A Bluestem Prairie

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:

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?:

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.

Tuesday digest: from earmarks to energy edition

 The Washington Post reports Congress Passes Huge $410B Spending Bill. The bill includes earmarks for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, Upper Mississippi navigation and environmental improvement, flood migration projects, child safety training, cancer research, and other projects in Southern Minnesota.

The Pipestone Star reports in City supports wind energy legislation:

The City Council voted unanimously Monday evening in support of legislation that would make it easier for municipalities to harness the power of wind.

The council vote followed a presentation by Dan Juhl, founder of the publicly-traded Juhl Wind, based in Woodstock. Juhl Wind pioneered community-based wind farms and has completed 11 wind farm projects to date. Juhl’s goal is to keep wind dollars within the communities where the wind is generated.

“It makes absolutely no sense to give away our energy dollars to France and Spain,” he said.

As he told the councilors Monday evening, Minnesota house bill 357 and Senate bill 399 would enhance existing C-BED (community-based energy development) legislation by leveling the playing field among small community wind projects and large international firms.

Juhl is a frequent panelist in discussions of green energy in Southern Minnesota and a pioneer in the region's wind industry.

The Tri-County News is Rushford reports Ehler impressed with events, treatment in D.C. The local public school superintendent attended President Obama's address to Congress. Unfortunately, the Senate removed money for new construction from the recovery bill, as the paper notes in a separate article.

In Waseca, Mayors gathered to talk passenger trains, the Waseca County News reports. Walz staffer Matt Wohlman attended the meeting.

And since there's been such important labor news today, we dedicated this Ruthie Foster cover of a Lucinda Williams' song to everybody who organized to enjoy the fruit of their labors. There's no good YouTube of the original, but Foster is pretty good:

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:

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.

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.

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.

Down on the farm: ag policy and Obama stimulus measures

The Barn, an ag radio program syndicated  the NAFB, interviewed Congressman Walz in Representative Tim Walz Happy to be Returned to the Ag Committee. The audio clip by reporter Brian Allmer, is available at the link. They discuss implementing the Farm Bill and the common purpose legislators from both sides of the aisle share in making sure that rural America gets a share of the stimulus dollar.

In Where will ag spend Obama billions?, ag columnist Alan Guebert looks at House Ag Chair Collin Peterson's wish list:

House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson pieced together his modest, $2.2 billion wish list for House appropriators a week before Inauguration Day. It included $1 billion in rural development money for “rural water and waste water treatment systems,” Peterson noted in a telephone interview.

Peterson also asked for $1 billion in loan guarantees “for community banks and Farm Credit members to make sure farmers get operating loans” this spring.

Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union, pushed the latter idea when ag bankers, themselves getting squeezed, began squeezing producers whose lines of operating credit were established before the meltdown last year.

“Everybody is nervous,” explains Buis, “so using some of the stimulus money to reassure lenders is wise.”

Peterson also asked for a $200 million loan to CoBank, the old Bank for Cooperatives, to help fund a dairy program already in place (called Cooperatives Working Together) to stem burgeoning losses to dairy farmers.

Guebert himself makes another idea, for a project that's under the authority of a different committee. We think it's a great suggestion for a project that would create jobs while providing long-term infrastructure and environmental rewards:

How about the lock and dam upgrades on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers?

The long-planned project--talk of it began in 1972--should be a slam dunk under the Obama stimulus package. Congress authorized the work in late 2007 but never provided the $1.9 billion for the locks and dams (five on the Mississippi, two on the Illinois) and $1.7 billion for ecosystem preservation.

The columnist also discusses spending up to $1 million to develop a strategic plan for 21st American agriculture. He writes:

One of the wisest uses of the stimulus money would be to study, then chart, our food and fiber future. In fact, it might be one of the few good things we still can leave our grandchildren.

Having attended sevel of Congressman Walz's economic summits in the first, we think this is a pretty good idea. The range of expertise just within one intensely agricultural district is impressive; a national discussion by rural Americans would likely present some great ideas.

Image: "Ploughed Fields" by New Ulm native Wanda Gag.

Disclosure: In our non-bovine blogging, real world life, we'e an active member of the Minnesota Farmers Union.

