street banks. Walz voted to create jobs in southern Minnesota and he voted against spending billions on a Wall Street Bank bailout. Clearly, his priorities are to represent and fight for Southern Minnesota.

The comments that follow the letter are instructive, as the Republican line seems to be that none of the funding in the Recovery Act or Omnibus spending bill is destined for southern Minnesota. For ourselves, we can only hope that, whatever the passion that informs their denial, those Republicans slow down for the safety of the construction workers on Highway 14 (Omnibus funding) and I-90 (Recovery Act), as well as using the rest areas as needed when passing through Jackson County.

Kudos to the Pilot and sister paper, the Lakefield Standard, for posting a pdf of the local projects. The Winona Daily news reports that Low I-90 project bids announced in the eastern part of the First.  Local police hope for federal grants because they'll be losing state fudning, the WDN reports. The Money would come from the Recovery Act:

Winona and Goodview police will lose state funding in 2009 but hope to bolster or maintain their forces with grants from a federal program re-invigorated by the federal stimulus bill.

The departments are joining thousands of police forces nationwide vying for $1 billion in the stimulus bill to hire officers through the Community Oriented Policing, or COPS program. Winona police hope a COPS grant will pay to replace an officer position they expect to lose next month, while Goodview police say the grant could fill a longstanding need to expand patrols in that department.

The Rock County Star Herald reports in Luverne HRA gets $92,000 in stimulus money:

Luverne was among more than two dozen southern Minnesota communities to receive funds for the express purpose of modernizing and developing public housing.

In Luverne that translates to more money for maintenance and improvements at the Blue Mound Tower apartments.

Luverne HRA Director Marcia Linssen said the money will be a welcome addition to the capital improvement fund at the Blue Mound Tower.

"Every little bit helps," she said. "We're looking forward to finding good ways to utilize that money, either by upgrading apartments or by making improvements to the building itself."

She said Luverne's HRA has been receiving roughly $72,000 in federal funds for capital improvements, so the $92,287 will allow for extra or more thorough improvements.

HRA owns the Blue Mound Tower apartments, which were built in 1970.

"It's an old building, and there are always capital projects that need attention," Linssen said. "Whether it's air exchange issues, plumbing issues or structural issues."

The Mankato Free Press Dan Linehan reports in Politicians weigh in at Futures Summit:

An ambitious project to identify and seize economic opportunities in southern Minnesota sought advice Friday from hundreds of southern Minnesota leaders from the public and private sectors.

Using hand-held voting devices, 250 participants winnowed six key industries to three: bioscience, health care and renewable energy. It’s in these areas the region has the best resources and opportunity to create jobs, they agreed.

The wider process is called the Southern Minnesota Regional Competitiveness Project, led by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. . . .

. . .Next up was Margaret Anderson Kelliher, speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and a Mankato native.

“This is not the southern Minnesota of the 1970s,” she said. No one here is looking back, Kelliher said.

After her address, she said the best economic strategy takes advantage of home-grown entrepreneurs, who are looking at a range of factors, not just tax breaks.

“Relocation is a bit of the Old World of economic development,” she said.

Both Klobuchar, currently the state’s only senator, and Rep. Tim Walz touted the recently passed $787 billion stimulus bill as promoting similar goals.

Walz acknowledged the bill essentially borrows from the future and said he doesn’t like deficit spending.

But doing nothing was a worse option, and the only way out of the recession is creating growth, Walz said.

Read the entire article about the Summit at the MFP.  A biobusiness in coming to Pine Island. The Post Bulletin has published more about the Elk Run project in Elk Run seems to have all the right stuff. along with companion articles, $1 billion in a 'pile' for Elk Run and Pine Island city administrator pleased with infusion of capital into Elk Run.  There's even more in Much to be found under biotech umbrella and Interchange is necessary, but unfunded, piece of the project.

URBAN LEGEND ALERT: Finally, loyal readers know we're always on the lokkout for false urban legends being circulated as if they are factual. The Worthington Globe has published an LTE attributing a prayer to the late Paul Harvey. The text instantly set our bull detector tingling; sure enough, it's an item at the Urban Legends Reference site. The praye, falsely attributed to both Harvey and Billy Graham, wasn't aired on radio, but rather delivered on the opening day of the Kansas State House in 1996.

Photo: A waggish friend sent us this lolcats, recommending it as an allegory of First District Republican efforts to unseat Congressman Walz. We have some really funny friends.

