Bluestem isn't much for official executive annual speeches, which strike us as only slightly more valuable than TED Talks. Perhaps the Lessard-Sams Commission could authorize a Legacy grant for an Improv Workshop and even the minority party members could have a good time.
Despite our crabby old attitude about such official presentations, we're posting clips of the speech, the response from DFL leadership and the reaction from Republicans.
These clips are provided by The Uptake.
Governor Dayton's address:
DFL leaders respond:
The Republicans react:
Photo: Governor Mark Dayton.
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In Wednesday night's State of the State address, Governor Dayton didn't mention the popular medical marijuana legislation making its way through Minnesota Senate committees this week.
Perhaps the policy question is hiding behind his desk.
SF1641 was heard this afternoon in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which passed it on a voice vote without recommendation to the Finance Committee. Bill sponsor Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) agreed to accept Scott Newman's (R-Hutchinson) motion after Senator Newman agreed not to use the lack of recommendation as a talking point against the bill when it comes to the floor.
Senate Committee on Judiciary refers SF 1641 to Senate Committee on Finance; measure would allow people with specific debilitating medical conditions to access medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it
A bill that would provide legal access to medical marijuana for people with specific debilitating medical conditions continued to advance on Wednesday in the Minnesota Senate. The Senate Committee on Judiciary referred the measure to the Senate Finance Committee, where it is expected to receive a hearing and a vote.
The Senate Committee on State and Local Government approved the bill Tuesday, and the Senate Committee on Health, Human Services and Housing approved it last week.
“This week has been a breath of fresh air for seriously ill Minnesotans who would benefit from legal access to medical marijuana,” said Heather Azzi, political director for Minnesotans for Compassionate Care. “We knew this legislation would enjoy broad support once it received the consideration it deserves. The rate at which it is advancing finally reflects its urgency.”
Minnesota police officers, sheriffs and prosecutors pushed back hard Wednesday against legalizing marijuana for medical use, as a proposal to do just that picks up steam in the state Senate.
“It will end up in the hands of our children,” said John Kingrey, executive director of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association. “It will result in more kids being arrested for possession of marijuana. We believe it sends the unintended message to our youth that marijuana is a safe substance.”
Police and prosecutors say they're open to a compromise on medical marijuana but remain firmly opposed to efforts to allow patients to smoke it.
Law enforcement groups told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday that they might not oppose marijuana extracts like oils or pills for treatment, but they don't want to see the creation of 55 marijuana dispensaries, as allowed in the bill. . . .
ut state Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis disagreed that law enforcement groups were willing to compromise.
"Sure, they've agreed to talk but they've asked me to simply leave my legislation at home because there's nothing in the bill that they would support, effectively telling me 'take our idea or nothing,'" he said.
Dibble said patients need to be able to smoke marijuana because oils and extracts don't work on everyone.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the measure. The bill now moves to the Senate Finance Committee.
We'll post the entire video of the hearing here as it becomes available so that readers can watching the hearing themselves.
More legislators are publicly stating where they stand on the legislation. The Pierce County Herald reports in a Minnesota news wrap-up:
The medical marijuana bill has its third Senate hearing this afternoon but the measure has stalled in the Minnesota House. There's been no action since it cleared the Health and Human Services committee last month. Rep. Shannon Savick of Wells says she'd support the legalization of marijuana for seriously ill Minnesotans. She says "what I wouldn't want is legalizing all marijuana." Savick says her son was addicted to marijuana after high school and it changed his personality. Supporters say they have the votes in the Senate and House to pass the medical marijuana bill.
Bluestem has added Savick's statement to the House Whip Count. You can review the MN Senate medical marijuana people's whip count here. While we restricted by the guidelines we set-up for a "people's" whip count, we are inclined to agree with the supporters.
Photo: Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee will convene at 12:30 p.m. today; on the agenda: Senator Scott Dibble's SF1641, a bill to legalize and regulate medical cannabis.
A bill to legalize medical marijuana in Minnesota cleared a second committee hurdle in the state Senate on Tuesday and is scheduled for another hearing Wednesday.
The Senate's state and local government committee approved the measure on a voice vote after reviewing rule-making provisions that would govern how a new network of marijuana dispensaries would prevent thefts and advertise cannabis treatment.
Rules also would govern how new groups of patients could seek access to marijuana as well as a system for tracking marijuana inventories.
The legislation from Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, provides access to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana for patients with conditions including cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. Cannabis also could be used for the treatment health problems such as severe nausea and epilepsy seizures.
Doctors would have to certify that a patient might benefit. Patients would receive an ID card from the state Health Department, and obtain marijuana from a new network of dispensaries.
The bill asks the state health commissioner to create rules for receiving petitions from the public about new patient groups that might want access to medical marijuana in the future. A medical cannabis advisory council would provide input on any such petitions, which would be subject to a public hearing.
Today, the Senate Committee on State and Local Government advanced Sen. Scott Dibble's medical marijuana bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
If it's approved there, it could land on the Senate floor for a vote as soon as next week, Heather Azzi, political director of Minnesotans for Compassionate Care, tells us. . . .
Azzi says that if the bill reaches conference committee, she expects the bill that lands on Governor Dayton's desk to look more like Dibble's version that either of the ones still alive in the House.
Asked if she thinks Dayton will sign a medical marijuana bill, Azzi says, "I do."
"Governor Dayton is a compassionate man, and he's learning more about the issue so he knows what he needs to do to make an informed decision," Azzi says. "I'm counting on it, and I'm doing everything I can do. I think the chances are good."
The medical marijuana bill authored by Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Carly Melin cleared another legislative hurdle today when the Senate State and Local Government Committee approved it. With just a few weeks remaining in the session, it’s vital to find out if your lawmakers support medical marijuana.
