As we tune in to the latest episode of Emo Senator, Southern Minnesota's most beloved online telenovela, readers will be distressed but not surprised to see a relapse of our hero's amnesia.
Earlier last summer, loyal fans will remember, Senator Mike Parry forgot that he owns and operates a Godfather's Pizza in Waseca, and so was forced to accept the maximum in-session per diem, or see his family sent to the poor farm since the legislature was his only source of income.
He also collected a paycheck during the shutdown.
Now, in a hearing Thursday on retirement benefits for MNSCU employees (prompted by big rollovers of vacation time for top administrators), The Belle of Waseca County once again forgets that he's a small business owner and his own boss.
The Minnesota Daily reports in Legislators scrutinize MnSCU for sick and vacation time payouts:
Parry said companies usually force employees to use their vacation time so that they’re rested and perform well on the job.
“I’m forced to take [my two weeks], why aren’t they forced to take theirs?” Parry said after the meeting.
Distracted by another scandal in the Republican Party of Minnesota, our camera crew was unable to capture footage of Mike Parry looking in a mirror, talking to himself, and forcing Mike Parry to take two weeks vacation. Or perhaps that's Dave Senjem's job, though we do not know of vacation time for our part-time legislators, who can, after all, claim per diem for weekends and holidays during the session, just as the Emo Senator does.
Such forgetfulness seems hard-wired in Minnesota Republican DNA these days, what with Tony Sutton forgetting to tell Pat Anderson about the $10,000 medical marijuana study he was conducting in 2010 when she came looking for help with gas money for her campaign for state auditor.
Or perhaps nurture, not nature, contributed to that study. Something had to make people want to eat those burritos.
Maybe Mike Parry congressional campaign consultant Ben Golnik knows what Sutton was smoking, since he's one of the "insiders" that MPR identifies in
Sutton seemed to favor the services of current and former party executive directors. The last three were awarded contracts to work for the Republican Party.
During Sutton's tenure, Ryan Griffin served as the party's executive director. But in addition to his annual salary of $85,000, he was also paid roughly $14,000 for consulting and legal work, according to campaign finance documents.
Sutton characterized the payments as a bonus for advising the party on legal issues during election season.
Two former executive directors of the party, Ben Golnik and Darren Bearson, also secured contracts. Golnik was paid $6,000 to help with the 2010 gubernatorial recount and to help Republicans win the Minnesota Senate. He's still owed another $8,000. Bearson's firm, Compass Point Strategies, earned nearly $50,000 for media and consulting work since 2009.
Whatever the case, memory or not, our hero loves a good party, and that's why Emo Senator has such a following. Tune in this week, as the legislature reconvenes, for more Emo Senator.
Image: Tild's artistic vision of the Emo Senator.
Past episodes below the fold.
Earlier on Emo Senator:
Emo Senator: All those MNGOP kids with their pumped-up kicks can run on property tax hikes
Emo Senator: Parry praises own self for chairing really long Republican senate caucus meeting
Highway to hell: why Emo Senator's adviser Golnik shouldn't recycle some old MDE posts
Emo Senator: Golnik & Parry bear alternate tales of STB's departure to So. MN newspapers
UPDATED! Emo Senator: A good man (and Senate budget documents) is hard to find: or, Parry won't say if he'll run for Majority Leader
Emo Senator: Brodkorb gave his love to Mike Parry, but now he never calls
Emo Senator: recycling 2010 slogan, Quist makes it a GOP gopher twofer in Minnesota's First
Walz bill takes on Congressional insider trading; opponent to get all legal on governor
Emo Senator: battling phantom EPA dust menace key to Parry's totally straightforward campaign
Looking a gift Little Pony in the mouth: Are Parry's pals poster kids for privatization's perils?
Emo Senator: throngs of 10-20 people crowds cheer Mike Brodkorb's rural regency
Emo Senator: Brodkorb campaign sends out a press release on Draz settling for state house
The Emo Senator: Upstaged by Twin Cities volunteer, Mike Parry grows suddenly silent
Failed burrito baron's financial genius makes headlines again; Strib glosses over details
Tim Walz, congressional pay, and the Heinrich maneuver
Waseca confidential part 1: Mike Parry's deleted emails as metaphor
From Waseca's back pages: Mike Parry and Maplewood Park
Update on Maplewood Park story: more Mike Parry backtracking
Emo Senator: Southern Minnesota's beloved telenovela diva sets sights for national stage
The Emo Senator: Mike Parry stands against daycare providers' right to vote in union drive
Emo Senator: in a shocking development, Senator Parry talks sense on Owatonna levy
Emo Senator: paper reports opinions on Parry run gamut--even his own opinions on himself
Suddenly stoic Emo Senator deplores giving "money away to make someone feel good"
Emo Senator: Parry to city council, "Don't blame me & Dayton for shutdown, just blame Dayton"
The Emo Senator: Cleveland MN resident points out how much Parry cares for state workers
Emo Senator: Do Parry's reforms include ending pay equity?; took over Carlson's bill in May
Was Senator Parry's single term on Waseca City Council predictive of today's budget flouncing?
Emo Senator flounces out of budget meeting; will Parry's mood swings derail special session?
When a newspaper loves a Republican, he can do no wrong (and the FDN can't factcheck Parry)
Emo senator Mike Parry pats self on back for compassion, reveals another income source
MNGOP's class warfare for dummies: Waseca voter tells Mike Parry he's wrong about Dayton
Emo tweeting senator Mike Parry can see Governor's mansion lawn from Waseca
The Emo Senator cont'd: rocking chairs, resignations, and a retreat to retweets
Thumbs down, Emo senator: "Parry commentary wasn’t helpful"; turn off phone, go count trees
Emo senator, part 3: Mike Parry collecting paycheck and per diem during shutdown
The Emo Senator, part 2: Mike Parry cries crocodile tears over laid-off state workers
The Emo Senator: Mike Parry calls for Governor Dayton's resignation, cites feelings, trust fund
Suddenly socialist Mike Parry demands pay according to his needs
As a former business owner and semi-control freak, I must say there are owners who must indeed force themselves to take vacation — at least until they learn the business can run without them.
Parry's conversation, though, probably went like this: "Mike, if you keep spending all that time up in St. Paul working that other job, I'm afraid I might have to let you go."
Posted by: charlieq | Jan 23, 2012 at 08:55 AM