Land Stewardship Project: Statement on Vilsack nomination for USDA chief

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minnesota ag groups respond to Vilsack appointment

Since agriculture is a key component of the First's economy, we put together a compendium of Minnesota's ag-related groups' responses to President-elect Obama's selection of Tom Vilsack as USDA head.

Minnesota Farmers Union President Doug Peterson responds to the nomination here. Nuggets:

"As the former Governor of a neighboring state, Mr. Vilsack knows the concerns of Midwest farmers," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  "He understands the resources of the Midwest, and the need to bridge our energy policy to the next generation of renewable fuels."

National Farmers Union President Tom Buis said, "While rural America faces many challenges, President-elect Obama has prioritized numerous opportunities, including reducing our nation's dependence on foreign oil by advancing the development of renewable energy. Not only will this help our nation, it will help revitalize our rural communities. Wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal, cellulosic, will all be produced in rural America." . . .

The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation web site took note of the nomination and promised AFBF president Bob Stallman would issue a statement later in the day. Stallman's statement is posted here. A taste for the tone:

“During his tenure as Iowa’s governor, one of the nation’s top agriculture-producing states, Gov. Vilsack was an ardent supporter of furthering the use of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel and wind, as well as an advocate for biotechnology. He has been a strong proponent of international trade and expanding our export markets. His understanding and experience with many of the pressing issues facing agriculture today will serve him well in his new position.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) press release on the appointment inventories the challenges facing Vilsack and Obama. From the top:

President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack must quickly shift the agency’s focus toward stabilizing volatile agriculture commodity prices, improving market competition, supporting sustainable farming systems and encouraging the production of healthier food, according to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).

“As Iowa’s Governor, Vilsack has shown a fairly conventional perspective on agriculture—particularly related to biotechnology and the siting of factory farms—that seems to indicate a status quo approach,” said IATP President Jim Harkness. “But these are unconventional times, and with his charge to implement the national vision for agriculture of President-elect Obama, he has an opportunity to address the concerns of farmers—big and small, organic and conventional—and consumers, as well as environmental challenges facing the country.”

The number one challenge in agriculture is extreme price volatility—the spikes and drops in farm gate and food prices causing enormous problems for farmers, consumers and the environment. Farmers could face a very difficult 2009 with commodity prices dropping, while fertilizer, land and seed costs remain high.

Read the rest at the IATP's site. 

The Organic Consumers Assocation, headquartered in Finland, Minnesota, is not pleased. In "OCA: Vilsack Not "Change We Can Believe In," Ronnie Cummins writes:

Today's announcement that former Iowa Governor, Tom Vilsack, has been selected as the new Secretary of Agriculture sent a chill through the sustainable food and farming community who have been lobbying for a champion in the new administration.

"Vilsack's nomination sends the message that dangerous, untested, unlabeled genetically engineered crops will be the norm in the Obama Administration," said Ronnie Cummins, Executive Director of Organic Consumers Association. "Our nation's future depends on crafting a forward-thinking strategy to promote organic and sustainable food and farming, and address the related crises of climate change, diminishing energy supplies, deteriorating public health, and economic depression.” . . .

Read the rest at the OCA site. The group intends to mobilize against Vilsack's nomination through an as-yet-to-be-launched web site and online petition.

We have requested copies of statements from the Land Stewardship Project and League of Rural Voters, which we post  and link to as they become available, as well those of other Minnesota ag-related groups.

Disclosure: We're a member of the Minnesota Farmers Union.

V is for Vilsack: Former Iowa governor in as Agriculture Secretary

Blogs at the Washington Post, USA Today and other sources are reporting that Obama's transition team will announce the selection of former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture.  The WaPo notes:

Vilsack is well-liked by both environmentalists and food industry leaders and has written opinion articles in recent months about agriculture policy, linking farming to energy independence and national security.

Reached at his Iowa law office this afternoon, Vilsack declined to confirm that he had been selected for the job. But a Democratic official said he has been picked to lead the sprawling Department of Agriculture, which develops and executes the nation's policies on farming and food safety.

While some purists who want an immediate end to the production and subsidy f biofuels, GMO crops and conventional farming using agrichemicals may object to the selection of Vilsack, we think he's a good choice who understands Midwestern farming and rural economic development, especially in the renewable energy sector.  

