An August 20 post on the North Star Project's Facebook page--a post since deleted --shows the escalating bitterness in the Cunniff-Franson race for Minnesota House 8B. According to a Facebook message exchange between state representative Mary Franson and North Star Project chair (and Cunniff volunteer) Aaron Ley, Ley removed the entire post when she asked that he remove a comment by a Lizard-related pseudonym disclosed the address and number of children of a Franson supporter.
Reading the thread in Google cache (entire sequence accessible to BSP posted below the fold), Bluestem can only conclude that both the North Star Project and Franson campaign have decided to embark on vote suppression strategies.
With the potential for small-i independent voters turning away after reading this bickering, each party could use its voter files to just rally the base during GOTV.
The thread was posted and deleted just five days before a vandal or vandals stenciled "Don't Feed The Animals" on a number of Franson's lawn signs in Alexandria, Minnesota. The words recall the tempest that erupted after Franson used a conservative internet staple in Republican House Caucus constituent video. The "joke" compares feeding animals in national parks with feeding people with food stamps.
The North Star Project per diem post
On August 20, the North Star Project posted a staple attack on incumbent legislators, the per diem debate. In absence of the legislator not showing out during legislative business hours (see Randy Demmer) having campaigned against per diem payments, or just being Mike Parry, the strategy has a questionable successful rate, political hands tell Bluestem.
The post chastises Franson for taking generous payments while not authoring successful legislation because her proposals are "too extreme" even for her Republican colleagues:
Did you know that in 2011-2012 Mary Franson received $113,921 in total salary, per diem, and expenses: http://extra.twincities.com/car/perdiem/perdiem.htm. (Our calculation assumes that legislators received the full $31,140 per year salary). That is the second highest figure among Freshmen legislators for 2011-2012, with Rep. Schomacker, who lives 246 miles from St. Paul, receiving the highest figure ($115,226) among the Freshmen. Mary Franson lives 100 miles closer to St. Paul so you’d think that she would have something to show for that $113,921. That is sadly not the case (or some might count it as a blessing). While her colleague Rep. Wardlow (R-Eagan) ushered through 8 bills in his first year, Mary has been the chief author of 36 bills that have been too extreme to pass even though her own party is in the majority! Stay tuned, we are currently conducting analyses of several legislators throughout Western Minnesota…
The Pioneer Press's per diem compensation database shows that Franson took $34,912.73 in per diem, lodging, mileage, travel and other expenses in 2011 in addition to her $31,140 salary. So far in 2012, she has received total payments of $16,729.48 for per diem, plus the portion of her salary that has been paid to date. The NSP figure is relatively accurate, though the author of the post didn't make it clear that the amount was for two years' salary and per diem/expenses to date.
Franson campaigned on cutting costs
In their rush to brand Franson as an expensive extremist, the Bros at NSP miss a few talking points. As Briana Bierschbach noted in April 2011 in Republican challengers blasted per diems in 2010 – and all but one claim them now:
But within the first three months of the legislative session, all but one of the GOP freshman legislators in both the House and Senate took per diem payments in addition to their $31,000 per year salaries. (All seven freshman DFL legislators have claimed per diem reimbursements as well.) Some GOP legislators who campaigned heavily on cutting government spending, including Rep. Mary Franson and Senators Gretchen Hoffman and Dave Thompson, have taken the maximum per diem payments allowed through the period covered by currently available records [emphasis added].
The North Star Project post did not cite the PIM article nor any attacks on spending that Franson made while campaigning for the open seat in the 2010 election.
And Franson's payments cut against a well-publicized effort on the part of Speaker Zellers to create the appearance of reduced spending. Earlier this month, the Pioneer Press reported in Minnesota legislators' daily expense pay dropping (the article to which the database is attached):
So far this year, the amount of per diem -- daily expenses state senators and representatives can claim -- has dropped dramatically. With the session over, the numbers are not expected to grow much by year's end.
In the House alone, the total paid in 2012 so far is 41 percent less than 2011, and 27 percent less than 2010. Capitol observers say 2010 is the more relevant number because even years are bonding sessions, which are typically shorter. . . .
"Republicans felt if they were going to ask other agencies or departments to hold the line on spending, they needed to reduce it themselves," said Steve Sviggum, spokesman for the Senate Republican majority. . . .
. . .Whether the legislator travels hundreds of miles to St. Paul, or lives a few blocks away, the daily amount is the same: $86 for senators and $66 for representatives.