If you've stuck with us and read this whole post, you deserve a song. How about a little Anthony and the Johnsons:

MNDOT releases list of bids for Recovery Bill projects (and a note on transparency tools )

Facebook friend Jacob Grippen brought this Commerce and Finance article to our attention: MnDOT announces first bid results for federal stimulus projects. Southern Minnesota projects from the MNDOT pdf:

Location: I-90 – Hwy 74 to Hwy 43 in Winona County
Description: Bituminous overlay
Construction start estimate: May 2009
Apparent low bid: $4,484,583.93
Contractor: Dunn Blacktop Co.
State Project # 8580-154

Location: I-90 – CSAH 1 to Hwy 63 west of Stewartville
Description: Mill and overlay eastbound only
Construction start estimate: May 2009
Apparent low bid: $2,096,319.36
Contractor: Ulland Brothers Inc.
State Project # 5080-152

Location: I-90 Alden to Albert Lea
Description: Concrete overlay eastbound and bituminous overlay westbound
Construction start estimate: May 2009
Apparent low bid: $15,997,537.76
Contractor: Ulland Brothers Inc.
State Project #2481-50

Location: Region-wide District 6 [Rochester/Owatonna]
Description: Guardrail replacement
Construction start estimate: May 2009
Apparent low bid: $1,685,285.76
Contractor: Mattison Contractors Inc.
State project #8826-68

Location: Region-wide District 7 [Mankato/South Central Minnesota]
Description: Install guardrail and end treatments
Construction start estimate: May 2009
Apparent low bid: $481,006.50
Contractor: Highway Technologies Inc.
State project #8827-88

The projects above are only those for which bids have been let.  On its page for Recovery Act-funded projects, MNDOT has posted a List of projects by county (pdf), a Map (PDF) and a list (Word).

We're really happy to see MNDOT post this data online about actual projects funded by the Recovery Bill, since it may help prevent local publishers from rushing to the sorts of judgments like the one David Phillips jumped to in his weekly column in the Spring Grove Herald:

The federal stimulus package is supposed to help America get back on track. A turnaround in the national economy will help Spring Grove, but there are no specific projects targeted for our community or any of the other small cities in southeastern Minnesota, according to a list put together by StimulusWatch.org, which is tracking the "shovel-ready" projects.

As we pointed out in February, Stimuluswatch.org used a report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM draws its membership from the leadership of cities of 30,000 and over) for its dataset. No projects from Mankato and Rochester (the only cities in Southern Minnesota with populations over 30,000) were supplied for the USCM report.

Spring Grove is part of MNDOT Region 6, in which guardrails will be replaced. Will any guardrails be replaced in Houston County? Good question. Will other Recovery bill funds head that way?

Media--old or new--should not confuse the information in stimuluswatch.org with the actual projects MNDOT and other agencies pick for the Recovery Bill dollars. We'll try to post links to southern Minnesota's share of the funding whenever we learn of it.

Photo: I-90  near Albert Lea.

MnPublius: What do we talk about when we talk about earmarks

Radio Winona reports:

Good news for Winona State University's National Child Protection Training Center.

President Barack Obama Wednesday signed an appropriations bill that contains funding for sixteen important projects in southern Minnesota, including for the WSU center.

Congressman Tim Walz says the bill contained $700,000 for the National Child Protection Training Center which will help the center keep operating. The center trains social workers, teachers, and healthcare professionals to recognize and report signs of child abuse.

The bill also contains nearly $2.4 million for a four-lane expansion if Highway 14 between Waseca and Owatonna. It contains $200,000 for the Sheriff's Youth Program in Rochester, and another $712,000 for a new 60 bus garage facility to serve as a transit operations center in Rochester.

The Austin Hormel Institute gets $323,000 to develop an International Center of Research Technology to provide cutting edge technology to biomedical researchers from across the country. And $713,000 goes to Minnesota State-Mankato for its Center for Renewable Energy.

WSU's National Child Protection Training Center is an interesting exhibit in the national debate over earmark reform. One small part of that debate was launched yesterday by Jeff Rosenberg at MnPublius in the post Let’s have a more intelligent discussion of earmarks.

There's a mostly intelligent discussion going on, and we recommend that our readers add their thoughts.