According to our friends at the Center for Rural Affairs, Vilsack has favored:

. . .reforming farm programs; especially making farm program payment limits more effective, reducing subsidies to the nation's largest farms and investing the savings in conservation, rural development, nutrition, etc.

while favoring crucial livestock market reforms. We wholeheartedly agree with his policy ideas here.  The CFRA article also discusses his support for biotech, troublesome to some activists, though not so much an area of concern for us. Go read the entire piece at CFRA for the details. Overall, we're very pleased with the president-elect's choice.

This should be a good fit for most Southern Minnesotans working in the agricultural sector, though the folks at Wonkette might still be a bit logo-phobic.

Update: Political Base's Mark Nicholas interviewed Vilsack in October and posted the in-depth '10 Questions' With Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. An excellent piece for those who wish to get to know Vilsack.

Wednesday digest: green jobs and glad tidings edition

In response to a Post Bulletin column by a local Republican that scolded Governor Pawlenty for touting green jobs, Environment Minnesota's Samantha Chadwick writes Now is the time to invest in clean energy:

In response to the Dec. 1 column by Phil Araoz in opposition to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's green jobs initiative proposal, there has never been a more important time to invest in our future.

As we face a severe economic crisis, solutions that will stimulate the economy and create jobs will also bring long-term sustainability to our environment and economy.

Leaders such as Congressman Tim Walz, who realize that Minnesota is blessed with renewable resources and are pushing for development, deserve our praise and support. . . .

Read the entire, well-documented rebuttal in the PB's op-ed section. We're betting that a significant sub-set of the 62.5% of voters who voted for Walz in the First agree with the 2006 Gustavus grad, since energy policy was a major discussion during the congressional campaign.

Araoz's column, Tax breaks for 'green' jobs are bad deal for Minnesota is still online for those who wish to examine the case that sparked Chadwick's response.

The PB's own Greg Sellnow reports that a representative of Congressman Walz's office was onhand when the CP Christmas choochoo rolled into town in Holiday Train is good sign for Rochester:

The townsfolk, all bundled up in scarves, blankets and down coats on a dark night when the temperature was about 15 degrees, were there to see a 13-car train, facing west. It was lit with the outlines of flashing, brightly colored Christmas trees, ornaments and snowflakes. There in the middle was an open freight car where a band played. Santa stopped by to say hello. Our mayor was there to welcome the train. So was someone from Rep. Tim Walz's office. And a representative from the Channel One Food bank accepted a giant check from the Canadian Pacific Railroad for $2,500.

Sellner continues with a discussion of Rochester railroad politics. Interesting stuff. The train made several stops in Southern Minnesota as it traveled both countries to promote giving to food shelves. The train's blogger notes in Rochester residents embrace CP Holiday Train:

There were literally thousands of people braving the elements, all waiting to see what the CP Holiday Train was about and support the cause, when we pulled in!  Mayor Ardell Brede, Cynthia Schaffer from the Channel One Food Shelf and Rick Howden, representative for Congressman Tim Walz, were on hand to kick things off on a high note.. . .

We applaud all efforts to make sure no one goes hungry, but also hope that Congress will quickly pass President-elect Obama's plan for putting Americans to work rebuilding infrastructure, updating schools, and other public investments that will--we hope--reduce the need for food shelves.

And so all those waiting for the tide to turn, here's a song from Nova Scotia's own Melanie Doane, who was on the train that came to Rochester:

Walz to MPR: Optimism about Obama's first 100 days

In Sky high expectations for Obama, MPR spoke to Congressman Walz:

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., knows voters aren't always patient, though. He learned that after he won his first election two years ago.

"I was sworn in on January 3, and on January 10 I was getting calls about why the troops weren't out of Iraq," Walz said.

Walz predicts it will be relatively easy for Obama to push through new energy policies and stricter regulations on financial markets.

"I think one of the more difficult ones -- it always is just because of the massive nature of it -- is health care reform," he said. "That's going to be very difficult, but not impossible."

And Walz is optimistic about Obama's first hundred days as president. But he says for Obama to keep the public's trust, the president-elect needs to be careful not to marginalize congressional Republicans.

"I think the American people aren't advocating that the only way to do this is a Democratic President, a Democratic agenda," Walz said. "I think President Obama is going to have to make sure that Republicans, although in the minority, are given the opportunity to have their ideas heard and have them incorporated in to what we do. I think that's what the public is hopeful about as much as anything."