House members, so far this year, were paid an average $5,625.77 per diem, about $2,120 less than the average in 2010.
Franson's on the high end of that--and one suspects that after seeing the bill for 2011, Kurt Zellers or his staff might have suggested that Franson do a bit of belt-tightening.
Representing and rewards: Franson v. Otremba
With that target in sight, the NSP Bros miss some low hanging fruit by failing to compare Franson's total payments with those received by DFLer Mary Ellen Otremba, who retired in 2010.
For the two years for which the paper loaded total payment figures in the database while the retired rep still served, Otremba received her highest total payment in 2009, when she took a total of per diem and expenses of $26,367.60. (Expenses beyond per diem are not provided in the database for 2007 and 2008).
The House lowered the per diem from $77 to $66 when the Republicans took control in 2011(h/t to Mary Franson for correction) in July after the session was over (only the senate took cuts in January 2011) according to a December 2011 Mark Summerhauser article in the St. Cloud Times, 28 legislators reimbursed during state shutdown:
Both the House and Senate reduced their daily per diem rates this year. The House reduced its per diem in July to $66 a day from $77 a day. The Senate dropped its per diem in January to $86 a day from $96 a day.
The House suspended payment of per diem during the state government shutdown, Rick Neumeister noted at his Open Secrets blog. According to the City Pages, Franson took her salary during the shutdown, as she was not on the list of those who declined their pay check.
It's clear that with $23,003.73 total expenses alone, and $34,912.73 total, Franson in 2011 grabbed significantly more cash than did Otremba took in a non-bonding session.
The comparison of Otremba's bonding year 2010 is more problematic, since Franson may still receive some additional payments in the months remaining in 2012. So far, her total payment, including the reduced-rate per diem, is $16,729.48, of which $6,402.00 was per diem. Otremba ended her career with in 2010, receiving total payments of $22,844.34, of which $8,547.00 was per diem at the higher rate. Otremba received much higher travel payments (used within the district) as well. That accounts for the large parts of the differences.
The jury is still out--and one might suspect that Franson's 2011 payment raised eyebrows among those in her own caucus who were concerned about the appearance of personal parsimony among those serving in the new majority.
NSP post debate goes south fast
Whatever the merits of the original North Star Project post, the comments go south fast, with Franson herself lighting some matches in the online flame war.
A sock puppet called "Alex Rezz" (Alex Resident) immediately shows up to defend Franson, and Franson herself attacks the messengers:
Apparently you want your public servants to not get a salary or travel reimbursements. Well if that happens all you would get is retired teachers and other retired public sector people working. Oh wait, Bob is a retired teacher so seeing how he receives a pension - if elected - he would have no need to collect a salary or expenses. Hope he puts that in writing. Poor Aaron Ley - so bored and not enough to teach at the College so you decide to mangle facts and truths to fit your agenda. I feel bad for you, Ole Ole Olson aka Noventator (read some pretty racist and hate filled rants written by you, yikes). You talk about so called sock puppets but you both "hide" under them. . . .
A Franson supporter suggests keeping it civil, prompting Olson to cite allegedly disqualifying conservative "Likes" on the supporter's Facebook page. The fight continues, with Cunniff supporter Olson citing examples of conservative sock puppets in other discussions, while asserting that conservatives hold some sort of exclusive franchise on sock puppetry. Olson excused conservatives of lying, stealing and othr such malfeasance, while throwing down the "extremist" label. Another Franson supporter claims that Ley was in a local bar fight. Each side accuses the other of bullying, racism, and so forth. It's a regular troll flame-throwing convention.
Will this sort of discourse--along with creative sign painting--persist until November? Bluestem has heard tell of far worse things being said offline in WOM campaigns. This one looks like a corker.
Franson should detach herself from online flame-wars, period. This doesn't speak well for her judgment. As for NSP, the role of PACs like it is to be pot-stirrers. Bluestem can only recommend learning to delete and ban those commenters who post personal addresses and information about minor children. It's unfortunate that the entire selection was deleted, but we are grateful for Mr. Google's hoarding tendencies.
Photos: Mary Franson (above); Mary Ellen Otremba (below).
Related post: Signs don't vote--and vandalism wins no votes
The google cache of the free-for-all below the fold.