Polling shows that Minnesotans across the state of all ages and from all political persuasions think their neighbors should be able to use medical marijuana under the advice of their doctor. However, some lawmakers are hesitant to support the issue, thinking a compassionate vote in support of medical marijuana will leave them politically vulnerable. Help dispel that myth by letting your lawmakers know that their constituents support medical marijuana and they should, too.
And Bluestem Prairie was pleased to see this notice in the message:
We are receiving emails about legislators' stances, and the momentum does seem to be in the bills' favor. Please contact your legislators to see where they stand.
Photo: Senator Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis), who is patiently and thoughtful guiding the bill through the Senate.
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. . . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has added new language to neonicotinoid insecticides, with a bee icon that signals the pesticide has the potential to harm bees. Earlier this year, beekeepers, including one from Minnesota, sued the EPA, arguing the agency has not effectively regulated the use of neonicotinioids.
In the meantime, consumers can effect change by asking retailers not to use the products and boycotting those that do, Engels said.
"I think we can all make a difference," she said.
Tuesday, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted 118 to 10 in favor of HF2798, a bill prohibiting plants treated with pollinator lethal insecticide from being labeled or advertised as beneficial to pollinators.
It doesn't the sale of plants treated with "pollinator lethal insecticides," merely prevents customers who wish to help bees and other pollinators from being misled. It's a truth-in-labeling consumer bill that will help Minnesotans help bees and other pollinators.
Sadly, ten legislators couldn't bring themselves to support this common sense measure. They are: Mark Anderson Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, Steve Drazkowski, Sondra Erickson, Tom Hackbarth, Jerry Hertaus, Brian Johnson, Jim Newberger, Joyce Peppin and Peggy Scott.
A friend recommends calling them Kurt Daudt and the Neonicotinoid Nine.
It's not just a feel-good measure. Pollinators are essential for a significant percentage of food from plants, ranging from apples to squash.
Meme: Bees mean life.
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Donald Sterling, the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, was barred from the N.B.A. for life and may be forced to sell the team for making racist remarks, the league commissioner, Adam Silver, announced Tuesday. Silver said that Sterling would be barred from any contact with his team and the league and that he would be fined $2.5 million, the maximum allowed by the league’s constitution.
“The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful,” the commissioner said. “We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling’s views. They simply have no place in the N.B.A.” . . .
The commissioner’s announcement came at the conclusion of the league’s investigation, which started over the weekend after the recording was released and news of it spread. The ensuing outrage put tremendous pressure on Silver to act decisively. . . .
The Minority Liberty Alliance has been working to make new Americans and people of color feel more welcome in the MNGOP. Folks like Pagano? Maybe not so much.
Screenshot of the tweet:
Images: An infographic featuring Pagano (above); screenshot of Pagano's tweet (below).
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The seat is currently held by second-term lawmaker Mary Franson (R-Alexandria), who survived (some say triumphed over) seven rounds of balloting Saturday to win re-endorsement by local Republicans.
Originally from Lake Crystal, Minnesota, Sieling is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College who earned Masters at Penn State and California State University, Dominguez Hills. His wife, Dr. Deb Dittberner, practices family medicine in Alexandria. They appear to have three children (at least, three kids on Facebook).
Sieling posts about gardening, sports and family on his personal Facebook page. We look forward to learning more.
Photo: Jay Sieling.
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Today, the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus issued a press release and letter to Majority Leader Tom Bakk objecting to Towle's press credentials, while demanding that Bakk disclose payments on the part of the caucus to credentialled members of the press corps.
Towle said Monday that Hann’s action is political payback for being the first to make public that then-GOP Secretary of State candidate Dennis Nguyen was spotted at a downtown Minneapolisstrip club with Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester.
Nguyen dropped out of the race after the incident went public. Senjem has drawn subsequent criticism for serving on the board of one of Nguyen's businesses and taking a paid trip to Vietnam to see the company's enterprise there.
“Is that my fault? I just happened to put it out there, and now I guess I am a bad man because I tell the truth,” Towle said. . . .
Towle had tweeted the information, but his site, Checks and Balances was not online at the time that the Nguyen/ strip club story was first published on Jeff Kolb's blog, followed by a post the next day on City Pages Blotter.
Towle said he actually got his Senate credentials when the Republicans controlled the body and Hann was an assistant leader.
Around that time, Towle was also on the payroll of the Republican Party of Minnesota’s payroll. The state GOP paid Towle a combined $15,000 in 2010 and 2011, records show.
Towle is a political strategist and community blogger. His political website, Checks and Balances, shut down for more than a year and is now restarting as a blog.
Well, not quite on the payroll. What the records show is that Towle was paid for website advertising and "print advertising" for the party and caucuses, as this screenshot from the report shows:
Presumably, Towle brokered the "print advertising" placement for the MNGOP. This is a consulting contract, not a payroll position.
In 2011, Towle's consulting shifted from advertising purchases to "political consulting," (screenshot above) but never got on the payroll. The contract was much less lucrative, but these payments began shortly after a bipartisan group of Minnesota Senate staff and media people worked out a system of credentialing online media.
The working group — composed of Republican Senate majority-caucus staffers Cullen Sheehan and Michael Brodkorb, DFL minority-caucus staffer Beau Berentson, conservative blogger Mitch Berg, Sergeant-at-Arms Sven Lindquist, and myself — operated by consensus. Everyone was professional, constructive and agreed on the major points pretty quickly.
And the guidelines:
. . . Believe me, nobody — not the politicians, not the Capitol press corps — wants to define who is a journalist. However, because Senate space is limited, we decided on a fairly low bar: Applicants for a session-long credential must include three pieces in any format in the past year on “matters before the legislature.” That can include blog posts, video, etc.
The proposed rules state “any opinion in such pieces is immaterial” for credentialing. Does this mean more “ideological” journalists will get credentials? Almost certainly yes. But the Minnesota and U.S. Constitutions don’t limit freedom of the press to perceived non-ideologues.
