Recently, Minnesota House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt told Forum Communications political reporter Don Davis that he prefers the phrase "working with" to the word "compromise":
“I don’t like to use the word ‘compromise’ because I think it is misused,” Daudt said. “I like to use words like willing to work together, and I am someone who is willing to take what I can get.”
Daudt added: “I have yet to see someone compromise here in St. Paul.”
Thus, Bluestem believes that the following email from Gregg Peppin of PSB Strategies has nothing to do with Daudt making a compromise and everything to do with working together.
Hi Ms. Sorensen,
It was brought to my attention that in a recent post you commented on Rep. Kurt Daudt's employment status with P2B Strategies. We have been very pleased to have had Kurt as part of our team. However, due to his elevation to the position of House Republican Leader, Kurt will be serving the people of Minnesota and his legislative district in this new full-time role and is no longer on the payroll of P2B Strategies. We look forward to working with Kurt to help House Republicans regain the majority in 2014.
Sincerely,
Gregg Peppin
Bluestem is happy that's resolved. No one, save perhaps Pine County GOP chair and Daudt archenemy Rudy Takala, wants Daudt to be found in a compromising position.
In Will Minority Leader Kurt Daudt remain as a senior political adviser at P2B Strategies?, Bluestem had noted that MNGOP House candidates had paid P2B Strategies nearly $250,000 for campaign-related goods and services like signs and advertising in 2012, according to reports filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board just before the general election.
P2B Strategies also provides clients "public affairs" services, which are not subject to disclosure or transparency laws. Peppin conducted limited lobbying of the Republican House Caucus in 2011 in order to persuade them to vote for the amendment to restrict the freedom to marry; apparently, Daudt's lobbying fell below state threshholds for registering as a lobbyist and reporting expeses.
Voters rejected the amendment, along with Republican majorities in both chambers of the Minnesota legislature, in the November 6 election.
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Photos: Kurt Daudt (top); Gregg Peppin (bottom). Credits: Twin Cities Daily Planet and PIM.
Gregg Peppin oughta know how to ID conflicts of interest, eh? Not to mention revolving doors and such.
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Nov 26, 2012 at 08:45 PM