Mid-day digest: economy and recovery edition

While the nation's economic woes are creating greater need, First District residents are stepping up to help when they can. The Owatonna People's Press reports that local high school students raise over $11,000 in Food on the shelf: Annual Cash Drive benefits local food shelf.

The New Ulm Journal says that the New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf accepts donations of over 2,500 pounds of food in the last week, but the group will be serving a greater geographic area since the food pantry in Lafayette has recently closed. 

In Giving thanks, giving back, the Waseca County News tells the tale of the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center teaming up with the Lions and Thrivent to provide Thanksgiving meals for 200 families.

Private charity is a good and blessed thing, but we're hoping that Congress moves on President elect Obama's plans for an economic stimulus package that focuses on jobs creation. CQPolitics says that's exactly what's in the works in Congress Will Work Through January to Send Obama Economic Stimulus Package:

Democratic leaders intend to break with tradition and put members of the new Congress to work as soon as they arrive in Washington, in order to prepare the huge economic stimulus plan President-elect Barack Obama intends to request.

Normally, a new Congress convenes on or shortly after Jan. 3 and then leaves town until the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20. In 2001, when President Bush took office, the House didn’t cast its first vote until Jan. 30. And in 1993, when President Bill Clinton took office, the first vote was on Jan. 26.

But not this time. The 111thCongress will officially convene on Jan. 6. “It is my hope that the new Congress will begin work on an aggressive economic recovery plan when they convene in early January so that our administration can hit the ground running,” Obama said at a Chicago news conference Monday.

Senators have already been told they will be in Washington throughout January. The House also plans to get to work right after its swearing-in. Aides confirmed Monday that the House hopes to have the stimulus ready for Obama around the time he takes office.

“We are already tired, and he hasn’t even been inaugurated yet,” one aide said.

The 110th Congress isn’t necessarily through yet, either. Leaders have told members to prepare to return around Dec. 8 to discuss aid to the Big 3 Detroit automakers in a continuation of last week’s lameduck session.

In Minnesotans disagree over Obama’s team, the Bemidji Pioneer reported that Congressman Walz looks for investments in infrastructure, modernized schools, energy-efficient cars and alternative energy technologies:

“People in southern Minnesota and around the nation are suffering and they are nervous about the future,” Walz said. “Congress, working together with the Obama administration, will address that crisis with bold and effective action.”

Walz said the Obama economic team is “an impressive group of intellectual heavyweights with a healthy diversity of views about how our country can best move forward.”

But the congressman said he is awaiting details of the Obama economic plan, which the president-elect said on Wednesday would come only after his new advisors have a chance to weigh in.

Walz said he expects the plan to rebuilt the economy “by investing in infrastructure, modernizing schools and building more fuel-efficient cars and alternative energy technologies.

The nation's automakers have asked for a bailout, and many critics are suggesting that conservation and alternative fuels should be proscribed as part of the funding mix. Consumers in Southwestern Minnesota are ahead of the curve; the Jackson County Pilot looks at soaring demand for flex-fuel vehicles and biofuels in the War on ethanol, part 2.

The Winona Daily News reports in State budget deficit outlook bleak; Ropes predicts ‘a bloody mess’:

It’s worse than the worse-case scenario.

As the financial sector started crumbling this fall, state economists worried the state of Minnesota budget deficit might be as high as $4 billion.

But on Monday, one government source pegged the number, officially scheduled to be released Dec. 4, at $4.7 billion.

“This is going to be a bloody mess,” said Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona.

Read the rest at the WDN.

The Worthington Globe says that  Local shopping encouraged by think tank. See the list of Minnesota-made products here at the Minnesota 2020 site.

Thanks to PW at Mercury Rising for Rule Number One: Do Not Mess With Ollie Ox. and Jeff at the Twin Cities Daily Liberal  Eric at LILOCfor including our media criticism in his Daily Romp. Grandma always said that you could sleep in the barn, but don't bother the cow.  To those readers who have inquired,  none of those involved in this accident are among our relatives. Thanks for asking.

A poignant Dylan tune for today. we especially like the way he pirated a couple of lines from the old, old poem, "O Western Wind"

Sunday night news briefs: energy and elections edition

 We're back from a fun Minnesota Farmers Union convention and are placating the kittehs, who are insisting that their legendary independence is overrated. 