However, publications “owned or controlled” by lobbyists, political parties and party organizations “shall not be granted credentials.” Lobbyists are currently barred from the Senate floor. . . .
There's more detail in Brauer's post, including an embedded document of the guidelines. Check it out there.
Towle, Brodkorb, the RPM and the MNSRC Caucus in 2010-2011
But while Towle wags his finger now at Hann--in 2011 an assistant majority leader in the Minnesota Senate--Bluestem thinks that Helgeson is remiss in failing to point out that Hann didn't have the power to hire consultants or authorize advertising buys at the Republican Party of Minnesota during the time that Shawn Towle's Key Strategies landed contracts with the party.
That authority rested in another senate employee.
At the time of Towle's contracts, Tony Sutton served as state chair of the MNGOP, while Michael Brodkorb served as deputy chair of the MNGOP (2009-October 2011), as well as an aide to Minority Leader Dave Senjem and 2011 Majority Leader Amy Koch.
Given these domains of responsibility, it's much more likely that Brodkorb would have know about Towle's Key Strategies' contracts with the state party than Hann.
Moreover, by the time Towle jumped the aisle and became the hireling of the DFL Senate Caucus--then in the minority--Brodkorb had been long let ago by the majority upon the discovery of his affair with Majority Leader Koch, who stepped down as majority leader, and the Eagan Republican had begun the path toward his lawsuit to recover his professional honor from the Senate. The lawsuit was settled in 2013.
Towle's public "journalism"? In Hired guns, part III, we assembled his senate-related tweets at @ChecksNBalances during the time of the DFL Senate Caucus contracts to discover that his focus was mostly on Brodkorb-related content.
Towle might have switched clients, but he was remarkably loyal to Mr. Brodkorb regardless of which party paid Shawn's bills.
Photo: Senate Minority Leader David Hann.
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According to a tweet by Mankato Free Press staff writer Josh Moniz--who won the Minnesota Newpaper Association's Best New Reporter of the Year for Dailies award for 2012-- the aggressive news hound has been blacklisted by the Aaron Miller campaign in Minnesota's First Congressional District.
Miller is the endorsed Republican candidate challenging Congressman Tim Walz (D-Mankato). Moniz tweeted:
A new first! #mncd1 Aaaron Miller camp has officially decided not to take my calls. Got it confirmed today from direct sources #stribpol
During last week's committee hearing, the Pioneer Press's Chris Snowbeck reported that Senate medical marijuana bill author Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) used the word "alternative treatment centers" rather than "dispensaries" and "medical cannabis" in order to blunt some of the misunderstandings of the purpose of the legislation.
Judging by the talking points against dispensaries (and confusion about the ability of conventional pharmacies to dispense any cannabis-derived medicine) shared by Representative Steve Drazkowski that we shared in Draz throws stones in cannabis fight while dazed and confused about Schedule I drug sales, we can readily understand the thoughtful state senator's insistence on precise language.
And we've found another legislator whose suspicion of the dispensary system (and evocation of pharmacies) underscores the wisdom behind Dibble's caution. Senator Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson) has bad things to say about the distribution system that federal drug laws impose on the delivery of medical cannabis.
Both Urdahl and Sen. Scott Newman, R-Hutchinson, cited opposition from law enforcement as one of the reasons they oppose legalizing medical marijuana. Newman said he would want the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy to investigate the merits and drawbacks of medical marijuana before he reconsidered his opposition.
He said he opposes allowing dispensaries, similar to the types used in some western states, for distributing the drug. “I’m not in favor of dispensary system because (legalization advocates) think the ultimate goal is to lead to recreational use,” he said.
Newman said he would be more likely to support legislation that allowed medical patients to take marijuana through methods other than smoking, such as pill form or vapor. “I’ve been told that marijuana can be synthesized,” Newman said.
Call it gateway retail--and never mind the reason that alternative treatment centers or dispensaries are required for the sale of medical cannabis.
Once again, it's time to turn to WCCO TV (aka CBS Minnesota) reporting on the issue in February 2014 in a "Good Question" feature.
A Star Tribune Minnesota Poll out Tuesday found that a slight majority – 51 percent — of Minnesotans favor legalizing medical marijuana. Already, 20 other states allow it, but patients must buy it through shops and dispensaries.
So, why can’t pharmacies sell medical marijuana?
“That’s a difficult question,” said Heather Azzi, director of Minnesotans for Compassionate Care, a group that’s been working to legalize medical marijuana in Minnesota for a decade. “The problem is a political one.”
The Justice Department defines Schedule I drugs as having “no currently accepted medical use and high potential for abuse.” It’s the highest classification for a controlled substance, right alongside heroin. In recent Congressional testimony Michael Botticelli, the deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, indicates that federal opinion might not change anytime soon.
“The Department of Justice’s responsibility to enforce the CSA (Controlled Substances Act) remains unchanged,” Botticelli said before the House Oversight Committee’s Government Operations subpanel on Feb. 4.
All doctors and pharmacists in the U.S. have to be licensed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“If a pharmacist or physician were to prescribe or to dispense marijuana, they could lose that registration with the federal government and would no longer be able to prescribe any controlled substance,” Azzi said.
In almost all cases, drugs sold in pharmacies must be FDA approved. Marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I controlled substance prevents significant research from even allowing that to happen. . . .
. . . Bill Walsh, the current director of public affairs at the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, said [Biers left the caucus on Tuesday. He said he cannot comment on personnel issues, so he could not provide the reason for Bier's departure.
Biers and the Miller campaign did not return several phone calls seeking clarification on whether the change impacts Bier's position with the campaign.