One commenter suggests that all federal funds be doled out according to a competitive grant process, with grant applications being reviewed and scored. The implicit assumption is that an administration or bureaucracy will always be more fair and less corrupt than congressional review.

Administrations too need scrutiny. The recent history of grant applications by the Child Protection Training Center demonstrates that the grant process too can be corrupted. As we've posted repeatedly in the past year, Congressman Walz and others sought the earmarks for the Center after a high-scoring grant application to the DOJ's youth justice program division was turned down--and a Bush administration sent money to a much lower scoring youth golf program.

Last March, in Walz brings DOJ grant process to Waxman's attention we noted Peter Cohn's article in Government Executive:

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is investigating how a Justice Department agency awarded grants in fiscal 2007, when most federal agencies operated with a freer hand under the yearlong earmark moratorium Democrats imposed.

Waxman wrote to Attorney General Michael Mukasey March 13 requesting a briefing no later than Friday -- and related documents by April 4 -- in response to reports that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded noncompetitive grants in fiscal 2007 to less-qualified applicants.

Citing a recent investigation by the trade publication Youth Today, Waxman noted that in fiscal 2007 the the office awarded a $500,000 grant to the World Golf Foundation, even though its application was ranked lower than 38 other bids in a review done by career Justice Department officials. . . .

. . .Waxman said the situation was brought to light by Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., a freshman who complained that a worthy applicant in his district was unfairly shut out of the grant-making process in fiscal 2007. An aide to Walz said his interest was piqued when OJJDP ignored a request to direct money to the National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University, even though it ranked fourth out of more than 100 applicants in the agency's review.

The center trains social workers, teachers, nurses, police officers and others to detect and respond to signs of child abuse. The funding was dropped when the OJJDP administrator made the final decisions. Walz and other Minnesota lawmakers successfully restored about $1.2 million for the center in the fiscal 2008 omnibus appropriations bill, including $446,000 funded through OJJDP. . . .

Murray Waas and others covered the Waxman committee investigations last June.

There's also the case of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. Though a big-ticket item, the project will provide an essential service for residents and businesses in three states: potable water for people and livestock. After praising the project earlier, President Bush zeroed it out in his budget--without explanation.  Down in Southwestern Minnesota, Cornerhouse Comments reacted at the time.

At Bluestem, we've been writing about transparency and accountibility in the earmark process (see our archived government reform posts), and are please to see more discussion underway on Minnesota's blogshere. Go over and add your thoughts to the MnPublius thread.

More on the background of the WSU's child protection center from the Mankato Free Press.

Thursday digest: just another biotech day in the park edition

Minnesota Public Radio reports in Officials announce $1 billion Elk Run project:

Rochester, Minn. — A real estate developer and a venture capitalist said today they are joining together to launch a biobusiness park near Rochester, reportedly costing nearly $1 billion.

The developer, Tower Investments, and the venture capitalist, Burrill & Co., hope to move forward with the Elk Run master planned development, which would feature what they call a BioBusiness Park to launch medical startup companies.. . .

. . .U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, who represents the area, says the project could revitalize the southern Minnesota corridor.

"They've chosen this because Minnesota had the vision to invest in things like the University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic, and the Rochester education system, and all the things that have brought growth to the area before," said Walz.

The development would also include office and warehouse space, retail and residential components.

Walz says to make the project work, more investment in infrastructure is needed. He says he hopes to find a way to help fund a new highway interchange at Elk Run.

The Post Bulletin also wrote up the announcement in It's a go for Pine Island and biotechnology. IN othe news, the paper reports in Appropriations bill funds projects in region:

First District Rep. Tim Walz requested the funding for the projects, including money for an extension of 55th Street and a new 60-bus garage facility in Rochester. Also receiving funding is the Hormel Institute in Austin and the National Child Protection Training Center in Winona.

Officials with Austin's Hormel Institute said they were thrilled with the $323,000 they received.

Previously, Dr. Zigang Dong, Hormel Institute executive director, has noted the importance of the funding.

"The growth we have achieved -- and the future growth we will continue to strive for -- depends on the important partnerships we share with our community and the support we receive from our leaders," he said. "Progress to improve the health of the world is not possible without research."

