The U.S. Government is hoping to stimulate the
economy with the help of nearly 55 million Americans...Fox Mankato's
Carly Aplin explains how funds from the Stimulus plan could be coming
straight to your mailbox.Michael Carey says, "It'll be a little bit of
help..."Michael Carey is one of nearly 55 million Americans who will
receive a check for 250 dollars from the government... but Mike says
although he's grateful for money... it won't go very far...Michael
Carey says, "It'll be a grocery bill for a week."
Lawmakers say the
Stimulus Plan provides for the one-time payment of 250 dollars to
individuals who get Supplemental Security Income, Social Security, or
veteran's disability benefits.Meredith Salsbery says, "Those are people
least able to go out and maybe get a second job in the economy where
the prices are going up and folks are hurting and they're less likely
to get the extra income."Mike says the extra income will help him and
his wife buy things they've put off purchasing because of the
economy... adding it only makes sense to give taxpayer dollars back to
the people.Michael Carey says, "The economy is people having jobs,
getting money, spending it buying things manufacturers make... it's
just a revolving cycle..."
And that's exactly what Congressman Tim
Walz's District Director Meredith Salsbery says they are hoping to see
happen once the checks come in the mail...
Meredith Salsbery says, "They
say that for every dollar that does into the economy that dollar gets
used seven times, it goes to pay an employee, and turns around and use
it at a car dealership and so it goes right into our local economy
here."In Mankato, Carly Aplin, the Fox Mankato News at Nine.Those
eligible are already prequalified for the payment and will receive it
by late May or mid June.
First District Congressman Tim Walz on Friday announced Albert Lea
will receive more than $3 million in federal economic stimulus funds to
relocate the main runway at the Albert Lea Municipal Airport.
The announcement follows a grant of $550,000 in stimulus funds awarded last week to rehabilitate the airport’s crosswind runway.
“The city of Albert Lea is pleased to receive this grant, which will
expedite work on our airport’s runway expansion,” Albert Lea Mayor Mike
Murtaugh said in a release from Walz’s office. “We’re also hoping this
may give us the flexibility to consider a concrete surface rather than
asphalt, which will result in a longer life cycle and reduced
maintenance in future years.”
City Engineer Steven Jahnke said in an interview earlier this month
that the city already had $2.1 million in federal funds for projects at
the airport, while the total cost to relocate the runway and overlay
the cross runway is estimated to be between $6 and $9 million, Jahnke
said. . .
WALZ ENCOURAGES SENIORS TO REVIEW THEIR MEDICARE DRUG COVERAGE
Seniors have until December 31st to enroll or change their Medicare Drug Plan to save money and improve coverage
Mankato, MN – Today, Congressman Tim Walz encouraged seniors to take advantage of the open enrollment period for Medicare’s Prescription Drug Coverage. The open enrollment period, which ends on December 31st, allows seniors to enroll in or change their prescription drug plan.
“Now is the time for seniors to carefully review the Medicare Part D plans that are available in Minnesota and make the best choice for their needs,” said Walz. “With a bleak economic outlook, Medicare Part D will be more critical than ever for our seniors, many of whom would not have access to prescription drug coverage without it. As I get ready to return to Washington shortly after the new year, I look forward to continuing to fight for lower drug prices for families in southern Minnesota.”
Seniors can call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit http://www.medicare.gov to compare costs and coverage of the various plans. Each year, prescription drug plans adjust their costs and what they cover, and open season is the only time of the year that seniors can enroll in a plan or change their plan.
Early in his first term, Congressman Walz sponsored and voted in favor of the Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiation Act (HR 4) which would have allowed the federal government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare Part D.
Fifty-two years ago today, our father stopped by the maternity ward of Mankato's Immanuel Hospital to see our mom and us, then went back out to canvas the streets of the Key City for Dwight Eisenhower's re-election campaign.
Since then, attitudes about fathers' roles in birthing have changed. We don't know any man who wasn't at the side of the mother of his child--with the exception of a couple of guys in the Army and National Guard, who weren't happy at being away but understood their duty.
But the crunch time of GOTV has remained a constant companion on our birthday in even-numbered years. We urge everyone to get out and volunteer--whether by phone banking, doorknocking, stufing packets, or making food for the hordes of volunteers who are giving their time in this important election.
There will be work to do on Election Day as well; one task is driving voters to the poll. If you're civic minded but not into political parties, consider volunteering for this GOTV work. Non-profits in Minnesota can hook you up with non-partisan GOTV volunteer opportunities.
We wouldn't want anyone to have to give that greedy cat a burger in order to exercise his or her right to vote.
Minnesota's Democratic nominee for U.S Senate, Al Franken, will be on
campus today along with fellow Democrat Tim Walz, a candidate for the
House of Representatives.
The event will take place at 3 p.m. in the Minnesota State Centennial Student Union Ballroom.
John Rassieur of Owatonna, Carl Witty of Kasson and Laura Askelin of
Rochester participate in a press conference Wednesday in Owatonna to
support Congressman Tim Walz, and to criticize a national sales tax
supported by Walz’s Republican opponent Dr. Brian Davis. Walz was not
in Owatonna Wednesday to participate in the press conference, but will
be appearing with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken at 11:45
a.m. today at the Owatonna Elks Club.
Rep. Michele Bachmann is now notorious for her appearances on cable
TV news programs, having sparked significant controversy with her
recent “anti-America” statements on MSNBC. But as Politico reports,
Bachmann, a Republican, has done 23 major television appearances since
the beginning of September — far more than any member of Minnesota’s
congressional delegation. How does a freshman Congress member from the
minority party find herself in the limelight so often?
Easy. You and I pay for it.
Bachmann has built an impressive communications staff in Washington,
D.C. She has a press secretary for national media, a press secretary
for local media and a “new media director” who harnesses “the
networking and outreach power of the internet.”
According to congressional salary data, none of Minnesota’s Congress
members has more than one press secretary. Minnesota’s most influential
members, Democratic Reps. James Oberstar and Collin Peterson, who chair
the House Transportation and Agriculture committees, respectively, each
have only one press secretary.
Bachmann’s fellow freshman colleagues, Democratic Reps. Keith
Ellison and Tim Walz, each have just one communications lead, and Walz
has combined the communications director and district director
positions into one entity.
"It's an honor to receive the support of Congresswoman Bachmann," Davis
said of Bachmann. "She is a dynamic leader for Minnesota and for our
conservative causes. I value her leadership and advice, her principles
and energy. I look forward to serving with her in the 111th Congress."