Byron resident Aaron Miller, who is the endorsed Republican candidate challenging Democrat incumbent Rep. Tim Walz of Mankato, has spent $21,330 total over the last nine months of the campaign on Capital Communications, the campaign consulting firm registered to Bier's address.
The spending represents 66 percent of $32,007 total that Miller raised from individual donors this campaign. Alternatively, it represents 75 percent of Miller's total fundraising from individual donors when the $3,500 donation from Miller himself is taken out.
Given the Miller's campaign's investment in Biers, any further developments with him may have an impact on the campaign.
According to a January 9, 2013 report in Politics in Minnesota, Biers was appointed communications director for the Senate Republican caucus when the Republicans regrouped afer losing the chamber in the November 2012 elections. Prior to serving as communications director, Biers " was the committee administrator for the Senate Health and Human Services Committee under Sen. David Hann," who became the minority leader for the disminished caucus, PIM noted.
In PIM's April 23, 2014 Capitol Note, Mike Mullen reported in Comings and Goings:
Senate Republican staffer Brad Biers, an aide to Senate Minority Leader David Hann, has left the caucus, according to a staff email tweeted by the Star Tribune’s Rachel Stassen-Berger.
Should the Miller campaign be spotted again (see news reports on his website) please let us know if the political veteran is hanging around or if his relationship to the Miller campaign is evolving.
Biers served as a consultant for 2008 Walz challenger Brian Davis for much of the Mayo doctor's unsuccessful bid. Biers left the Davis campaign in August 2008 to work for the Taxpayers' League "No Constitutional Tax Increase” campaign. The heritage amendment won with 55.99 percent of the vote. Walz won the First that year with 62.50 pecent to Davis's 32.93 percent. Biers also worked on Allen Quist's 2010 unsuccessful bid for party endorsement in CD1.
Despite a vigorous challenge by a conservative Perham activist, two-term state representative Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) was endorsed yesterday by the Senate District 8 endorsing convention, the Alexandria Echo Press reports in Franson wins GOP endorsement:
State Representative Mary Franson of Alexandria, the Republican incumbent in District 8B, won a hard-fought battle for her party's endorsement today in Henning.
At Saturday's Republican endorsing convention, Franson won with 60 percent of the vote in a contest with challenger Sue Nelson of rural Perham after several rounds of voting, according to Bill Schulz, secretary of the Republican Party of Otter Tail County.
What's missing in the short news report and tweets about the endorsement? News that Sue Nelson has agreed to abide by the endorsement.
To all my friends, family and supporters who were so dedicated to our campaign -- who invested time, talents and your support -- I simply cannot find the words to express my gratitude and that of my husband and son. Your kind words, your encouragement, your prayers and your love will ALWAYS remain a bright spot in what was a tumultuous storm. When the going gets tough, not only do the tough get going but they find out who their friends are and they also know who will do the right thing. And we did the right thing by making OUR stand, you and I, and for that I will be eternally grateful. The phone calls, e-mails and all the kind words have been so appreciated. But what I appreciate most is your friendship, your trust and your support.
Thank you.
As always, God's Peace to you and yours on this, the Lord's day.
Owen Miller of Douglas County won election as Senate District 8 chair, a leadership post that had been held by Betty Staebler until now. Miller was opposed for the seat by Faye Yager of Douglas county. The vote was approximately 80-20 for Miller, according to Schulz.
Staebler, the outgoing chair, was also a Nelson supporter.
Krinkie has said Emmer would be vulnerable to issues raised during his 2010 run for governor, including his two arrests on drunk-driving-related charges. . . .
But Krinkie's still contemplating how he'll take advantage of that presumed vulnerability,and bashes Bachmann as well, the Times notes:
Krinkie has kept open the option of running in the GOP primary or as a third-party candidate, potentially with either the Independence or Constitution parties.
Krinkie said this week he likely won't decide what route to take until after the Republican state convention on May 29-31. At that point, he said it will be clearer which Republican statewide candidates will take their campaigns to a primary — which could influence how many GOP voters show up for an August primary.
Krinkie suggested Bachmann's endorsement of Emmer could carry a backlash in a 6th District general election. Bachmann barely won re-election in the 6th District in 2012.
"If you ran a campaign as a third-party candidate connecting Mr. Emmer to the incumbent congresswoman," Krinkie said, "that might have a very interesting outcome."
The Independence Party has already endorsed John Denney, so Krinkie would have to compete in a primary for that nod.
Sivarajah actually raises points about Emmer's stances on issues, but mostly sticks to reciting a list of moments when Emmer was rejected, though not but the voters of the Sixth. However, Sommerhauser notes that the Anoka County Commissioner has what might be an insurmountable barrier in getting her message out. Her campaign raised "a mere $4,266.77 from donors in the first three months of 2014" although she chipped in " $320,000 so far, $170,000 of that coming last quarter."
While the challengers seem longshots, as a blog always looking for fodder, we're eager to watch the bloodmatch begin.
Despite the Onion-esque photo of Tom West, editor and general manager of the Morrison County Record that accompanies We can do better than ‘Indigenous Peoples Day’, it's not copy ripped from the satirical site.
West seems to be quite serious in writing copy like this:
The Minneapolis City Council was expected to consider a motion Friday, to change the name of “Columbus Day” to “Indigenous Peoples Day.”
I don’t have any great affection for Christopher Columbus, but I have long thought that we ought to call our holidays for what they are. That means, call them the way most Americans celebrate them.
That being the case, it would mean, change “Columbus Day” to “Duck Hunting Day.” . . .
I kind of like the idea of changing it to “Pioneer Day.” When one thinks of the tremendous challenges involved in conquering two continents that were mostly wilderness, it took a tough-minded group of people willing to risk all in order to overcome more obstacles than most of us modern-day sissies care to take on. I mean, not only did they have no health insurance, they had no health care. When the banks went belly up, there was nobody to save the economy. At night, instead of watching “Dancing with the Stars,” they sat under the stars, slapping mosquitoes. . . .