The story ran in the Austin version of the Post Bulletin under the heading, Federal bill sends funds to Hormel Institute.  Last night, KEYC-TV broadcast 16 Local Laws And Projects Included In Funding Bill,  The Gaylord Hub says Prairie Line won’t receive economic stimulus funds because MN DOT chose to use the money only for bridges and roads.  Other funding sources are being sought:

One Minnesota Department of Transportation report had called for the rail project to receive $10 million from the stimulus package. Proponents of the project state that it is “shovel ready” and a economic contributor to the entire region. The project of upgrading the track is estimated to cost $40 million. This would include allowing 255,000 pound rail cars that could travel 25 mph on the track.

Last month, Minnesota House File 660, authored by Morrow, appropriated $10 million in bond proceeds for a grant to the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority to rehabilitate the track. The track is owned by Carver, Sibley, Renville, Redwood and Yellow Medicine Counties and operated by the Minnesota Prairie Line, a subsidiary of Twin Cities and Western Railroad.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Tim Walz helped appropriate $950,000 in federal railroad improvement funding.

American Veteran Online: Live from Capitol Hill notes:

Rep. Buyer discussed a new bipartisan bill he plans to introduce with Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota that would provide equity in DIC compensatio for surviving military widows. The landmark bill would finally provide equity for military widows, who currently receive 12 percent less in compensation compared to civilian federal employees.

FarmPolicy.com notes the call by the House Rural Caucus's call for a White House Office of Rural Ploicy. Walz is a leader in the caucus. 

Recovering Republican blogger Ron Amundson looks at both sides in Employee Free Choice Act egads, talk about spin and ends up supporting the legislation.

How about a tune from a Band of Horses?:

A note on the emotional health of Minnesota's First Congressional district

Both the City Pages (Minnesota happiness, by Congressional district) and the Star Tribune (The pursuit of happiness, through a Congressional lens) report on the Gallop/Healthways Inc well being survey. City Pages noted that MN-01 was the only district served by a DFLer in Congress to crack the top 100 happy congressional districts.

Unlike the Strib, City Pages linked to the study, which allows viewers to explore the various facets of the poll. We liked the map visualization version.

Howevver, we're not sure what meanig any of this has.  People in the First, for instant, enjoyed the third highest emotional health of any congressional district in the country.  Next in line for emotional health in the state's congressional district was Michele Bachmann's Sixth.

Perhaps it's related to all those real, face-to-face town hall meetings Congressman Walz has had with his constituents. Conversely, voters in the Sixth remain emotionally healthy because their congresswoman has yet to host an open public meeting where she'll meet constituents face-to-face.  Just saying.

Photo: Tim Walz, smiling.  Congressman Walz is able to maintain his good spirits by serving on three committees and the China Commission, and coming home to southern Minnesota pretty much every weekend and district work break.

Sixteen Southern Minnesota projects funded with signing of appropriations bill

The Washington Post reports in Obama Signs Spending Bill, Calls for Earmark Guidelines:

President Obama today signed what he called an "imperfect" spending bill to keep the government running even though it contains thousands of lawmakers' pet projects, but he called for more rigorous review of future projects, known as earmarks, that are designated by individual legislators for their states or districts. .  .  .

. . .Obama called on Congress to enact a series of guidelines that he said would not eliminate earmarks but would force lawmakers to be more transparent about them and would crack down on those that benefit private companies. He said it "should go without saying that an earmark must never be traded for political favors." The guidelines are aimed at curbing the number of pet projects in appropriations bills, setting up a potential battle with lawmakers who have clung to the spending items.

So far as we can tell, Congressman Walz is already operating as if those rules are in place. He publicly releases free lists of the budget requests he is making, as the Sunlight Foundation notes here and the Mankato Free Press reported here.  None of the earmarks go to private companies.

A press release from the Walz congressional office:

SIXTEEN LOCAL PROJECTS SIGNED INTO LAW

Walz’s appropriations requests signed into law earlier today as part of the Omnibus Appropriations bill

(Washington, D.C.) – Earlier today, President Obama signed the federal funding of sixteen important local projects into law that will help create and save jobs across southern Minnesota. The funds, which were requested by Congressman Tim Walz are included in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The bill passed the Senate yesterday.

“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.”

“These funds will do more than just create jobs,” continued Walz. “These investment dollars strengthen the fabric of our communities. Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, Bolder Options, the Sherriff’s Youth Program, and Winona State’s National Child Protection Training Center will ensure that our children 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.”

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

Photo: Congressman Walz and a constituent in Luverne. Image courtesy of Cornerhouse Comments.