No word on whether Davis holds fast to that opinion.
Over the weekend, I read something very concerning. When the Republican
candidate for Congress, Brian Davis, was asked to name a specific way
he would improve education or health care benefits for veterans, he
couldn’t come up with even one idea.
I can’t believe that
someone could run for Congress for over a year and in all that time not
manage to develop a single idea about how to improve veterans’ care. I
have heard how hard it is for veterans to make use of their educational
benefits.
When I returned from Vietnam in 1971, I was able to enroll
in law school without having to jump through all kinds of hoops to get
my benefits as veterans do today. Anyone who has taken the time to talk
to a veteran and get their perspective on these issues would have been
able to come up with an answer to that question. But not Davis, I guess.
[Robert]Youngerman is a retired major in the United States Army Reserve.
Billed as a presentation of Davis's heath care plan, last night's meeting in Albert Lea turns out simply have been a chance for Davis to rally the GOP faithful. Check out the intense excitement rippling across the faces of the faithful.
LaPrensa endorses Congressman Walz; Brian Davis didn't bother to return the four-question survey. The nod joins the long list of endorsements Walz has received.
We received this press release from the congressional office late last week:
WALZ ANNOUNCES ONLINE WORKING FAMILIES TOOLKIT
(Mankato, MN) – Today, Congressman Walz launched an online working families toolkit. Walz’s website (walz.house.gov) features links to some of the most commonly sought information on foreclosure, heating, and unemployment assistance during this hard economic time.
“All too often, individuals who need assistance don’t know where to start. The websites of major government departments include massive amounts of information that can make it challenging for consumers to find the assistance they need. My online working families toolkit is designed to be simple and easy to navigate. It provides direct links to programs like HOPE for Homeowners that will help consumers renegotiate mortgages they can no longer afford,” said Walz.
The online toolkit includes information about and links to:
Ø The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Ø The Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income homeowners
Ø HOPE for Homeowners
Ø Credit counseling resources recommended by the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Ø The Women, Infants and Children nutrition assistance program
Ø National School Lunch and Breakfast programs
Ø Low-income senior nutrition programs
Ø Unemployment Insurance
Ø The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and MinnesotaCare
Congressman Walz’s office is also able to offer assistance resolving problems with federal agencies. The Congressman’s office frequently handles issues involving Social Security, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS and other issues relating to the federal government. Individuals in need of assistance cutting through red tape with a federal agency, or who do not have access to the internet, should call Walz’s Rochester office at 507-206-0643 for assistance.
The working families toolkit can be found at http://walz.house.gov/consumerassistance.shtm
Tough times are nothing new. This Dylan cover of Stephen Foster's 1854 "Hard Times," performed at a Willie Nelson tribute concert in 1993, goes out to remind those in better circumstances to contribute to local food shelves, some of which are struggling to keep up with the need.
In addition, the Austin Jaycees and the local postal workers union
are teaming up for a food drive Nov. 8. Residents can place food items
near their mailboxes, while the carriers will then take them to the
post office and the Jaycees then help sort them and load the up to be
taken over to the food shelf. As a reminder, postal workers will be
dropping off notices to households a couple of days before the drive.
“My personal belief and the belief of the letter carriers of Austin
is that a person deserves to have their basic needs met, and one of
those needs is food,” said Bob Rosel, president of the local letter
carrier’s union.
Bachmann is whining that it wasn't her fault that the words came out of her mouth. Blaming someone else seems to be fashionable among conservatives these days. In his letter, Recent debate fair in form, not in content, Preston Smith whines about the bias of the moderators in the Debate Minnesota forum in Mankato.
Funny, but we recall a debate that centered on the economy and energy policy. Moreover, since conservative challenger Brian Davis chose domestic drilling as "the" issue in his race, conservatives have little room to kvetch if the media keeps its attention glued to the topic pressed by their candidate.
. . .First, Bachmann failed to do the basic job requirement of a congress
member; that is, listen and respond to constituents. Bachmann has not
made any serious effort to meet with citizens of the sixth district.
Holding
town hall forums is a long standing tradition and a great way for House
Representatives to listen to their constituents.
Bachmann has held zero town hall forums in the district.
Now
compare that to the other two freshman congress members: Rep. Tim Walz
has sponsored 172 community meetings and public events, and Rep. Keith
Ellison has had 20 town hall forums plus dozens more community meetings. . .
We attended a number of those town meetings, and it was fascinating to see citizens who felt free to share their opinion on a range of issues from the Iraq War to abortion. Walz's frequent contact with district citizens was one of the reasons that the New Ulm Journal cited as reason for its endorsement of the congressman's re-election.
Hayfield cattle farmer Lisa Heggedahl tells the editors and readers of the Owatonna People's Press that Walz takes the Correct stand on Social Security:
. . .Congressman Tim Walz has done a great deal for Minnesota[n]s — for our
veterans, our active duty military, and farmers like me — and he
continues to protect those dependent on Social Security by opposing
privatization of Social Security.
Thanks, Tim Walz, for all the work you do on our behalf.
Read the whole thing at the Owatonna People's Press. The OPP also notes Rudy Giuliani will stump for Norm Coleman in Owatonna, Rochester, and Mankato. Maybe Brian Davis will tag along and explain to voters why Coleman is wrong on opposing drilling in ANWR. Or maybe Rudy can talk up conservative social issues for Davis in Mankato since the debate moderators were such meanies. Do you think?
The business of primping and dressing on the
campaign trail has become fraught with political risk in recent years
as voters increasingly see an elite Washington out of touch with their
values and lifestyles.
In 2000, Democrat Al Gore took heat for changing his clothing
hues. And in 2006, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was ribbed for two hair
styling sessions that cost about $3,000.
Then, there was Democrat John Edwards' $400 haircuts in 2007
and Republican McCain's $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes this year.
A review of similar records for the campaign of Democrat Barack
Obama and the Democratic National Committee turned up no similar
spending.
But all the spending by other candidates pales in comparison to
the GOP outlay for the Alaska governor, whose expensive, designer
outfits have been the topic of fashion pages and magazines.
What hadn't been apparent was where the clothes came from — her
closet back in Wasilla or from the campaign coffers in Washington.
The answer can be found inside the RNC's September monthly
financial disclosure report under "itemized coordinated expenditures."
Guess Pat Nixon's respectable Republican cloth coat just wasn't good enough for Palin's handlers, who apparently trusted the Alaska governor's natural good looks less than Nixon had faith in his wife's appearance. Why not Herberger's, Penney's, Walmart or, if designer togs are imperative, Discount 70?