My concern is that the politically correct crowd that dominates the Minneapolis City Council has something else in mind. They may claim that the reason to have an “Indigenous Peoples Day” is to pay long overdue respect to the people we used to call Native Americans until somebody realized that they were here long before we called this hemisphere “America.”
However, they could do so without knocking Columbus out of the history books, if they wanted to. Instead, it seems like the idea is to make the rest of us indigenous people, whose families may have shown up near the meeting of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers only 150 years ago, feel guilty, like maybe we shouldn’t be here.
Sorry, but as an indigenous Minnesotan, I don’t feel guilty about calling this state “home.” . . .
Yes, dude, it's all about you and your feelings. Go to the MCR and read the whole hot mess.
After unanimous City Council and mayor approval of a resolution today, Minneapolis will now recognize Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day on the second Monday of October.
“This act recognizes and celebrates the Native people who still live on this land and will foster stronger relationships moving forward,” Mayor Betsy Hodges toldKMSP-TV. “I am grateful to the community for organizing to make this a reality and am honored to sign this resolution, something I promised last summer I would.”
The idea of Indigenous Peoples Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native nations attending a United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, held in Geneva. . . .
Minneapolis joins states like Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon and South Dakota, which don't celebrate Columbus Day at all.
. . .The state Legislature in 1989 approved the change proposed by then-Gov. George Mickelson. South Dakota is the only state that celebrates Native American Day on Columbus Day.
"He spent his life in South Dakota and he knew the Native American population was a significant part of the state," Mark Mickelson, son of the late governor, told the American News (http://bit.ly/RpXbm4 ). "It was a way to let them know he was serious about reconciliation."
Bureau of Indian Affairs attorney Dani Daugherty, who grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, said Native American Day is a time to recognize the resiliency and the contributions of native peoples.
"Not only did we survive horrific treatment, loss of land, culture, buffalo and sacred sites, but we are here contributing as citizens," she said. "Our story is a story of positive change. It is a great thing what Gov. Mickelson did. He recognized the rich cultural resource that we are." . . .
So Mr. West can shake his fist in the direction of Minneapolis, but if he wants to double his unhappiness about having a sad, he might try visiting South Dakota in early October.
Photo: Grumpy cat Tom West apparently doesn't like having sad thoughts.
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On Tuesday, April 29, interfaith leaders and community members will gather in Little Falls, for a community dialogue on “Tolerance and the Fear of Islam,” from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Event sponsors include: Little Falls Partners for Peace, Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace, Building Blocks of Islam, and the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN).
The event will take place at St. Francis Hall, St. Francis Convent, 116 Eighth Ave. S.E., Little Falls.
“Many individuals in the community have never met a Muslim in person and that allows fear to grow,” said CAIR-MN Civil Rights Attorney Ellen Longfellow. “This event seeks to promote a positive discussion around tolerance, respect and community. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best: ‘We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.’”
Speakers include: Saly Abd Alla, CAIR-MN Civil Rights Director; Jaylani Hussein, CAIR-MN Outreach and Advocacy Director; Ian Norwood, Little Falls High School student and Father Virgil Petermeier, St. Cloud Muslim-Christian Dialogue.
The event will be moderated by Kevin LaNave, director of the Center for Learning Services and Social Change
The event was organized after community leaders and activists considered the negative impact a speech by Brigitte Gabriel from ACT! For America had in Little Falls.
The Central Minnesota Tea Party hasn't posted anything yet in response. According to its events page, it's sponsoring a John Birch Society video, Exposing the Enemies of Freedom, on the same night.
Usually legislators' responses sent to us for the MN House medical marijuana people's whip count and the MN Senate medical marijuana people's whip count, but a Legislative Update sent up by state representative Steve Drazkowski illustrates a man in search of political bloodletting rather than a legislative compromise that will help people living with illness obtain relief from medical cannabis.
Drazkowski asks the question in his email newsletter:
So why not allow a processed marijuana extract to be made available in pill form, and obtained at a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription?
Good question, Steve. Update: The newsletter email has been published as an op-ed in the Winona Daily News, Find medical marijuana compromise.[end update]
A Star Tribune Minnesota Poll out Tuesday found that a slight majority – 51 percent — of Minnesotans favor legalizing medical marijuana. Already, 20 other states allow it, but patients must buy it through shops and dispensaries.
So, why can’t pharmacies sell medical marijuana?
“That’s a difficult question,” said Heather Azzi, director of Minnesotans for Compassionate Care, a group that’s been working to legalize medical marijuana in Minnesota for a decade. “The problem is a political one.”
The Justice Department defines Schedule I drugs as having “no currently accepted medical use and high potential for abuse.” It’s the highest classification for a controlled substance, right alongside heroin. In recent Congressional testimony Michael Botticelli, the deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, indicates that federal opinion might not change anytime soon.
“The Department of Justice’s responsibility to enforce the CSA (Controlled Substances Act) remains unchanged,” Botticelli said before the House Oversight Committee’s Government Operations subpanel on Feb. 4.
All doctors and pharmacists in the U.S. have to be licensed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“If a pharmacist or physician were to prescribe or to dispense marijuana, they could lose that registration with the federal government and would no longer be able to prescribe any controlled substance,” Azzi said.
In almost all cases, drugs sold in pharmacies must be FDA approved. Marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I controlled substance prevents significant research from even allowing that to happen. . . .
That's why that can't happen, Representative Drazkowski. It's not a rhetorical question, although he treats it as one. On the other hand, perhaps the gentleman from Mazeppa is simply ill-informed about why the House and Senate bills include distribution of medical cannabis at dispensaries--and why this it the delivery system used in every state that's legalized the drug for patient use.