Did you know that in 2011-2012 Mary Franson received $113,921 in total salary, per diem, and expenses: http://extra.twincities.com/car/perdiem/perdiem.htm.
(Our calculation assumes that legislators received the full $31,140 per
year salary). That is the second highest figure among Freshmen
legislators for 2011-2012, with Rep. Schomacker, who lives 246 miles
from St. Paul, receiving the highest figure ($115,226) among the
Freshmen. Mary Franson lives 100 miles closer to St. Paul so you’d think
that she would have something to show for that $113,921. That is sadly
not the case (or some might count it as a blessing). While her colleague
Rep. Wardlow (R-Eagan) ushered through 8 bills in his first year, Mary
has been the chief author of 36 bills that have been too extreme to pass
even though her own party is in the majority! Stay tuned, we are
currently conducting analyses of several legislators throughout Western
Minnesota…
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Judy Houck Berger, Adelia Kindstrand, Ali Angelone and 3 others like this.
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Alec Rezz "we are currently conducting analyses of several legislators throughout Western Minnesota"
lol! Sure you are. -
Alec Rezz Failing to see where you are getting the $113k figure from that link. Did you perhaps forget to carry the 1?
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The NorthStar Project A simple calculation. $62,280 (salary x 2) + Total Expenses = $113,921.4 hours ago · 2
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Ole Ole Olson "Alec Rezz" Joined Facebook
August 9
I smell yet another sock puppet. Keep frackin' that chicken you right wing extremists! We have the facts on our side, and there's nothing you can do about it!3 hours ago · 2 -
Mary Danielle FransonI can't wait!!! Apparently you want your public servants to not get a salary or travel reimbursements. Well if that happens all you would get is retired teachers and other retired public sector people working. Oh wait, Bob is a retired teacher so seeing how he receives a pension - if elected - he would have no need to collect a salary or expenses. Hope he puts that in writing. Poor Aaron Ley - so bored and not enough to teach at the College so you decide to mangle facts and truths to fit your agenda. I feel bad for you, Ole Ole Olson aka Noventator (read some pretty racist and hate filled rants written by you, yikes). You talk about so called sock puppets but you both "hide" under them. Maybe you should look at the individual and get to know them before you judge. If you knew about me and my life growing up I think you would think differently. But because I shattered the liberal ceiling now I am someone you hate because I did become successful despite odds. Someday I hope we can have a sit down and have a drink to discuss.2 hours ago via mobile
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Aaron Ley Oh, I get it. Alec Rezz, as in Alex Resident...2 hours ago · 1
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Ole Ole Olson Yeah, these ultra-conservatives are never very creative when they try to cheat. The only thing that impresses me about them is how pitifully obvious they are when they do lie, cheat, and steal. It's really quite a skill.
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Joel Runge Ole, idea here. lets keep this site positive and different from all the crap and name calling. I would be more interested in facts from both sides as both sides suck and need changes for us the people.
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Mary Danielle Franson Great idea Joel. Perhaps you could be the "moderator"2 hours ago via mobile
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The NorthStar ProjectMary, we will not be waging ad hominem attacks on you. We respect that you have a private life and will stay away from that. However, we will analyze your public voting record and anything else that is public. It is completely reasonableto do so and to make others aware of how public dollars are spent. With that being said, some legislators - Rep. Banaian from St. Cloud, for instance - were reimbursed only $27k in expenses while you managed to claim $51k. Legislators in Northwest Minnesota, such as Dan Fabian who is 355 miles from St. Paul - a full 200 miles further away - spent $45k (Dan saw that 5 of his bills passed, all important bills to his district).2 hours ago · 2
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Mary Danielle Franson I would like to see where I was rolling in the dough..... Do give me some facts.2 hours ago via mobile
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The NorthStar Project In 2011 (the year of the government shutdown), your per diem was $11,909.00 and your expenses were $23,003.73 (including $12,682.56 for lodging and $4,297.17 for travel) http://extra.twincities.com/car/perdiem/perdiem.htm?appSession=4469262916898&RecordID=883&PageID=3&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=1&CPIsortType&CPIorderBy&cbCurrentRecordPosition=1http://extra.twincities.com/car/perdiem/perdiem.htm?appSession=4469262916898&RecordID=883&PageID=3&Pextra.twincities.comBelow is a searchable database of Minnesota lawmakers' per diem payments, pluspayments for other expenses. House members are eligible for daily payment of $77. Senators are eligible for daily payments of $96 a day. Lawmakers can decide how much and how often they accept the payments. M...2 hours ago · 1