Photo: Congressman Walz and farmers in Southeastern Minnesota.
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons,describes itself as "a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and
over ... dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age." It claims 38 million members nationwide.
Each election year, AARP asks major candidates in selected races key questions about the issues most important to
our members and their families. Candidates are allowed up to 125 words to answer each question. AARP does not
edit or modify the candidates’ answers to our questions. In addition, AARP provides a summary of our position
for each of the issues addressed.
Given the power of the older voter (people in the 50+ age group are among those groups with the highest voter turnout), candidates tend to answer the questionnaire by the deadline.
Brian Davis, the Republican candidate running in Minnesota's First Congressional district, didn't respond on time.
Voters looking to the guide for Davis's positions on social security, retirement security, affordable health care, long-term care, and making a commitment "to help end gridlock by working across party lines to
develop and support common-sense, bipartisan solutions on health care
and financial security" are simply out of luck.
The only other instance of 2008 major party candidates runnning for federal office who didn't answer is in the Fourth with both Ed Matthews and Betty McCollum not responding. We have no idea what they were thinking.
Photo: Congressman Walz and seniors in a Mankato town hall meeting, from the Mankato Free Press.
Last week, we learned
that AIG executives spent $400,000 on a junket after the federal
government gave $85 billion to the failing company. AIG gave its
executives vacations at an exclusive resort, where they spent up to
$200,000 for rooms, $150,000 for meals and $23,000 for the spa.
What
nerve! Don’t these people have any shame? They accept a massive public
bailout, a welfare program for the wealthy, and then throw it back in
our faces!
Bravo to Tim Walz for voting against this legislated fraud.
With colder weather on
the horizon and talk of higher heating costs in the air, more Jackson
County residents are — or will be — taking a long, hard look at their
utility bills.
After they do, many more households than in past
years are expected to turn to the government’s Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program, according to Michelle Kompelien, self-sufficiency
case manager at Western Community Action’s Jackson office.
Federal
legislators, too, have seen the increased need coming and have sent an
additional $144.5 million to Minnesota, almost double the normal
allocation, to meet the demand.
“Minnesota can be an awfully
cold place in the winter, but no one should go without heat because
they’ve fallen on hard times,” said Gov. Tim Pawlenty, in a press
release.
In honor of Brian Davis's suspicion toward programs designed to help those less well off, we select the Growling Tiger's calypso classic, "Money is King."A bit of irony, too, given the good doctor's fundraising, though unlike Chad, we're not fretting too much about a candidate who has a $411,000 job waiting for him.
Our first choice was King Radio's "Sedition Law" for our trouble-making friend Jussein, but no one's been ambitious enough yet to put together a YouTube of that one. Pity.
Congressman Walz's participation in the House Agriculture Committee's hearing on credit derivatives is capturing national attention. The Washington Times has posted the AP report, Credit default swaps targeted, along with the photo of slot machines.
The caption says it all: "Credit default swaps turn out to be more unregulated than gambling..."
As does Laurie Kellman's article for the Associated Press in the WaTimes:
Debt insurers, say hello to government regulation. Say farewell to voluntary compliance and disclosure.
Congress and financial regulators for the first time appear willing to
impose rules on obscure financial contracts that are increasingly being
blamed for igniting the global financial crisis.
"Please excuse the healthy skepticism of my constituents," Rep. Tim
Walz, Minnesota Democrat, said Wednesday during a House hearing,
referring to the relative free rein given those involved in so-called
credit default swaps. "They're not buying that right now."
Republicans, traditional opponents of regulation, acknowledge that Congress needs to lay down the law.
"There are at least some limits to market economics that we're going
to have to make," said Sen. Richard G. Lugar, Indiana Republican,
during a hearing earlier in the week.
Lawmakers and state and federal regulators are a long way from
agreeing on specifics. But they're marching in rare bipartisan lockstep
toward making the terms of credit default swaps transparent and subject
to government supervision. . . .
Go read the whole article. Southwestern Minnesota's citizens tuning in to Sioux Falls' ABC affiliate KSFY-TV could watch reporter Drew Sandholm's INTERVIEW: Walz Investigates Wall Street Abuses. A sample:
KSFY: Going into your Congressional hearing, you
said the use of credit derivatives had the American economy operating
on a "...Vegas casino mentality..." Did you find that to be true?
Walz:
Well, that's pretty much what the experts said. This was held in the
Agricultural Committee hearing and it's the Commodities Futures Trading
Commission. It was dealing specifically with the credit default swaps.
These are kind of shadowy backroom deals that equal 55-trillion
dollars. They were at the heart of bringing down AIG and the problem
with them is: there is no oversight to them. There is no one that knows
who's trading these things, how leveraged they are, and the risk was
obviously one of the contributing factors in the problems we're
experiencing in the economy.
So, we were there to hear
from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the CFTC, experts from the
University of Texas, amongst others -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange and
then representatives from this industry who was pretty much the only
one in the room that thought everything was okay. Everybody else said,
'No, there's a problem here.'
. . .Walz, who sits on the committee, returned to Washington on Wednesday
to attend the hearing. He pressed witnesses to understand citizen anger
over apparent manipulation of the markets through the unregulated
derivatives, and called on the government to be vigilant about future
unregulated financial tools.
In later interviews, Walz had more:
. . ."It's about bringing back trust. I keep coming back to that," he
said. "People want to know that these people are being asked to play by
the rules and that the investments are on the up and up and that
they're not in the shadows."
Walz, who voted against both versions of the $700 billion Wall
Street bailout package said the initial anger over the bill has
subsided somewhat, but constituents still want to know what is being
done to prevent another crisis.
"They've lost trust, they've lost confidence," he said. "So anything
we can do to restore confidence, I don't know that you can measure in
sheer numbers, but they want to know ... that somebody's minding the
store, somebody's got to make sure this doesn't happen again, and
somebody's looking out for their interest."
Meanwhile, back in Rochester, the Post-Bulletin's Matt Stolle covered the Davis campaign's press event with John Boehner. Readers can check out John Boehner's stoic attempts to paint the town red in the article. Here are some tidbits from the article:
. . .Polling information on the race has been scarce, but what has been
released so far has shown Walz with a lead. Even a poll released by the
Davis campaign late last month to illustrate a shift in momentum in
Davis' favor had Walz, a Mankato high school teacher, with an 18-point
lead.