Is Draz simply using the issue to bash the governor, while seeming to appear sympathetic to " five-year-olds with seizure disorders and terminal illnesses that just want to ease their pain" even though the solution he suggests to his constituents is simply not feasible?
Bluestem highly doubts that the parents of those kids--and adults living with pain and other ailments--don't know the answer to Drazkowski's question.
We're not a fan of Dayton's position and actions on this issue, but Draz seems to be playing his own political shell game using the patients seeking legal relief. If not disingenious, he's just ignorant.
While this is The Draz, it's hard to believe that the latter option is the case. After all, he voted against an extremely restrictive medical marijuana bill in 2009, so we think he's heard the facts before. The Pioneer Press's Jason Hoppin reported in Minnesota Legislature approves medical use of marijuana:
After a decade of debate, the Minnesota House and Senate have passed versions of a bill that would sanction medical marijuana use in the state.
The House — taking up the issue for the first time — narrowly approved a version this evening, 70-64. The Senate, which had approved a version last month, then approved the House's version 38-28.
The bill now heads to Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
The House version was narrowed considerably from the Senate bill. A provision allowing patients to grow their own marijuana plants was removed, and a controversial amendment restricted the use of marijuana to terminally ill patients suffering a debilitating illness.
The latter amendment removes medical marijuana eligibility for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who need the drug to combat nausea.
The bill would establish a licensing system for patients who have a doctor's recommendation for marijuana. They would then be issued a photo identification, allowing them to purchase marijuana at state-licensed marijuana dispensaries.
Draz voted against that in 2009. We're glad he's now open to allowing both the terminally ill and non-terminally ill to receive medical marijuana, even though the delivery system he proposes would put any pharmacy and pharmacist who used it out of business. Perhaps he can tell his constituents why the compromise he offers is pure fantasy.
Here's the part of the email in which Draz bashes the governor (another paragraph bashes the minimum wage increase):
Over the past few weeks, one of the most frequent topics of conversation I’ve had with constituents is medical marijuana.
As you know, marijuana is illegal and Minnesota’s doctors are barred from prescribing it. The bill under debate would change that for medicinal purposes, providing that their patients were diagnosed with certain ailments.
Governor Dayton has been tap-dancing around this issue. He doesn’t want to sign a medical marijuana bill unless it has support from law enforcement. But he also wants to gain favor from those who support the bill, so he suggested delaying the decision on the issue and requiring Minnesota taxpayers to pay for a Mayo Clinic study determining whether marijuana has medical benefits.
In the meantime, several parents of suffering children said Governor Dayton met with them and encouraged them to either buy pot off the street or go to Colorado where marijuana is legal, buy it and bring it back to Minnesota. Never mind the fact that doing so is a federal criminal offense.
Not surprisingly, the governor denied the conversation took place and again attempted to shift the blame onto someone else - this time the full legislature. This is the same erratic pattern of behavior he has shown on every controversial issue that threatens to damage his popularity in the eyes of Minnesotans.
A compromise solution is there for the taking.
Law enforcement has very real concerns about this proposal, as do I. Medical marijuana should be for patients only. Rightly or wrongly, there are concerns that this is the first step towards full legalization of the drug in the State of Minnesota, and that marijuana could end up in the hands of drug addicts and, potentially, our kids.
On the other hand, we are seeing five-year-olds with seizure disorders and terminal illnesses that just want to ease their pain. Their parents believe medical marijuana could give their children that comfort, but the governor and the legislature are standing in their way.
The governor’s study isn’t the answer. These kids need help now, not two or three years from now.
So why not allow a processed marijuana extract to be made available in pill form, and obtained at a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription? It is also possible to extract a liquid from the marijuana plant that could be used in an electronic cigarette, which could also be made available behind the pharmacy counter if a physician agrees to prescribe it for certain aliments.
To me, medical marijuana should only be made available in a controlled environment.
The public wants resolution on this topic, but once again we need Governor Dayton to lead by stating a specific vision on this topic and getting involved. Does he want medical marijuana or not?
If the answer is yes, I’m in favor of helping him find a solution that can pass the legislature. Easing the suffering of patients with debilitating illnesses is the compassionate thing to do in my opinion.
But if the answer is no, and the governor doesn’t want to pick a fight with law enforcement, then say so. For better or worse, at least the parents who are pushing for the medical legalization of marijuana will have finally heard a definitive answer on this topic from our state’s top leader. . . .
In the spirit of fairness, here are our posts on Dayton, so that reader understand that this isn't a post in defense of the Governor. Rather, we want the partisan sniping to end on a pair of bills where both support and opposition are bipartisan. Our Dayton posts:
March 26, 2014: Dayton backs off on doubting some Minnesotans' pain, but won't quit promise to hardcore coppers
Photo: Representative Steve Drazkowski, who feels suffering Minnesotans' pain, but doesn't quite understand some of the facts about how legal medical marijuana can be dispensed to them.
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Representative Rick Hansen's HF2798, which will prohibit plants treated with pollinator lethal insecticide from being labeled or advertised as bee and pollinator friendly, is scheduled for a vote in the Minnesota House on Tuesday, April 29.
It's a bipartisan bill, with agribusiness stalwart Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) and nursery owner Denny McNamara (R-Hastings) on board.
The senate companion bill, HF2798, is authored by Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Minneapolis) and three additional Democrats.
A type of pesticide that's a focal point in the controversy over endangered honeybees has turned up in garden-store plants sampled by Friends of the Earth. Other bee experts say the pilot study on neonicotinoids adds an important twist to the plight of the bees — but stress that more rigorous research needs to be done.
The study, co-authored with the Pesticide Research Institute and titled "Gardeners Beware," reported finding traces of neonicotinoid pesticides, or neonics, in seven of 13 plants purchased from garden stores in California's San Francisco Bay area; the Washington, D.C. area; and Minnesota's Twin Cities. The plants included tomatoes, squash, salvia and flowers that would be attractive to pollinators.
“Our investigation is the first to show that so called 'bee-friendly' garden plants contain pesticides that can actually poison bees, with no warning to gardeners," Lisa Archer, director of the Food and Technology Program at Friends of the Earth-US, said in a news release accompanying Wednesday's 34-page report. “Bees are essential to our food system and they are dying at alarming rates. Neonic pesticides are a key part of the problem we can start to fix right now in our own backyards."
HF2798 [is] a bill designed to address this problem by prohibiting plants treated with pollinator lethal insecticide from being labeled or advertised as beneficial to pollinators.
While the issue has gotten press, the legislative relief has not as we explained in Nurseries, neonicotinoids and HF2798/SF2695, so it's good to see this bill move quietly toward Governor Dayton's desk, despite the lack of fanfare.
It's possible that some misguided colleague might wish to sting the bill with an unfriendly amendment. We'll be watching prefiled amendments.
Image: Bee friendly guy Rick Hansen (DFL- South St. Paul) on his farm in Southeastern Minnesota.
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Now there's an endorsement mailing on Nelson's behalf by Americans for Marriage and Life, urging delegates to select Nelson at Saturday's endorsing convention (image right).
Mary Franson first tweeted that the group was formed last week, along with a copy of the mailing, but then deleted the tweet and retweeted the image (locked account), asking if the organization were registered with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
527 Group — A tax-exempt group organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code to raise money for political activities including voter mobilization efforts, issue advocacy and the like. Currently, the FEC only requires a 527 group to file regular disclosure reports if it is a political party or political action committee (PAC) that engages in either activities expressly advocating the election or defeat of a federal candidate, or in electioneering communications. Otherwise, it must file either with the government of the state in which it is located or the Internal Revenue Service. Many 527s run by special interest groups raise unlimited "soft money," which they use for voter mobilization and certain types of issue advocacy, but not for efforts that expressly advocate the election or defeat of a federal candidate or amount to electioneering communications.
Since the stated propose of AML is to "promote federal, state and local candidates," we're surprised that there isn't more paperwork anywhere.
Bluestem has called the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to see if the mailing falls within the boundaries set by Minnesota campaign and election law.
UPDATE: Gary Goldsmith returned our call. In a nutshell, it's unlikely that Americans for Marriage and Life's mailing in the House 8B endorsement race has tripped any of the spending thresholds for registering with Minnesota's campaign finance board, although once those spending thresholds are reached, the group must register because it promotes candidates. Were the mailing coordinated with the Nelson campaign, the threshold is fairly low, but copying and mailing the letter isn't likely to reach the threshold.
Goldsmith thought that the mailing might be in technical violation because there's no disclaimer indentifying the mailing as an independent expenditure (if the mailing is indeed independent). If the Nelson campaign shared the delegate mailing list with AML, the exchange counts as an in-kind contribution.
However, Goldsmith suggested that given the likely small expense of the mailing and subsequent lack of requirement for registration and disclosure, that the possible technical violation created by the lack of a disclaimer on the letter would pose constitutional questions related to free speech given if the board pursued an investigation. Dinging a group on a technicality whose activities have yet to require disclosure would be a heavy-handed response.
However, if the group gets involved in endorsing other candidates this year, and spend more than the legal thresholds, it would have to register and file reports, and the cost of this and all activity wouldbe disclosed. [end update]
We're also curious how the organization obtained the mailing addresses for delegates to this weekend's endorsing convention. Is it a common practice of Republican BPOUs to share this information with 527s? Or did the committee obtain the list from a candidate? Is this an example of coordination?
The Manhattan Declaration
The mailer endorses Nelson because of her signature on the Manhattan Declaration, a project Chuck Colson and other conservative Christians established in 2009. Right Wing Watch writes in The Right's New Manhattan Project:
It seems that Chuck Colson has gathered together a group of right-wing activists and clergy for something called the "Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience" in order to create a unified front in fighting the culture war:
The manifesto, to be released on Friday at the National Press Club in Washington, is an effort to rejuvenate the political alliance of conservative Catholics and evangelicals that dominated the religious debate during the administration of President George W. Bush. The signers include nine Roman Catholic archbishops and the primate of the Orthodox Church in America.
They want to signal to the Obama administration and to Congress that they are still a formidable force that will not compromise on abortion, stem-cell research or gay marriage. They hope to influence current debates over health care reform, the same-sex marriage bill in Washington, D.C., and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
They say they also want to speak to younger Christians who have become engaged in issues like climate change and global poverty, and who are more accepting of homosexuality than their elders. They say they want to remind them that abortion, homosexuality and religious freedom are still paramount issues.
For some reason, the headline of the New York Times article is "Christian Leaders Unite on Political Issues" instead of "Right Wing Activists Unite On Political Issues" . . .
Ever since the Religious Right drafted and released The Manhattan Declaration in 2009, the authors and supporters of the document has made no bones about the fact that they believe themselves to be courageous heroes in the mold of those who resisted the Nazis in Germany.
And just in case the analogy had not yet been made crystal clear, co-author Timothy George has an essay in the Spring edition of Beeson magazine [PDF] in which he explicitly links the Manhattan Declaration to the Barmen Declaration, the 1934 statement by the Confessing Church standing in opposition to the Nazi take over of the German church.
George admits that "the plight of the church in North America today, serious as it is, is not analogous to the repression Jews, Christians and many others experienced in Hitler’s Germany," but then proceeds to explain how the Manhattan Declaration and the Barmen Declaration are two sides of the same coin . . .
Read the rest at RWW.
Given that Nelson is down with this bunch, we tried to wonder what Nelson's speech on the floor might have been like if Franson has been judged insufficiently hating on the cute boys and found ourselves unable to wrap our heads around that possibility.