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Joel Runge I also want facts on dfl legislators or this is another worthless site that won't accomplish anything but more divide between parties. If facts truly are on your side lets have um then.2 hours ago via mobile
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The NorthStar Project In 2012, more money has yet to be spent so the $113k figure will be higher, but you can find that info here: http://extra.twincities.com/car/perdiem/perdiem.htm?appSession=4469262916898&RecordID=1043&PageID=3&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=1&CPIsortType&CPIorderBy&cbCurrentRecordPosition=2http://extra.twincities.com/car/perdiem/perdiem.htm?appSession=4469262916898&RecordID=1043&PageID=3&extra.twincities.comBelow is a searchable database of Minnesota lawmakers' per diem payments, pluspayments for other expenses. House members are eligible for daily payment of $77. Senators are eligible for daily payments of $96 a day. Lawmakers can decide how much and how often they accept the payments. M...2 hours ago · 1
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Mary Danielle Franson What was the $23 for ? And when will the DFL facts be out2 hours ago via mobile
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Mary Danielle Franson Our per diem was cut to $66 - it's no longer $772 hours ago via mobile
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The NorthStar ProjectJoel, that is a good point. I would invite you to do that as we only looked at the 2010 incoming Freshmen class. However, we did so for a reason. The first reason is that those who are not in the Freshmen class (both Dem and Republican) may be in leadership roles and, therefore, may end up claiming more expenses. You may also want to factor in that urban and suburban legislators will be claiming more expenses per mile than those in greater minnesota.
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Ole Ole OlsonJoel Runge, a very quick scan of your likes on Facebook indicate that you are anything but impartial here, so are hardly one to cast stones.
The fact is that ultra-conservatives DO cheat and lie habitually. It's not "name calling" when it...See Morewww.huffingtonpost.comA fake Twitter account aimed at discrediting a prominent critic of state GOP lea...See More -
Mary Danielle Franson No Aaron - you want to rail the freshman on talking per diem so we could eat, and rail us in housing so we had a roof over our head, and rail us on expenses so that we could get home and travel our district. Good luck. Try to prove your point.2 hours ago via mobile
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Joel Runge Lol! I figured as much. I have the info just checking on facts and how this site was actually going to go. Good luck!2 hours ago via mobile
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Chad Dahl I would like to see all of the others (dfl)expenses as well! Also I am fine with Mary making more because she is doing the work for her constituents! I have a problem with the ones who snub their nose at their constituents and still get paid!!! Thank you for your hard work Mary!!!
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Mary Danielle Franson Ole Ole Olson - maybe some medication would help with your paranoia :)2 hours ago via mobile
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Mary Danielle Franson Aaron - is your mom not talking a salary as she runs for a government job? Will she be working for free?2 hours ago via mobile
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The NorthStar Project We enjoy the debate. We hope to have data soon on who collected per diems during the government shutdown2 hours ago · 1
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Ole Ole Olson Oh, and for the record Mary, since you don't seem to be able to grasp this concept: calling someone racist without credible evidence to back it up is called slander. For instance, claiming that Voter Suppression laws can be racist is a fact. The country has a long history of trying to suppress minority votes using Voter ID, Poll Tax, and Jim Crow schemes.
Are you inviting a lawsuit? -
Erik Gullickson Didn't that Ley kid get knocked out a local pub a month ago... Now he is beaking to you Mary...what a tool.
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Ole Ole OlsonMary, I backed up my claims with evidence. Feel free to read through it and debunk if you find credible evidence to the contrary. Unlike right wing extremists, I am open to objectively analyzing actual facts.
Speaking of such, nice of yourminions to come in here and conveniently ignore the point of this post, that you claim to be "anti-government" yet rakes in more money than any member of the Minnesota legislature save one. Seems that type of pork is precisely what is wrong with the political process. -
Mary Danielle Franson Your welcome Chad!! Always a pleasure2 hours ago via mobile
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Joel Runge All for voter id.2 hours ago via mobile
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Mary Danielle Franson Oh like you saying I called poor
People wild animals???? That was a LIE2 hours ago via mobile -
Ole Ole Olson I never said that, but thanks for lying once again Franson. Your credibility is shot.
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Joel Runge Ole your a problem not a solution. Slander seems to be all you know. You lookn for a lawsuit???