The Web site Realclearpolitics.com, for example, doesn't include the
1st District race among its rankings of the top 50 seats most likely to
switch parties.
We missed that one. Check it out yourself here.
. . .Meanwhile, the Walz campaign continued to hammer away at Davis for
supporting a partial privatization of Social Security, an idea Walz
spokesman Chris Schmitter called the equivalent of "gambling away on
the stock market."
"In this economic climate, when he's talking about a plan to
partially privatize Social Security, that right there is an indication
that's not what people want," Schmitter said.
Events have not necessarily conspired to help Davis' campaign. In
debates, Davis has pledged to keep the promise of Social Security, but
has argued that young workers should be given the option of diverting a
portion of their Social Security contributions into private accounts.
But his argument has come at a time when the stock market has plunged
in value. . .
Read the whole article at the Post Bulletin. Since Davis had not yet released his fundraising report to the FEC nor released any numbers to the press, the article doesn't consider how the Davis campaign is Not waving, but drowning.
Dr. Brian Davis Calls On Washington Insider To Boost Sinking Campaign
Visit is from Congressional champion of gambling Social Security on the stock market
(Rochester, Minn.) – Today, in an effort to boost his stalled campaign, Dr. Brian Davis enlisted the help of a Washington insider, Congressman John Boehner. Davis’s campaign has stalled over public concerns over his plan to put Social Security funds at risk by investing them in the stock market.
Walz Campaign Manager Chris Schmitter said that Boehner’s visit was payback for Dr. Davis’s rigid support for the Republican Party line.
“I’m not surprised a Washington insider like John Boehner would come to help Dr. Davis,” Schmitter said. “After all, Dr. Davis pledged to avoid any independence at all and support every line in the Republican Party platform: from privatizing Social Security to abolishing the Department of Education.”
However, Schmitter said that Boehner’s visit is unlikely to have the impact Dr. Davis was hoping for.
“I understand that Dr. Davis is looking for help from anywhere he can get it to boost his campaign,” Schmitter said. “But I don’t think that bringing in the champion of Social Security privatization is going to help him much in this economic climate.”
“Tim Walz will always fight to protect Social Security from those who want to undermine it by investing it in the stock market,” said Schmitter.
Like Dr. Davis, who has routinely expressed support for privatizing Social Security, Boehner has a long history of pushing to gamble Social Security funds on the stock market. Boehner has a lifetime 0% voting record with the Alliance for Retired Americans because of his support for proposals that would gamble away the retirement security of America’s seniors. Tim Walz has been endorsed by the Alliance for Retired Americans due to his steadfast opposition to those proposals.
The following includes some key questions for Rep. Boehner and Dr. Davis today:
Last Spring, Davis Said He Supported The Privatization Of Social Security. Davis said, “I do believe that people below a certain age should have the option to invest some of their Social Security in the private market.” [Winona Youth GOP Debate, 2/23/08, full transcription available on request]
Again, Despite the Economic Crisis, Davis Recently Said Again That He Supported Privatizing Social Security. “Davis says privatizing, or allowing some of the payroll taxes to be invested, would be one way to help. ‘So let's say 40% or 50% of payroll taxes could be included into a secure type of even a 403B plan, which would be bonds and securities that are very stable,’ says Davis.” [KAAL News Interview, 9/25/08]
Davis Said If You Want to Know Where He Stood on an Issue to Look at the Republican Party Platform. Davis said, “I want to reassure you that I’m a conservative platform republican I will cast those votes and I will advocate on behalf of our causes. I think our Republican Party platform in this state is great. Do you want to know where I stand; you can start with that document.” [Fillmore Co GOP Convention, full transcription available on request]
Republican Party Platform of MN Republican Party Platform Section 1, Letter P (Page 2): Allowing all Americans to invest some or all of their Social Security payments, continuing to fulfill our obligations to older Americans, and prohibiting Congress from using Social Security funds for any other purpose.
Boehner Said Privatization Should Be the “Foundation” of Social Security: Boehner signed a letter to the President’s Commission on Strengthening Social Security, which said “We must make [personal retirement accounts] the foundation of Social Security.” May 24, 2001
Photo: Bush and Boehner just in case readers missed the Republican brand on Dr. Davis.
Yesterday was the last day to register before the general election in Minnesota. Citizens may register and vote on election day, but the process is easier when the voter is already on the rolls.
Voter registration is up in Mankato and St. Peter, according to the Mankato Free Press. The paper reports in Voter registration mostly heavy:
County auditors never felt so loved.
Across the area — and the state — most auditors are getting a heavy influx of people who are pre-registering to vote Nov. 4.
“The numbers are way up,” said Bridgette Kennedy, auditor-treasurer in Nicollet County.
Her office already had more than 600 new registrations and many more were coming in Tuesday, the last day to pre-register.
In Blue Earth County, Elections Director
Patty O’Connor didn’t have exact numbers of new registers, but she
knows the numbers are way up.
Already there are about 39,000 existing and
new voters registered in the county. In the last presidential election
in 2004, there were 33,300 registered voters on Election Day.
“They’re up quite a bit. We’re seeing a lot of the 18- to 25-year olds. A lot are coming from the college.”
Voting via absentee ballot is also hitting record marks:
Several area counties also sent out record numbers of absentee ballots. Nicollet County mailed 630 of them.
Le Sueur County Auditor Ron Germscheid said they have so far sent out about 600 absentee ballots.
O’Connor’s office sent out 1,200 absentee ballots so far and is expecting steady business the next few weeks.
Will it matter? The paper says:
While much of the
interest is apparently being driven by the presidential election, the
influx of new voters could play a role in other contests, particularly
in areas where the races are considered close.
In the 1st District, where Democrat Tim
Walz faces Republican challenger Brian Davis, 11,000 new voters
registered as of a week ago.
Which way will the new voters go? Statewide, Democratic areas have shown greater growth in registration numbers. The Strib's article noted:
New registrations are also high in solidly Democratic-voting college
towns such as Mankato, where Kerry won by more than 12 points, and
Northfield, which he carried won by 36 percentage points. In Mankato,
71 percent of the new registrations were among people between the ages
of 18 and 25. In Northfield, that figure was 26 percent, the newspaper
analysis found. . . .
. . .The new registrations in Minnesota could have an impact on closely
contested congressional races as well. In southern Minnesota's First
District, for example, Democrat Tim Walz defeated Republican incumbent
Gil Gutknecht by 15,000 votes in 2006. In that district, 11,000 new
voters have registered this year. . .
We're not sure how close the race is between Walz and Davis, with even Davis's polling last month showing Walz with an 18 percentage point lead, but the registration number is intriguing.
I am not usually a fan of Rep. Tim Walz, but I want to publicly thank
him for having the integrity to represent the wishes of his
constituents and to vote twice against the bailout of Wall Street.
The
disastrous bill bails out Wall Street at the expense of Main Street. It
puts taxpayer funds at risk, while freeing up banks to continue making
bad loans. It maintains and further subsidizes a system of flawed
practices that caused the original problem. It will greatly worsen the
long-term effects, and perhaps even the short-terms ones.
It is also immoral beyond measure for one generation to
transfer its expenses onto the backs of another, but that is exactly
what this bill does. It is American children and grandchildren who will
have to pay the tax bill to balance the accounts on Wall Street’s greed
and incompetence. It is the next generation who will be saddled with
the consequences of the current generation’s unwillingness to face its
own music.
Sadly,
our Congress, which is supposed to represent the interests of the
American people, has, again, acquiesced to the pressures of special
interests. It is the wealthy, the powerful, and the international
financial community that they, Democrats and Republicans alike, chose
to represent over the Americans on Main Street.
The residents of
Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District are fortunate to have a
representative who actually represents the hardworking citizens in his
district.
The top reasons cited by those who said they thought less of Mr. McCain were his recent attacks and his choice of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate.
We spent some time with Congressman Tim
Walz as he visited with senior citizens today. He talked about the
economy and the importance of preserving social security.
Walz will return to Washington, D.C. tomorrow to participate in a Congressional hearing investigating Wall Street abuses.
Walz
serves on the House Agriculture Committee which will hold a hearing on
the role credit derivatives played in the financial meltdown. That
committee controls futures trading.
Walz says the problem began
when these credit derivatives, or as he calls them, bad loans or bonds,
became underregulated and overspeculated.
Update: KAAL-TV has posted Candidates Address Social Security, a longer comparison piece about the three congressional candidates' positions. Video and short text at the link.[end update]
Congressman Tim Walz says he'll take part in a Congressional hearing to
investigate the Wall Street abuses that potentially caused the
financial meltdown.
Walz serves on the House Agriculture Committee,
which will hold the hearing examining the role credit derivatives
played in the financial meltdown.
Rep. Tim Walz says, "What
needs to happen, and what I'm still convinced of is, the free market
has to function correctly. But to do that we need rules to play by. And
we're out there to try to make sure that oversight is put in
place."Walz hopes the hearing will start the process of determining
what kind of Wall Street oversight must be adopted to make sure this
kind of financial crisis never happens again.
Tonight at Ten, we'll take
a closer look at 'credit derivatives' and what role they may have
played in the economic crisis.
Video at both links. We'll be listening to the House Ag committee hearing on "credit derivatives" at 10 a.m.Central time (online here).
Tim Walz, Denver Congresswoman DeGette Visit Rochester Senior Center to Discuss Social Security “Preserving the promise of Social Security is crucial to Minnesota’s seniors,” Walz says
( Rochester , Minn. ) – Today, Tim Walz and Congresswoman Diana DeGette visited the Rochester Senior Center , where they talked with local senior citizens about the impact of the recent economic downturn and the importance of preserving Social Security.
Walz and DeGette, a member of the House Democratic Leadership and the Vice Chair of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, said that because southern Minnesota has a high percentage of residents over age 65, the economic crisis has had a significant impact on the lives of local seniors.
“Today, I heard from seniors who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Congressman Tim Walz. “For seniors who live on a fixed income, it is particularly hard to cope with the rising costs of gas, food and prescription drugs. That’s why it is more important than ever that we protect Social Security and fight any attempt to privatize it and gamble it away on the stock market.”
“Congressman Walz and I are both committed to making sure Social Security remains the most successful antipoverty program in the world,” said Congresswoman DeGette. “But in order to do that, southern Minnesota needs to send Congressman Walz back for another term. His opponent, Dr. Davis, has said he would gamble Social Security in the stock market. That would jeopardize the economic security of the seniors we talked to today in Rochester . Southern Minnesota needs Tim Walz to continue protecting their Social Security in these uncertain times.”
Last Spring, Davis Said He Supported The Privatization Of Social Security. Davis said, “I do believe that people below a certain age should have the option to invest some of their Social Security in the private market.” [Winona Youth GOP Debate, 2/23/08, full transcription available on request]
Again, Despite the Economic Crisis, Davis Recently Said Again That He Supported Privatizing Social Security. “Davis says privatizing, or allowing some of the payroll taxes to be invested, would be one way to help. ‘So let's say 40% or 50% of payroll taxes could be included into a secure type of even a 403B plan, which would be bonds and securities that are very stable,’ says Davis.” [KAAL News Interview, 9/25/08]
Davis Said If You Want to Know Where He Stood on an Issue to Look at the Republican Party Platform. Davis said, “I want to reassure you that I’m a conservative platform republican I will cast those votes and I will advocate on behalf of our causes. I think our Republican Party platform in this state is great. Do you want to know where I stand; you can start with that document.” [Fillmore Co GOP Convention, full transcription available on request]
Republican Party Platform Section 1, Letter P (Page 2): Allowing all Americans to invest some or all of their Social Security payments, continuing to fulfill our obligations to older Americans, and prohibiting Congress from using Social Security funds for any other purpose.
In Civility, issues dominate Walz-Davis debate, MinnPost reports that the Social Security issue caused the one flare up in last night's debate. Apparently, the reporter hasn't seen the ad that prompted Davis's flare up, but is taking Davis's word for what's in the Walz comparison ad's content.
Democratic Congressman
Tim Walz of Mankato and Republican challenger Brian Davis of Rochester
disagreed repeatedly on issues ranging from federal regulation of the
marketplace to drilling for oil in the Alaskan wilderness during a
90-minute debate in Mankato Monday.
Walz, a former school teacher running for a
second term in the U.S. House, and Davis, a Mayo Clinic doctor making
his first attempt at public office, disagreed — almost always politely.
But the audience of about 400 at Minnesota State University saw clear
differences on a multitude of issues between the two major candidates
in southern Minnesota’s 1st District.
Davis was unabashedly conservative, making
repeated references to his Republican Party endorsement and calling for
everything from a return to God and religion in schools to a partial
privatization of Social Security.
“The 1st District tends to be more
conservative than most places,” said Davis, who suggested that Walz is
too liberal for the district. “It tends to want lower taxes, smaller
government, more conservative values. It tends to look skeptically
toward a government that wants to spend $700 billion in tax dollars to
bail out bad policy. These are the values I respect.”
Walz struck themes similar to those that
helped him topple 12-year-incumbent Republican Congressman Gil
Gutknecht in 2006, becoming just the second Democrat in a century to
represent the 1st District.
“What I told you I would do is I would go
to Congress and I would support — and would make sure I was
representing — every person in this district,” said Walz, who promised
to follow the example of leaders in American history who also faced
serious economic challenges. “.. Every time we’ve had those challenges,
something amazing has happened in this country. We’ve been able to
transcend politics, rise above it and find solutions.” . . .
Political reporter Mark Fischenich's article captures the flavor of the debate well, including exchanges like this one about health care:
“They [patients] don’t come
through the door as a Republican or Democrat,” Davis said. “They come
through the door as someone who needs help.”
Walz countered: “If they don’t have health insurance, they don’t come through your door.”
The debate will be broadcast at noon in Southern Minnesota by MPR's station at 91.5 FM. If the network posts audio files, we'll link to them. KEYC-TV covered the debate in Walz, Davis Debate in Mankato.
We thank Debate Minnesota for supporting forums like this one. Four hundred people got to see candidates answer tough questions and rebut each other. A terrific volunteer organization.
In southern Minnesota and again in St. Paul later in the day,
Obama spoke about how her father had multiple sclerosis but still
got up to go to work without complaining. She also told the story
of Barack Obama's mother, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer.
Obama used the story to explain why she and her husband support a
health care system that doesn't deny coverage for preexisting
conditions.
Obama also mentioned several economic concerns, including
layoffs and higher grocery prices.
"Don't we deserve leaders who get it?" Obama asked. "My
husband, Barack Obama, gets it. He doesn't get it in a
philosophical, theoretical way, he gets it because he's lived it."
The audience responded well:
Maya Jones, 24, of Rochester, said she was thrilled Obama and
Democratic Rep. Tim Walz, who spoke beforehand, gave positive
speeches.
"I just liked the tone of it. They didn't trash the other
candidate at all," Jones said. . . .
Update: WXOW in LaCrosse covers the MN-01 race in Thoughts on the economy. Though in Wisconsin, the stations serves SE Minnesota as well.
We'll have more later but we're off on a couple of errands.
Photos: (Above) John Cross of the Mankato Free Press captured this wonderful image of the debate.Cross is a consistently strong visual chronicler of Southern Minnesota. (Below) Walz speaks at the Michelle Obama rally in Rochester. More rally pix in Laura's album here. We've gotten some other pictures as well from readers that we'll be posting.
We haven't seen the KSTP-League of Women Voters debate between Walz and Davis yet, but from the sounds of this press release from the Walz campaign, we will certainly be taking a look at it:
Tim Walz Wins KSTP/League of Women Voters
Debate
Walz Fights for
Middle-Class Dr. Davis Opposes New Tax
Cuts for Middle Class Families
Today, Tim Walz won his second debate of the
general election, sponsored by KSTP and the Minnesota League of Women Voters.
During the debate, Walz focused on his record of fighting for the middle-class
families of southern Minnesota and
bringing change to
Washington
Walz Campaign Manager Chris Schmitter said,
“Today, Tim Walz again showed that he’s working for the middle-class families of
southern Minnesota and bringing
change to Washington . Tim is
fighting to cut middle-class taxes, create jobs by investing in renewable energy
and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
Schmitter said that Walz’s record of fighting for
the middle-class stands in stark contrast to his opponent’s support of the
failed Bush Administration policies that favor CEOs and Big Oil over ordinary
families.
“Today, Dr. Davis made two remarkable statements
that make it clear he’ll continue the same failed, out-of-touch polices of the
Bush Administration. He actually said that he supports keeping George Bush’s tax
cuts for millionaires, but that he will oppose any new tax cuts for middle-class
families. And, incredibly, he said once again that he has no idea how to improve
care and benefits for our veterans,” Schmitter said.
The [pdf document here] debunks several of Dr.
Davis’s distortions and misstatements during the debate. The debate plays on
KAAL-TV on Sunday, October 12 ( 6:00PM )
and on KSTP TV on Sunday, October 19 (
9:00PM ).
Davis Would Oppose
Tax Cuts for Middle-Class Families:Davis said he supports the Bush Administration’s tax cuts for
millionaires. But, when asked about tax cuts for the middle-class, such as that
proposed by Senator Obama, Davis said: "I'm not in favor of tax cuts, additional tax
cuts right now." [KSTP – League of Women Voters Debate, 10/12/08.
Davis Again Said
He Has No Specific Proposals to Help Our Veterans: During the debate, when asked about specific proposals
he would support to increase care and benefits for our veterans,
Davis said: "I have no specific proposals right now." [KSTP –
League of Women Voters Debate, 10/12/08.
Davis Doesn’t
Understand Veterans’ Issues; Can’t Identify Ways to Improve Care for
Veterans.< At a
Fairmont candidates forum last week, Dr. Davis was asked, “What action would you take to provide better educational
methods and health care to our veterans?”
Davis responded, “I can’t identify any specific
areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans.
I know there was a recent bill passed that is doing just that.”
[Fairmont Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum,
10/2/08]
Lots of MN-01 material was published while we drove to Rochester and listened to the deb
ate. The RACOC is to be congratulated for the debate, which truly was a debate, with rebuttals allowed. A good show. The Uptake will be archiving raw footage of the event on its site. Thanks to Noah and the Uptake.
Mikkelson "has been both all over the political map – and nowhere as well -- since 2002."
Jeepers. The Walz feature,
Walz campaigns as coalition builder, is a solid feature that mentions Davis "complaining." That's about right. The final piece, Davis campaigns as a conservative, believes "radical environmentalists" control Tim Walz. Didn't we hear that sort of thing from Gil Gutknecht in the OWatonna debate in 2006?
Congratulations to Maple River High's Marching Eagles band. According to the MFP, Marching band headed for NYC to take part in the 89th annual National Veterans Day Parade on November 11. The paper adds:
But before the Marching Eagles take the national stage, they’ll be honoring veterans at home.
During halftime of Friday night’s football
game, Maple River will honor a trio of local veterans: Maple River
graduates Jessie Lloyd and Andrew Nortrup-Uhrich and retired Maple
River teacher Ted Mays. Lloyd and Mays will be traveling to New York to
participate in the parade.
Representatives from the offices of Sen.
Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Norm Coleman and Congressman Tim Walz also are
slated to attend the ceremony, which will feature a rendition of “Stars
and Stripes Forever” and the school fight song.
Carpenter said she’s hoping her students gain an appreciation for veterans by the time they return from New York.
“Not all learning happens within four
walls,” she said. “When students travel like this, it’s amazing how
much their worlds expand.”
In Rochester today, Congressman Walz and Brian Davis will face off at the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce debate. Registration was required for the event, which costs $20 for members and $30 for non-members.
We look forward to seeing how much the world expands following the event.
KTTC-TV's Fanna Haile-Selassie reports on the contest in Congressional candidates prepare for debate. (Also on Fox KXLT). The visuals are telling: Walz is surrounded by veterans eager to work for his re-election, while Davis is alone (okay, there's a tree on screen with him).
In the piece, Davis calls his attack ad a "fair contrast" ad. We think the contrast part might be right when the GOP candidate's spot is stacked up against Walz's ads. Walz's ads focus on policy. In the Republican's ad, viewers learn a great deal about what Davis thinks of Walz--and what Davis thinks is fair. It's not pretty.
Nor is the sight of a grown man telling voters he shoots straight. Perhaps Walz should challenge him to a clay shoot so people will have something more than Davis's word on it. Who knows? Perhaps Davis is a better shot than he is a treasurer or property owner or fact checker or resume writer.
If you're one of those people that believes the general election
doesn't begin until the negative ads start to fly, then the race for
the first district congressional seat in Minnesota just got started.
The Mankato station also included footage of the local Vets for Walz stop.
The Post Bulletin notes that VFW committee endorses Walz; MMA endorses Davis. Over at The Rochester Democrat, there's news of another October 18 Walz-Mondale event, this time in Rochester. Vice-President MOndale and Walz will be in St. Peter for a breakfast event earlier in the day.
The IBM financial analyst was among an estimated 175 people who had
gathered at the ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in downtown Rochester as
part of a debate party sponsored by the Olmsted County DFL Party. There
was no comparable event held by area Republicans.
And a second paragraph is just as interesting:
Rebecca Smith, co-chairwoman of the Olmsted County Republican Party,
said she found the performances of both candidates to be uninspiring.
She also said she didn't believe debates played a major role in
determining the outcome of presidential races.
In light of recent turmoil in the U.S. stock market, a trio of area
Democrats, who are retirees, spoke against the privatization of Social
Security at a press conference Tuesday morning.
Held in the
basement of the New Ulm Public Library by the Tim Walz (D-Mankato) for
U.S. Congress campaign, Linus Guggisberg, Sally Webster, and Mary Polta
spoke.
They talked about why they opposed Republican Party
Platform Section 1, Letter P (Page 2) that would allow all Americans to
invest some or all of their Social Security payments.
All three said they thought privatizing Social Security was gambling with what they considered a safety net for the elderly. . . .
. . .On Monday, Walz met with and told Mankato seniors at Oak Terrace he
was committed to honoring the promise of Social Security. Walz said he
would strongly oppose any attempt to privatize it or gamble it away on
the stock market.
"When my father died, my younger brother used
Social Security survivor benefits to go to college. My mother used the
same benefits to train as a nurse and re-enter the work force," said
Walz.
A Mankato Free Press story, West teacher wins second award, reminds readers that Walz was the local Teacher of the Year in 2002.
The Owatonna People's Press presents Senator Coleman's and Congressman Walz's contrasting views on the bailout bill. Like Senator Klobuchar, Senator Coleman voted "Yes" on the bill, while Walz voted no each time the bill came up in the House. From the article:
U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, who voted against the bailout both times the bill
passed through the House, said that there were indeed serious
implications for Main Street.
“Behind the scenes, there was
evidence that showed that (the credit markets were) starting to freeze
up,” Walz said. “Some don’t believe it’s as bad as they said. I think
it is, but that doesn’t warrant throwing all the rules out.”
Walz
said he voted against the bill because he felt it did not provide
enough safety for the tax payers, who are stuck footing the bill.
“I
believe that getting these toxic debts out of the financial markets is
the best thing to do. I hope it does work,” Walz said. “But if this
doesn’t work the taxpayer is left holding the bag. We have no plan B.
There’s nothing that says they wont come back and ask for more. Why
would we say yes to that? ” . . .
It is, IMHO and all, an utterly fair set of recommendations, which will
surely tick lots of people off. The NRA tends to weight votes more
strongly than words, and incumbent votes more strongly than previous
position votes, which is why, for example, while in Minnesota's US
House District 1, liberal Democrat Tim Walz gets an endorsement over
Brian Davis. . . .
Saturday, Oct. 18th – Tim Walz breakfast with former VP Mondale Nicollet County Historical Center off of 169 FREE!!!! 9am
We'll have more on that as details come our way.
According to our sources, Brian Davis's television ads are supposed to start today in Rochester and Mankato. We can't wait to learn about how Tim Walz eats kittens.
Texas Congressman Chet Edwards will be in Rochester, Owatonna and Mankato today as the "Veterans for Walz" group is launched across the district.
That's as good as excuse as any for a little Texas blues from the under-appreciated Anson Funderburgh:
Photo: Walz talking to Southern Minnesotans about the bailout plan last Wednesday.
Tim Walz's supporters continue to pound home the message about the dangers of Brian Davis's ideology in uncertain economic times. From a Walz campaign press release:
New Ulm Area Citizens Oppose Dr. Brian Davis’ Plan to
Gamble Social Security on the Stock Market
(New Ulm ,
Minn. ) – In light of recent turmoil in the
U.S. stock
market, a group of New Ulm-area residents held a press conference today to
oppose 1st District Congressional candidate Dr. Brian Davis’ plans to
gamble Social Security on the stock market.
“Social security has been a safety net for our
working families for generations,” said Jon Nowak, local United Brotherhood of
Carpenters Organizer. “Brian Davis is willing to risk gambling that safety net
away on the stock market. Fortunately, in this economy, Tim Walz knows that we
need to protect it.”
Dr. Davis has routinely expressed support for some
privatization of Social Security and has pledged to follow the MN Republican
Party platform, which promotes privatization of Social Security for Americans of
all ages.
Linus Guggisberg, a local retiree from New Ulm,
said, “Social Security allows me to make ends meet in my retirement, just like
tens of millions of senior citizens all around the country. If the stock market goes down, I still
want to be able to pay my heating bill.”
“In southern
Minnesota , there are hardworking
people who rely on Social Security as a safety net,” said Sally Webster, a local
resident. “It’s hard to believe that Dr. Davis wants to gamble with a program
that’s so important to our most vulnerable. The fact that he wants to privatize
Social Security in these uncertain times tells me that he’s not suited to be in
Congress.”
Last Spring,
Davis Said He Supported The Privatization Of Social Security.
Davis said, “I do believe that people below a certain age
should have the option to invest some of their Social Security in the private
market.” [Winona Youth GOP Debate, 2/23/08,
full transcription available on request]
Again, Despite the Economic Crisis,
Davis Recently
Said Again That He Supported Privatizing Social Security. Davis says privatizing, or allowing some of the payroll taxes to be invested, would be one way to help. ‘So let's say 40% or 50% of payroll
taxes could be included into a secure type of even a 403B plan, which would be
bonds and securities that are very stable,’ says Davis.” [KAAL News Interview,
9/25/08]
Davis Said If You Want to Know Where He Stood on an Issue to
Look at the Republican Party Platform. Davis said, “I want to reassure you that I’m a conservative
platform republican I will cast those votes and I will advocate on behalf of our
causes. I think our Republican Party platform in this state is great. Do you
want to know where I stand; you can start with that document.” [Fillmore Co GOP
Convention, full transcription available on request]
Republican Party Platform Section 1, Letter P (Page
2):Allowing all Americans to invest
some or all of their Social Security payments, continuing to fulfill our
obligations to older Americans, and prohibiting Congress from using Social
Security funds for any other purpose.
Chet Edwards is coming to Minnesota to help Tim because he knows the
Republican attack machine is going to keep distorting the truth on
Tim’s record.
So Chet is coming to set the record straight and talk to southern Minnesotans about Tim’s leadership on veterans’ issues.
In 2006, a political operative from Virginia named Mike Spellings was press secretary for Edwards' opponent; now there's a "Mike Spellings"
serving as spokester for the Brian Davis campaign. If they are one and
the same, Chet Edwards is a great choice to bring in to help Walz
stump.He'll certainly be hip to whatever horse apples the Davis camp may lob in Congressman Walz's direction.
The economic bailout still has many people wondering when the crisis
will end.Congressman Tim Walz was in town today to address that
issue.Walz talked to constituents at Oak Terrace West apartments this
afternoon about problems with social security and retirement.The
Minnesota Representative voted no, is still hesitant about the bailout
and wants to make sure the plan will work . . .
. . .By now, we all know the “bailout” legislation has been passed. In what the House started as the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008”
designed to provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase
and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of
providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and
financial system, became a “Christmas Tree” in the Senate. . . .
. . .How can John McCain “suspend” his campaign to resolve this crisis and
end up voting for this legislation ? Can voters believe his "earmark"
veto threat ?
Why did so-called “earmark” reformer Kline vote to
approve this legislation even though he had made a promise to never
vote for a bill with earmarks to the people who nominated him at the
District 39 (Dakota County) GOP convention.
Yet, Tim Walz recognized that these “earmarks” were not vital to stabilizing our economy and voted NO. . . .
. . .When Tim Walz campaigned in 2006, he openly complained about fiscal mismanagement and the need to embrace PAYGO.
Creditability is an underappreciated characteristic.
Walz has demonstrated creditability and fiscal responsibility as well as a "good conscience" ... you know, he’s “walking the walk”. . . .
Attention, all reps: If your district is not in foreclosure straits, step forward.
Minnesota's First is among the districts mentioned that has the lowest foreclosure rate. Some credit this to the strong presence of community banks throughout the district.
In honor of Chet Edwards coming to Southern Minnesota, a YouTube of Gary P. Nunn (you may know the song better from Jerry Jeff Walker's cover):
For another tasty treat, head over and see Nunn and the Lost Gonzo Band sing the same tune at Willie Nelson's 1974 Fourth of July picnic. Embedding code is disabled, or we'd run that clip here.
Tim Walz
Meets with Mankato Seniors to
Discuss Retirement Security
Walz Will Oppose Any
Attempt to Privatize Social Security
( North Mankato ,
Minn. ) – On Monday, Congressman Tim Walz met
with Mankato seniors at Oak Terrace,
a local senior center. In light of recent economic turmoil, he talked to seniors
about his commitment to honoring the promise of Social Security. He also voiced
his strong opposition to any attempt at privatizing Social Security and gambling
it away on the stock market.
“When my father died, my younger brother used
Social Security survivor benefits to go to college, and my mother used those
same benefits to train as a nurse and re-enter the workforce,” said Walz. “With
the economy in turmoil, I will oppose any attempt to gamble Social Security away
on the stock market – I will protect Social Security for southern Minnesotan
seniors.”
Walz’s opponent in the upcoming election, Dr.
Brian Davis, supports privatizing Social Security.
Campaign Manager Chris Schmitter said, “Dr.
Davis’ plan to gamble Social Security away on the stock market is wrong for
southern Minnesota . Ordinary,
middle-class folks rely on Social Security to get by – Dr. Davis’ plan would
make it harder for them.”
Davis Said He Supported The Privatization Of Social Security.
Davis said, “I do believe that people below a certain age
should have the option to invest some of their Social Security in the private
market.” [Winona Youth GOP Debate, 2/23/08,
full transcription available on request]
Again, Despite the Economic Crisis,
Davis Recently
Said That He Supported Privatizing Social Security.Davis says privatizing, or allowing some of the payroll taxes
to be invested, would be one way to help. ‘So let's say 40% or 50% of payroll
taxes could be included into a secure type of even a 403B plan, which would be
bonds and securities that are very stable,’ says Davis.” [KAAL News Interview,
9/25/08]>
Davis Said If You Want to Know Where He Stood on an Issue to
Look at the Republican Party Platform.
Davis said, “I want to reassure you that I’m a conservative
platform Republican I will cast those votes and I will advocate on behalf of our
causes. I think our Republican Party platform in this state is great. Do you
want to know where I stand; you can start with that document.” [Fillmore Co GOP
Convention, full transcription available on request]
Republican Party Platform Section 1, Letter P (Page
2): Allowing all Americans to invest
some or all of their Social Security payments, continuing to fulfill our
obligations to older Americans, and prohibiting Congress from using Social
Security funds for any other purpose.
Photo: The meeting described by the campaign press release isn't the first time Walz convened to listen to district seniors. The July 2007 photo above documents a typical meeting; see Walz listens to seniors, the article that accompanied the photo in the Mankato Free Press.