Perhaps as disturbing: so far, Franson and Nelson are the only two candidates to put their candidacies forward. Is there no DFLer who will think of the children?
Photo: the image of the letter that Franson tweeted.
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Nancy Taffe of Morris announced Wednesday that she will continue her campaign for the House of Representatives in District 12A and challenge endorsed candidate Jeff Backer in a primary election.
“I have received overwhelming support since I began my campaign, and have had so much encouragement to continue in the race,” said Taffe in a statement. “We usually have a choice between a polished politician versus a professional politician and I want to offer voters a new option, a candidate like myself who cares about the future of this community and is not a career politician.”
Taffe said jobs, education and agriculture will be her main legislative priorities if she is elected.
“We need to cut the unnecessary regulations and taxes that are burdening our small businesses so we can grow our economy, and create incentives for people to want to live and work here,” said Taffe.
District 12A Republicans endorsed Backer, a small business owner from Browns Valley, at their district convention on Saturday, May 22. Backer earned the endorsement on the first ballot, picking up just over 60 percent of the total votes at the convention in Elbow Lake.
House District 12A includes seven counties: all of Stevens, Traverse Grant, Wilkin and Big Stone counties and the western half of Pope and Douglas counties.
Minnesota’s primary election will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. . . .
Even though the bill has been signed into law, the Glencoe-area Republican isn't giving up. In a letter to the editor in today's McLeod County Chronicle, Anti-bullying, one of worst bills, passes, Gruenhagen writes:
In his final comments on the House floor, the bill’s author, Rep. Davnie, thanked the homosexual activist group Outfront Minnesota and the LGBT community for entrusting him to carry this bill.
What exactly is Gruenhagen objecting to in that sentence? The fact that LGBT citizens have the right to work with like-minded people to seek legislative redress?
Both KFGO and City Pages Blotter are reporting on a defamation lawsuit that McLeod County Republican Chair Eric Harpel has filed against Representative Mary Franson (R-Alexandria). We'll let Harpel and Franson duke it out in court, while McFeely and Rupar figure out who got the exclusive.
According to online court records, Harpel filed a lawsuit against Marie Thurn and Scott Nokes, her lawyer, on September 20, 2013. On April 1, 2014, according to the online records, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice.
Bluestem has obtained the decision in the case. You can read it here:
March 28, 2014 email: Harpel warns of future action against Thurn
On March 28, Eric Harpel sent an email to at least 20 Republican activists in the McLeod County area, discussing his plan to take additional action against Thurn. This email would later figure in the dismissal of a harassment restraining order that Harpel filed against Thurn, following the CD7 Convention.
Bluestem has obtained a copy of the email and post the body of the document here:
Last year July 25th, I informed you that I had taken the very first steps in properly, and legally bringing resolutions in the matters against Marie Thurn/Scott Nokes, and Ms. Franson.
Since then, a lawsuit has been filed in August of 2013 against Marie Thurn/Scott Nokes. In late February of this year the lawsuit was dismissed. We are currently waiting on "notice of entry of judgment" so an appeal can be properly filed.
In regards to Ms. Franson. In a public document filed in Douglas County dated July 23, 2012 titled "Petitioner's Request & Order for Dismissal of Harassment Restraining Order" Ms. Franson is quoted in that document saying "I believe we can handle this issue outside the courtroom and continue working with our attorneys in this matter. It is my hope that Mr. Harpel can be trusted to continue working through our attorneys to resolve this matter with out a courtroom or press". That was 20 months ago......
Over the last 20 months I have done all of that and more. I have acted professionally, and in the proper manor have offered many fair and reasonable resolutions in this matter privately in good faith without success.
I'm simply notifying you of my intentions to file a lawsuit and a criminal complaint against Ms. Franson. With this comes taking depositions and the number of people on that list is quite extensive. If you get subpoenaed, please cooperate and be completely honest. I've always felt in opinion that my greatest asset in this, is the truth. This a process I really didn't wish to go through, or for that matter put anyone else through, but doing nothing isn't an option, and with my window closing every day to take legal action, I have balanced the scales and have decided to push forward next week.
Far to many innocent people have been affected by this. My 3 children, and their Mother and her entire family. My step-Grandmother, and her entire family. My Mother, and her entire family. My dad, and our entire family. Our family business, and our employees and their families. My friends, community and fellow board members. By doing this, it's not my intention to damage others in any way, I'm simply wanting to have my day in court so I can share my version of events, publicly in order to properly clear my families highly regarded reputation.
We have been preparing for this for 8 months now. We are ready, and we are also properly prepared for a few curve balls that may unfortunately be thrown my way personally. I sincerely hope it doesn't happen, but if it does, we're ready for it. If and when the press picks this story up, I also have very lawyer approved public statement that will follow suite. I look forward to have the opportunity to speak freely about this matter very soon. Its been way to long for my family....
Sincerely,
Eric Harpel
Harpel's harassment restraining order against Thurn
At the time of this posting, Harpel has not yet filed an appeal against Thurn. However, following the Congressional District Seven Republican Convention at the end of March, Harpel filed a harassment restraining order against Thurn for giving him the stink eye and other actions that he felt threatened him.
Thurn decided to challenge the HRO, and after a hearing, the court denied the order. The document is embedded below,
We draw our readers' attention to the last paragraph of the document, where the March 28, 2014, email is referenced. The judge writes:
The Court must also comment on the "whispering campaign." Such events are not uncommon in the rough and tumble world of political conventions. Even if it could be shown that Respondent [Thurn] could be shown to be the source of the campaign (which cannot be shown, as Petitioner sent the e-mail to 20+ recipients and it is apparent that such a message would be a hot topic of conversation in a convention setting attended by most, if not all of the recipients), such a "campiagn cannot be deemed harassment under the statute.
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