Minnesota's other farm group convened this weekend as well. The Bemidji Pioneer reports in Minnesota Farm Bureau president defends ethanol production that President Kevin Paap:

lauded the efforts of U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, DFL-7th District, who steered the farm bill through Congress as chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

“MFBF sincerely thanks Chairman Peterson for his outstanding leadership on this legislation,” Paap said, also citing Sens. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., and Amy Klobuchar, DFL-Minn., and Reps. Jim Oberstar, DFL-8thDisrict, Tim Walz, DFL-1st District, John Kline, R-2nd District, Keith Ellison, DFL-5th District, and Betty McCollum, DFL-4th District.

Readers can readily ascertain which of Minnesota's representatives are left off that list.  Former Congressman Tim Penny writes the Mankato Free Press to say Area is ready for energy push. The reitred dean of engineering at MSU-M says A bold energy plan is necessary.

Over at the Swing State Project in Covering Key Races Around the Country, Mark (a native of the First District) writes:

District 1--It's been amazing seeing how fast Rochester, Minnesota's third-largest city and formerly known as "the heart of soul of the Minnesota Republican Party, has changed.  The first signs of GOP softening came in 2000, with a Mark Dayton victory over Senator Rod Grams and a soft four-point margin for Bush over Gore.  After several cycles of shifting, Rochester completed it's transition to a Democratic-leaning community having voted for Barack Obama by nine points.  Considering that most of the rest of the district has been more politically competitive, having the population anchor of the district trending Democrat gives MN-01 a decidedly blue tint, at least unless the Republican party moves back towards the kind of political moderation that was the hallmark of the state GOP in decades past and was embraced by Rochester.

Tim Walz mowed down third-rate competitor Brian Davis even more lopsidedly than I could have imagined.  Walz won all 23  22 counties in the district, a feat I wouldn't have imagined possible this year given that Pipestone and Rock Counties in the southwest corner are shut out of the Minnesota media market (and thus tend to vote party line on essentially every non-national race) and have populations that are more than 20% evangelical that vote so overwhelmingly Republican that it makes nearly any Democratic victory unattainable.  I think Dick Day had the potential to mount a stronger challenge to Walz had he won the primary, but still would have likely fallen far short.  Walz' rock-solid 30-point victory gives me confidence in his ability to weather more defensive political cycles that may emerge in the years ahead.

Other thoughts.....Worthington, formerly a Democratic stronghold in southwestern Minnesota that has been trending Republican in the last couple of decades, had another pretty good year for Democrats, following an upwardly mobile 2006.  College towns Mankato and Winona saw dramatic improvement for all Democrats on the ballots.  Traditional Republican strongholds like New Ulm and Owatonna were, for the second election cycle in a row, softer than usual across the ballot.  That leaves Fairmont as the district's only population center that remains unflinching in its allegiance to the GOP.

Tonight's video is Bob Marley singing (in part) about planting corn; we dedicate it to Kat the Warrior Princess:

Early afternoon digest: big battery on the prairie edition

 Earlier this morning, we posted about a federal grants workshop that Congressman Walz is sponsoring in Rochester on December 3. One area covered in the breakout sessions is alternative energy. Judging from the district papers today, renewable energy continues strong in Southern Minnesota economic mix.

The Rock County Star Herald reports in Beaver Creek wind to battery project first in nation:

The wind has long been used as a legitimate power source, but capturing and storing that energy has been a missing piece of the puzzle.

Now researchers believe they've cracked the code to wind energy storage, and it is being tested on the local Minwind Energy turbines near Beaver Creek.

On Monday Xcel Energy hosted tours of a battery test site at the Beaver Creek substation and offered public information at the Rock County Community Library.

The $4.5 million technology is the first of its kind in the United States to be used for direct wind energy storage.

The battery module -roughly the size of two semi trailers - has the capacity to store about 7.2 megawatt hours of electricity. It can discharge one megawatt of wind power that can be moved to the electricity grid when needed.

Fully charged, the battery could power 500 homes for more than seven hours. Developers say it will be key to expanding the use of renewable energy. . . .