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Joel Runge Oh dont get me started on that one Mary! ;)
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Ole Ole Olson Joel, learn how to spell.
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Mary Danielle Franson Yes Aaron is breaking into me - he would rather not know me as a person so he doesn't feel bad about bullying me, and hurting my feelings. Apparently some think public people don't have feelings or something.
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Mary Danielle Franson So Ole Ole Olson or do we call you by your Bold Progressive Name??? Novenator???? You don't know what you want to do unless it's to bring me down. Good luck with that as I have the people on my sides I have Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus Ole? You should. He love you
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Joel Runge Ole, Im open to facts. You have not had any so far tho. You just try to bulley which is common and boring at this point. In reality what are the facts and truth? Whatever you want them to be, it seems. All im saying is this is the problem, pointing fingers instead of finding some common ground and working together. I am willing to sit down and do that in a civil manner and others must also.
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Joel Runge Lol! Maybe someone of your high iq could teach me ole. Proves my point ole your just a bully tool.
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Mary Danielle Franson Well Joel, this page that is run by Aaron Ley, crap I forgot to add the
Dr to his name. He wants to shame Republicans and further create a deeper divide across the party. Would be nice to use the site to work on issues thy affect all of us so when legislation is made - we understand it and can stick together by working together. That would be great -
Dan Kalina Liberal loons are the problem, not the solution. Sorry Mary but this is what you get when you do your job. If they're not whining, you're not working.
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Ole Ole OlsonBullying you Mary, srsly? You are a public figure. You're pork-politics is a legitimate issue. Bullying would be attempting to intimidate a video monitor who comes to one of your events (something BOTH sides do), which is precisely what youdid. Bullying would be encouraging others to be intolerant of kids that are born gay, and trying to take away their rights. If you recall, a gay Jefferson High School kid committed suicide not too long ago. It is precisely the culture of hate and intolerance and bigotry that are direct causes to such things.
Joel, I posted multiple citations above to prove that right wing sock puppetry exists. As a matter of fact, the North Star Project and myself are the ONLY ones posting evidence on this thread. You are the one that accused me of slander (without evidence) and of being a "bulley" without any evidence. Seems your mind is closed on this issue, so good day to you sir. -
Mary Danielle Franson All kids get bullied - not just perceived gay children. All kids need to be treated the same way and parenting starts at home - not in a government institution.
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Joel Runge Ole, point is just as many left wing sock puppetry exists. Whats your point. Actually I accused you of slander (with evidence). I am not a minion actually as you do not know me. You bulley on your posts and personally attack. So much hate ole???
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Ole Ole OlsonRight and wrong need to be taught at all levels, both at home AND in public schools. Bullying is wrong, and there has been an epidemic of bullying against kids that are born gay. This intolerance can sometimes start at home too, which is why we need a two-pronged approach to deal with it. Claiming that LGBT folks "choose" their sexual orientation, or trying to deny them equal human rights does not help the situation, it exacerbates it.
Joel, my point is that if you claim something (like there are "just as many left wing sock puppetry exists"), you should have evidence to back it up. I made my point, I backed it up with a plethora of evidence. How precisely did I "bulley" you by providing easily researchable evidence? Is it "hate" to ask that people be capable of rationally examining facts and arriving at a truthful conclusion? -
Calen Burkey I gotta comment on this thread just so i can keep in the loop. I love ya Aaron, even tho i disagree with 99% of your political views! Mayor out.
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It's interesting and, some might say, quite hypocritical that "Ole Ole Olson" accuses people of being "sock puppets" while maintaining at least one (and likely more) sockpuppet account of his own: https://twitter.com/novenator. So a conservative Franson supporter (me) tries to protect his identity with an online moniker and that's wrong, but it's quite alright for Franson critic "Ole Ole Olson/novenator/more?" to do it. Typical leftist hypocrisy. Utterly sickening.
I know you won't approve this comment as it it detrimental to your side and your position.
Editor's note: Wrong.
And actually, Ole Ole is the player in Alexandria whose comment (on the sign vandalism) wasn't posted here. He made statements about Franson's twitter account being suspended that were false. Representative Franson turned her account off--and was able to turn it on again for ten minutes to demonstrate that claims that she had been banished from twitter are false. Knowing this, I blocked him from posting here.
Posted by: Jay McHue | Aug 27, 2012 at 07:49 PM