Renewable energy isn't the exclusive franchise of the wind industry. In Madelia Model seeks alternative crops for energy, the New Ulm  Journal reports:

Pieces of the Madelia Model project that would create alternative energy from alternative crops are moving forward.

The model involves locally-grown biomass including natural and industrial feedstocks within a 25-mile radius of rural Minnesota communities.

The project creates rural jobs, improved water quality, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas reduction, improved wildlife habitat and crop diversity.

The Madelia "fuel shed" would include Winnebago, Mankato, New Ulm, Sleepy Eye and St. James areas.

Sponsored by Rural Advantage of Fairmont - which promotes the interconnection of agriculture, rural communities and the environment - the Madelia Model is built around crop initiative. . . .

Read the whole article in the Journal.

The Mankato Free Press editorial board considers the cost of developing renewable energy in Sacrifice and prospects for green energy.

The Post Bulletin reports in Rochester's health sector makes up for manufacturing job losses that employment is up by 600 jobs from a year ago, almost entirely because of the Mayo city's robust health care industry.  The health sector growth masks losses in maunfacturing.

Creighton University's Rural Mainstreet Index, which complied a survey of bank CEOs, found that Bankers surveyed express little confidence in rural economy, according to an AP report published in the Winona Daily News.>

Photo: The kitteh isn't the only one basking in solar energy on the prairie. Last April, the New Ulm Journal reported on a solar project in Cottonwood County.

Since it's a cold November day on the prairies, here's a little music for the chilling economy:

Early afternoon digest: prairie wind, batteries included edition

In Minnesotans concerned about bailout, the Worthington Globe reports:

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., was hesitant to support anything yet.

“Until we see details about an assistance package for the auto industry, we’re just speculating about what might be included," Walz said. "But I would be very hesitant about any package that does not include strong protections for the taxpayers who are being asked to foot the bill.”

The Globe also reports on the first wind-to-battery test project in the United States. In Capturing wind:

Roughly the size of two semi trailers and weighing nearly 80 tons, groundbreaking wind-to-battery technology was unveiled in the middle of farm fields northwest of Beaver Creek Monday morning.

The battery, the first of its kind to be tested in the United States, will help partners Xcel Energy and Luverne-based Minwind Energy capture and store power produced by the 11.5-megawatt Minwind Energy wind farm. . . .

. . . Minwind Energy is comprised of 360 local investors who raised the capital to construct the wind farm. They each have a stake in the ownership of the turbines. Willers said the group is “very interested” in what’s going on in regard to energy production.

Minwind recently completed a two-year test project with Xcel Energy on a biodiesel peaking plant, in which a 99 percent blend of biofuels was used to power the wind turbines when Mother Nature didn’t provide enough wind for them to operate.

“We’re locally owned and we understand what energy is,” said Willers. “As Minnesotans, we want to have an understanding of where our energy dollars are going and coming from. Being an agricultural community, we’re always on the forefront of environmental issues.” . . .

KAAL-TV has more on this development in Xcel Tests Wind Power Battery.

The Ag Observatory at the IATP notes this December 3 event, Southern Minnesota Federal Grants Workshop:

Hosted by U.S. Congressman Tim Walz

December 3, 2008 -- 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Kahler Grand Hotel

Rochester, Minnesota

Cost: $20 for lunch

The 2008 Southern Minnesota Federal Grants Workshop connects local government and non profit leaders to federal grant opportunities with the goal of enhancing opportunity and prosperity. Come hear from experts from federal agencies and local foundations about how to research grant opportunities, review best practices in grant writing, and discover current trends in funding priority projects in southern Minnesota.

In Caledonia, the executive director of the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation notes Early childhood education is a very  important investment in our future, according to the Argus.

The Lakefield Standard reports dire need in Lakefield, Jackson and Heron Lake in Food shelf shortage: ‘Not nearly enough’.  Demoand is up and giving is down. How far down? The Jackson County Pilot reports contributions are off by 50 percent.

The Rochester Democrat has posted Tim Walz's letter asking Democrats to volunteer to help with the recount in the U.S. Senate race.

Salon analyzes the pathos of lolcats, while it's International Laugh at Lieberman Day. Personally, we're  fluffing up our Droopy Dog routine in Joe's honor. For now, here's the first Tex Avery cartoon in the Droopy series, since the Democratic leadership doesn't want to shake this guy: