Bluestem Prairie

MN Senate Rural Task Force November 12 meeting documents released to Bluestem Prairie

Yesterday, Bluestem Prairie reported in Senate Rural Task Force records no audio or video, keeps no minutes of meetings in St. Paul that in addition to not recording audio or video and not keeping minutes, the committee did not keep documents handed out at its meetings.

Today, we've been sent those documents and embed the pdf we were sent below, along with this headnote from the Senate Communications staff.

I have attached the documents that were handed out during last week's Senate Rural Task Force meeting.  I am cc'ing Sen. Saxhaug's Committee Administrator Mitch Berggren on this email.  Please direct any future questions to Mitch. 

Berggren replies:

I am out of the office with limited email access. I will contact you upon my return.

Other posts about the Novermber 12 Senate Task Force Meeting include Co-founder of Senate Rural Task Force (est. 2014) attacks MPCA Citizen Board (est. 1967) and All farmers are equal in AGM Food & Farm pledge, but some less equal for Senator Rosen.

The documents appear to offer a proposal to make siting dairy operations conform more closely to a Wisconsin law passed during the administration of former Governor Doyle.  It appears that local control and decision making as well as the power of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, would be affected by this proposal.

Senate Rural Task Force Documents 11.12

Meanwhile, the West Central Tribune reports that Meadow Star Dairy gets go-ahead for operation west of Willmar. The 8,800-animal-unit dairy operation is owned by Riverview LLP based in Morris.

In August, Riverview was asked by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a different proposed dairy on the Pomme de Terre River in nearby Stevens County.

Although the Stevens County dairy is the only large feedlot ever to be asked by the Citizens Board of the MPCA to complete an EIS since the board was established in 1967, some agribusiness concerns have claimed the action will "chill" the creation of new dairy operations in Minnesota.

Or maybe not.

Photo: A random photo of a cornfield in Kandiyohi County.

If you appreciate Bluestem's posts, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:

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New MN House Mining & Outdoor Recreation Committee totally respects David Dill's lifestyle

Speaker-in-waiting Kurt Daudt just released the 2015-2016 House Committee Structure and Chair Appointments, and the twitterati is already wondering what's up with the Mining & Outdoor Recreation Policy committee that will be led by Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar).

Me trying to understand the purview of the Mining and Outdoor Recreation Committee RT @DJDanielson "Beach volleyball?" - @cttrace

— Cole Trace (@cttrace) November 18, 2014

Bluestem believes that the committee's name is an attempt by the majority caucus to make Representative David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake) feel appreciated for his lifestyle.

Witness Dill's lament in last Wednesday's Bill Hanna article in the Hibbing Daily Tribune, Range House lawmakers to be in minority:

Dill said he believes the House Republican majority will be pro-mining.

And he said metro-centric DFLers, including some who were defeated, have never asked him about going fishing, snowmobiling and ATVing. “They don’t understand us and our lifestyle,” Dill said.

With the advent of the Mining and Outdoor Recreation Committee, Dill may finally have the empathy he claims to have never found from those unnamed "metro-centric DFLers," who maybe shouldn't have gone fishing on lakes and rivers in their own districts.

Range-based blogger Aaron Brown reacted to news of the Dill-appreciating committee name on our editor's Facebook page:

Aaron Brown Ha. Now THAT'S a committee. Almost perfect, if only Mich Golden Light was in the name, too.

Not everyone on social media is reacting with the same generosity as the genial writer:

@cttrace @sallyjos @DJDanielson tourists can now mine their own taconite. #worldsworstvacation

— Celeste (@celestesmarin) November 18, 2014

On our stretch of the prairie, there's Swift County's Appleton Area Recreational Park, where families enjoy ATV and motocross entertainment in a re-purposed gravel mine. We will inquire if facilities exist for a committee field trip.

Photo: David Dill, who will finally be appreciated for his lifestyle, especially if no Range-dedicated funds are raided by his Republican colleagues in the House. Photo via Politics in Minnesota.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:

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Senate Rural Task Force records no audio or video, keeps no minutes of meetings in St. Paul

The Minnesota Senate Rural Rask Force is holding meetings at the state capitol in St. Paul that are listed on the senate's calendar, being briefed by public officials and representative of powerful special interests about a legislative agenda, and receiving handouts about that testimony.

But no video or audio is being recorded, no minutes kept, and no digital copies of the handouts are available for the interested public to read.

Bluestem Prairie contacted both Saxhaug's office (left a message) and spoke to Senate Communications office staffer Amelia Cerling last week with the hope of obtaining an audiotape or minutes of a task force meeting that took place on Wednesday, November 12.

This morning, we received a response from Cerling:

from: Amelia Cerling [email address redacted]
to: [email protected]
date: Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 10:44 AM
subject: Rural Task Force information

Good Morning Sally Jo,

I have heard back from Sen. Saxhaug's staff and unfortunately don't have good news to share. Because the Rural Task Force is not an 'official' Senate task force there is no audio/video or minutes taken. Likewise there are no digital copies of the documents handed out at the meeting.

If you are interested in attending the next meeting, it's taking place on Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. I apologize for not being more help.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist with.

Thanks,

Amelia

A quick glance at the Senate calendar for December 8 shows that the meeting has yet to be added to the online calendar (screenshot below):

 

First off, Bluestem wants readers to be clear that Cerling has handled our request with great professional tact, and no one should blame the messenger here. She's not the issue.

The problem is the inability of rural Minnesotans to learn what is said at meetings of a Senate Rural Task Force unless we attend these meetings ourselves.  It's about a three-hour drive from Bluestem's world headquarters in Chippewa County's sunny Maynard to the state capitol, and even longer for people who live in Hallock, Clinton, Luverne or LaCrescent.

And unlike the state senators, we're not getting per diem or mileage. One would think that since the public is paying that, as well as for keeping the lights on and the building warm, record of the task force might be kept for us. 

After all, the stated goals of these hearings, according to an August 22, 2014 press release, is:

The task force has meetings planned throughout the fall and into December and will identify key issues that impact rural areas. Their goal is to prepare legislation before the Legislative Session begins in January 2015.

And even if we did manage to show up, it's not certain that we'd get copies of the documents shared with the senators by representatives of the Agri-Growth Council and the Cooperative Network.

And the only media coverage of the meeting? Behind a subscription firewall at Politics in Minnesota.  Bluestem was able to read the article and cite it in our posts, Co-founder of Senate Rural Task Force (est. 2014) attacks MPCA Citizen Board (est. 1967) and All farmers are equal in AGM Food & Farm pledge, but some less equal for Senator Rosen, but other rural friends note that they haven't been able to view the article.

This is concerning, especially when one of the Senators takes it upon herself to attack one of the members of the Citizens Board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as not practicing "real ag" on the 320-acre family farm that she and her husband have bought from his parents. He grew up on the farm in Big Stone County, studied ag at the U, and always wanted to return to his rural roots.  As we've noted, the operation was named Big Stone County's Farm Family of the Year in 2014. 

And yet--save for the PIM article behind a paid subscription firewall--there's no record of Rosen's denigration of a citizens board member and the farming practices she and her husband have adopted. How might she and her husband--and other farmers practicing "sustainable agriculture" (defined by federal statute for many years)--defend their operations, when no official record exists of exactly what Senator Rosen said?

Is this any way to make policy for rural Minnesota?  In an unrecorded meeting, with no minutes or documents kept? How would we ever know?

Photo: This velvet curtain is a good metaphor for the transparency of Senate Rural Task Force hearings.  Several of Bluestem's friends have wondered whether--with the restoration of the state capitol building underway and many of the senate media services functions disrupted--whether Senator Bakk and his kindred spirits will help keep more of the public's gaze away from the sausage making (above); screenshot of the Senate calendar on Monday around noon (middle); the Big Stone County Farm Family of the Year 2014. Kathryn Drager, fourth from the left in the rear row in the picture, is the MPCA Citizens Board member whose farm operation was attacked by Julie Rosen in a Senate Rural Task Force hearing, according to an article in Politics in Minnesota. A Bluestem source who attended the meeting confirmed the account in PIM.(below)

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Related articles

Gopher Staters: Minnesota GOP Is Trying to Take Away Your Rights. Again.

Will Tim Miller pay attention to the Coalition of Greater MN Cities about broadband funding?

 

Saturday's Mesabi Daily News  (and other papers across the state on other days) ran a column by Sara Carlson and Tom Kuntz of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, Pay attention to Greater Minnesota.

Carlson is the mayor of Alexandria, while Kuntz serves as mayor of Owatonna.

They write:

. . . There are several needs that are unique to Greater Minnesota, and we expect House Republicans to take the lead on these issues.

For example, the economic development needs of Greater Minnesota differ from those of the metro area. Minneapolis, St. Paul and most of the surrounding suburbs have reliable access to fast, high-quality broadband, while rural parts of the state lag far behind. The legislature began to address this issue last session by devoting $20 million to funding broadband infrastructure. This is a good start, but more resources are needed, in both the underserved and unserved parts of the state, to bring our businesses and communities up to speed.

Bluestem hopes that House Republican leaders can get our state representative-elect to listen to Carlson and Kuntz, since in a television debate in October, Tim Miller was opposed to the use of public funding to support the expansion of rural broadband.

Here's the clip:

Photo: Tim Miller, image via his personal Facebook page.

If you appreciate Bluestem's posts, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:

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MN12A: Jeff Backer's backers troll new representative about Emmer COS, priorities

If Jeff Backer, the representative elect in Minnesota House District 12A, thought he be able to turn his attention to bread and butter issues like transportation, education, and gutting the Citizens Board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency so that the captains of agriculture and industry can build mega-dairies anywhere and dig holes in the ground everywhere, his friends and backers have something else in mind.

Instead, he's getting the heads up on shocking developments as reported by Life Site in Republican Congressman replacing Michele Bachmann names gay ‘marriage’ supporter his chief-of-staff:

A newly-elected Republican Congressman is facing criticism after hiring a same-sex "marriage" supporter as his first Chief of Staff.

Congressman-elect Tom Emmer is set to replace Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-MN, when the 114th Congress convenes in January. Just days after winning the race, however, Emmer picked one of his campaign consultants, outgoing state Rep. David FitzSimmons, as his highest-ranking staffer.

FitzSimmons is one of four Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives to vote for same-sex "marriage" last year.

FitzSimmons is a longtime GOP activist-turned-representative in Minnesota who worked for the Emmer campaign in 2010. He has been Chairman of the Wright County Republican and the 6th Congressional District Republicans, while simultaneously heading the Republican Liberty Caucus in the state. He also spent time on the Executive Committee of the Minnesota GOP.

However, his vote for same-sex "marriage" in Minnesota last year soured his relationship with many Republican voters. Earlier this year, FitzSimmons' marriage vote cost him his chance at re-nomination for state representative, and his girlfriend's involvement with the same-sex "marriage" campaign and an effort to eliminate judicial elections in the state has drawn criticism. . . .

We're not sure what the message Backer is supposed to take away from that, other than to totally vet his new legislative assistant's romantic partner and to make sure his hapless staffer doesn't have any tolerant tendencies.

Meanwhile, Big Stone County Republican Chair Jack Whitley (whom BSP readers met here) continues to troll both Backer's campaign and personal page with requests to have no priorities save "repairing" the perceived damage of "corrupt, unconstitutional or immoral legislation."

Whitley asks:

Jeff Backer for MN House When you think of corrupt, unconstitutional or immoral legislation, what three things come to your mind?

The campaign webpage replies:

Any legislation that does not support life is immoral and unconstitutional. Life starts at conception and goes to natural death.

Whitley responds:

Would it not follow then, based on Jeff Backers reply that any and all elected legislators who acknowledge this, would in fact be emphatic about reverseing and overturning these corrupt and immoral laws rather than pursuing and allowing to take up their time, legislation that has nothing to do with repairing past immoral legislation?

Forget about roads, education and all that. Backer's backers have his back on a different agenda. 

Here's the screenshot:

Screenshots: Backer has backers. Does he ever.

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Like Bluestem Prairie? Donate to Bluestem

 

Once again, Bluestem Prairie is turning to its readers for contributions to continue its work as an independent blog posting about politics and policy in rural Minnesota. 

Covering this beat since July 2006, we've been first with stories that went national using our original posts: the outrageous content of CD1 congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn's blog on Mother Jones, newly-minted Congressman Tom Emmer's hybrid political home improvement television ad on Stephen Colbert,  and MNGOP Deputy Chair Chris Field's politicization of Robin Williams' death on twitter on Daily and others.

We were first with the story of the "minimum wage fee" at a Stillwater restaurant and just this month, voting irregularities dogging University of Minnesota at Morris students in Stevens County.

But we've also covered policy debates such as the debate over raising the minimum wage and legalizing medical marijuana, as well as drawing attention to issues and leaders in Greater Minnesota.  With the 2015 Minnesota legislative session on the horizon--with a flock of new Republican House members to keep an eye on--there's as much a need for Bluestem's work as ever.

Please contribute via postal mail or paypal. Thank you.

You can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:

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Contributions--like subscriptions to newspapers and Netflix--are not tax deductible.

Photo: Little Bluestem, the "prairie munchkin" grass. Via Flower Ink.

All farmers are equal in AGM Food & Farm pledge, but some less equal for Senator Rosen

During the recently concluded campaign season, the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council and a group of other Minnesota farm and food entities launched "A Greater Minnesota" (AGM) coalition, which put together the 5-Point Farm And Food Pledge, briefly described on its About Page:

A key component of our campaign is asking you, the voters, to encourage legislative candidates to take the 5-point MN Food and Farm Pledge, which encourages supporting all good MN farms (big or small, traditional or organic), environmental stewardship, caring for farm animals, sensible food labeling and food safety.

The first point is spelled more under 1. Support All Good Farms:

Pledge: Support all responsible Minnesota farmers, whether large or small, traditional or organic.

Minnesotans have a stake in supporting all farmers in Minnesota who practice responsible farming methods whether the farms are large or small, traditional farming or organic. Fortunately, nearly every Minnesota farmer farms responsibly. . . .

The section goes on to share the story of the Zweber family farm near Elko, MN., who milk between 100-120 dairy cows for Organic Valley, according to the enbedded YouTube about their operation.

Since the Agri-Growth Council is first on the list of the organizations promoting the notion that "Minnesotans have a stake in supporting all farmers in Minnesota who practice responsible farming methods," Bluestem had to raise our eyebrows at this passage in Mike Mosdale's article in Politics in Minnesota, MPCA chief grilled over mega-dairy decision:

[Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner] Linc Stine noted that citizen board members, while appointed by the governor, must be confirmed by the Senate, with at least one member coming from the agricultural sector.

That did not win over Rosen, who dismissed the industry’s current designee on the board — Dr. Kathryn Draeger of Clinton — as a “sustainable ag producer.”

“That’s not real ag. This is real ag,” Rosen said.

Since Agri-Growth Council Executive Director Perry Aasness testified at Wednesday's hearing, we're totally astonished that he didn't rise to defend the Draeger farm from Rosen's savaging.

Rosen's attack is especially remarkable given that the 320-acre farm [see pdf here]--which Draeger and her husband purchased from his parents in 2008--was named Big Stone County's Farm Family of the Year in 2014:

Mike Jorgenson and Kathy Draeger of Clinton, MN bought their family farm in 2008 from Mike’s parents David and Jean.  Prior to his parent’s ownership, Mike’s grandparents Spurgeon and Hilda Jorgenson, bought and farmed the land. The Jorgenson family farm has changed over the years.  At first it was a family dairy operation, in which Mike partnered with his parents until he attended the University of Minnesota to get a degree in Agronomy and Plant Genetics.  The farm now features a rotationally grazed grass-fed beef operation.  The Jorgenson family raises a mixed herd of Irish Dexter and Lowline Angus Cattle.  They also have 40 acres in organic crop production with the remaining acres in a conventional crop rotation.  The Jorgenson kids, Alma, Jens, and Lake, are involved with poultry production and raise laying hens, pasture-fed broilers, and turkeys and are all active 4H members. . . .

Not "real ag," if you ask Senator Rosen. (Sustainable agriculture is defined by federal statute, by the way, and the Big Stone County farm appears to met that definition).

According to a press release, the families are selected by "local University of Minnesota Extension committees:"

Representing agricultural achievement in diverse farming operations, 74 families from throughout Minnesota are being honored as a 2014 Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota.

The farm families will be recognized in ceremonies beginning at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 7, at the annual Minnesota Farmfest on the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls. The event is in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center on the estate grounds.

The farm families represent each county participating in the program. They were chosen by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture.

“The farm families receiving this year’s honors exemplify what makes Minnesota agriculture strong. They bring innovation, science and hard work to farming. They care greatly about the land and animals and delivering quality products to consumers worldwide,” said Bev Durgan, dean of Extension. “The University of Minnesota takes great pride in honoring these families.” . . . 

The 2014 families range from Richard Handeen and Audrey Arner's Moonstone Farm here in Chippewa County to Martin County's Hugoson Family (kin to long-term state ag commissioner Gene Hugoson).

Let's us hope thatthe Agri-Growth Council rises to the Big Stone County family farmers' defense.  The Council and other members of "A Greater Minnesota" coalition asked political candidates to value all good farmers, after all.

Perhaps they might honor that pledge itself.

Bonus: State Representative Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) tweeted his own opinion of the agency Friday:

MPCA = Minnesota Pushes Companies Across... State lines! Anti-mining Anti-agriculture Anti-commerce Anti-infrastructure - committee hearing!

— Rod Hamilton (@RHamilton542) November 14, 2014

Photo: The 2014 Big Stone County Farm Family of the Year (with MN Ag Commissioner Dave Frederickson left), whom Senator Julie Rosen doesn't believe are "real ag."  Okay then.

 If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:

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Co-founder of Senate Rural Task Force (est. 2014) attacks MPCA Citizen Board (est. 1967)

As Bluestem reported back in September's MN12A: Does Backer want to strip citizens of ability to ask MPCA for environmental studies?, the decision by the Citizens Board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to require Riverview Dairy to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was cited by Backer as an example of government overreach.

But according to a reliable source, this decision represents the first time a large feedlot was asked to conduct an EIS by the Citizens Board.

With Backer's win, part of the Republican wave that took back the Minnesota House of Representatives, Bluestem has been wondering whether Backer's notion of curbing or eliminating the Citizen Board of the MPCA might gain steam.

Apparently, in Wednesday's meeting of the Senate Rural Task, Senator Julie Rosen (R-Vernon Center) called the MPCA's structure into question.

Changing the MPCA's structure would be a significant change for the agency, established in 1967.

The only coverage of this meeting by the media is in Politics in Minnesota. Mike Mosedale reports in MPCA chief grilled over mega-dairy decision:

In August, after the Citizens Board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency overruled a recommendation from agency staff and ordered a full-blown environmental impact statement for a proposed mega-dairy operation in Stevens County, environmentalists heralded the move as a historic and increasingly rare victory in their fight against the proliferation of so-called “factory farms.”

It was a much different story at the Capitol on Wednesday, where members of the Senate’s Rural Task Force grilled MPCA Commissioner John Linc Stine about the decision. . . .

Rosen also called into question the MPCA’s unusual governance structure, which grants major decision-making power to the board’s eight citizen members.

“We’ve given our Citizens Board a tremendous amount of power,” said Rosen. “I’m very concerned about what we’ve unleashed.” . .

Reading that, one might imagine that the Citizens Board was some new dirty hippie development, while the Senate Rural Task Force was carved in granite when the Glacial River Warren broke through the ice dam of Lake Agassiz.

But if the truth be told, the Senate Rural Task Force is a lot newer than the Citizens Board of the MPCA.

Although the archives of the meetings of the Citizens Board online only extend back to 2007, it appears that the citizens board has been part of the agency's structure since its creation in 1967. We find mention of it in Nexis All-New dating back to 1982. That's mostly because that's the sunrise for the database itself.

The Senate Rural Task Force? Announced in August 2014.

According to Senate Forms Bipartisan Rural Task Force, a press release issued by Senator Saxhaug's office on August 22, 2014:

Sen. Tom Saxhaug (DFL-Grand Rapids) and Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) announced the formation of a rural legislative task force on Friday. The bipartisan panel of eight Senators will work this fall to identify specific needs for rural Minnesota.

“The needs of Greater Minnesota can be very different than those in the metro area,” said Saxhaug. “A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in areas that have a large amount of land and small population density. From the forests of northeastern Minnesota to the farmland in the south, providing economic growth and quality education in rural areas is a much different challenge than in the Twin Cities.”

Added Rosen, “We need to take a serious look at the needs and differences between our rural communities and the seven-county metro area. Whether it is affordable and accessible health care, nursing home access for our elderly that want to stay in their community, or safe roads in rural areas, I look forward to working toward solutions we can implement to help the smaller communities around our state.”

The members include DFL Senators Tom Saxhaug, Kent Eken, Vicki Jensen and Kevin Dahle. Republican members include Senators Julie Rosen, Gary Dahms, Bill Weber and Paul Gazelka. The group will concentrate on topics relating to education, health care and nursing home access, transportation, economic development, and property taxes.

The task force has meetings planned throughout the fall and into December and will identify key issues that impact rural areas. Their goal is to prepare legislation before the Legislative Session begins in January 2015.

Here's what was on the agenda of the task on Wednesday:

Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Rural Task Force

Chair: Sen. Tom Saxhaug 02:00 PM Room 112 Capitol Other Items may be added

Agenda:   Workforce Development Presentation by the Southwest/West Central Service Co-Op:      Tom Hoff - Career and Technical Project Coordinator      Gail Polejewski - Career Development Coordinator MHFA review of 2014 Housing and Job Growth Funding Selections Rural Permitting Discussion:      Cooperative Network - David Ward - Director of Dairy and Government Affairs      Perry Aasness - MN Agri-Growth Council      PCA - Commissioner Stine

While we have requested both from Senate communications staff, we haven't been able to obtain a copy of audio or minutes from Wednesday's meeting of the Senate Rural Task, and we have left a message with Senator Saxhaug's office.

We'll be taking a closer look at Rosen's  statements when we get the audio (we're assuming that the Senators took per diem for this meeting and those recorded it).

And the senator's fascinating process of defining just who is "real ag? Stay tuned.

Photo: Some alfalfa bales in Greater Minnesota.

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Former Watchdog writer completely deplores hypocritical lefties being mean to Koch Brothers

Liberals lamenting the power of corporate overlords with an agenda need to try and understand their differences with the Koch Brothers, writes former Watchdog.org writer Adam Ulbricht.

Over at the Op-ed section of the St. Cloud Times, Ulbricht contrasts the message in Coexist bumperstickers with mean things liberals say about the Koch Brothers' political influence in Left's silence speaks about values:

We are often reminded that the left believes in diversity. Chances are you've seen a fair number of "coexist" bumper stickers as a vehicle drives past you.

Coexistence is a concept that would be amazing to achieve. Who wouldn't want to live in a society where all are accepted?

But does the left really accept everyone? What about the Koch brothers? How does demonizing and protesting them fit into the notion of coexistence?

We're not sure when the Koch Brothers became a religion enjoying equal footing with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism and the like, but apparently Ulbricht's a true believer.

Now a self-described "Minnesota Nice" communications specialist, the young columnist earned his chops by working for the Minnesota House and Watchdog.org.

The Franklin Institute for Government and Public Integrity, parent of the latter news organization, and Watchdog itself was scrutinized in April 2013 by Sasha Chavkin in an article published in the Columbia Journalism Review, The Koch brothers’ media investment. 

Chavkin focused on the content published by Watchdog, not its principle funding source, Donors Trust.  It's a fascinating read, especially the passages on pages 2 through 3 about Watchdog's notions about what constitutes an "Islamic militant organization." (Chavkin links to a Washington Post debunking of the common claim about the Council of American-Islamic Relations [CAIR]; the Franklin Institute had repeated the claim).

Ulbricht's notion of "coexistence" turns into a hall of mirrors. Drivers of vehicles sporting bumperstickers of a design made popular by an organization that works  to advance "social cohesion through education and innovation"? Hypocrites for criticizing the gospel of the Koch Brothers.

But that dark money filtered to a news organization publishing analysis that repeated divisive and misleading information about CAIR? How dare anyone engage in "demonizing and protesting" the generous souls who fund that.

Image: The Coexist logo.

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New Minnesota House members and Sunday liquor sales: an inventory of their positions

Veteran CBS Minnesota political observer Pat Kessler reports in Minn. Lawmakers Prepare For Renewed Sunday Liquor Sales Push:

The issue of Sunday liquor sales is likely to come up again next year, with the new Republican majority in the state legislature.

Minnesota is one of only 12 states that require liquor stores to be closed on Sundays. And many Minnesota consumers cross the border to Wisconsin, where Sunday sales are legal. . . .

Minnesota law bans the sale of alcohol on Sunday, but repealing it is easier said than done. Numerous votes have failed after opposition from the powerful liquor industry.

State Representative Jennifer Loon says she won’t even try to end the statewide ban– but will introduce legislation next year allowing individual cities to vote on Sunday sales.

“Sunday is one of the busiest shopping days of the weekend,” said Loon, a Republican from Eden Prairie. “So, as people look at what they need to get done as consumers, a lot of them want that choice.”

Liquor retailers supporting a Sunday ban say it’s only one of many alcohol restrictions, including what days it can be sold, what time of day, where it can be bought, who can sell it and where it can be consumed.

In the last session, Sunday sales stalled in the Senate, which was not up for election. The Minnesota Beer Activist tells the pro-Sunday sales tale in Senate liquor omnibus tabled, Senate votes on Sunday liquor sales amendment – How they voted and Omnibus liquor bill offered to House with no ability to amend, passes after objections.

At MinnPost, Briana Bierschbach summed up the session in Sunday liquor sales dead for session, but lawmakers’ views changing.

Bluestem wondered how last week's election might shift the fortunes of Sunday liquor sales and reviewed the MN Beer Activists spreadsheet prepared for all Minnesota House races, pulling out the results for the 11 seats that flipped party control and those for open seats, as well as the seat in which an incumbent lost his endorsement.

Overall, there's a small net shift to three more yes votes, with additional movement from "No" and "Yes" to "Unknown," although we're likely to learn more about the first year House members' positions if a vote nears. 

We'll update this post as we learn more (a query is out about the positions of the retiring members).

New legislators: flipped seats

(All election data via With big assist from rural voters, GOP retakes Minnesota House at MinnPost).

House District 2A: Dave Hancock (52.36 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Roger Erickson (47.49 percent)

Dave Hancock supports Sunday sales; Erickson opposed. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment: Flips from No to Yes

House District 10A: Joshua Heintzeman (53.37 percent) defeated DFL Rep. John Ward (46.54 percent)

No information for district on MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown

House District 10B: Dale Lueck (51.97 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Joe Radinovich (47.89 percent)

Dale Lueck supports Sunday sales, as did Radinovich. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment: No Change

House District 11B: Jason Rarick (53.68 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Tim Faust (46.15 percent)

Both candidates support Sunday sales. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment: No Change

House District 12A: Jeff Backer (51.87 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Jay McNamar (47.94 percent)

No information for seat on MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown

House District 14B: Jim Knoblach (50.15 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Zachary Dorholt (49.54 percent)

Dorholt supported Sunday Sales.  No answer for Knoblach on MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment:  Moves from Yes to Unknown

House District 17A: Tim Miller (55.37 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Andrew Falk (44.46 percent)

Andrew Falk supported Sunday sales in questionnaire; no answer from Miller on MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment: Moves from Yes to Unknown

House District 17B: DFL Rep. Mary Sawatzky (49.27 percent) v. Dave Baker (50.66 percent)

Baker supports Sunday sales. No answer from Sawatzky on MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment:  Flips from Unknown to Yes

House District 24B: Brian Daniels (50.87 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Patti Fritz (49 percent)   

Brian Daniels supports. No answer from Fritz on MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment: Flips from Unknown to Yes.

House District 27A: Peggy Bennett (53.04 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Shannon Savick (39.93 percent) 

Both candidates supported Sunday sales on MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment:  No change

House District 56B: DFL Rep. Will Morgan (45.83 percent) v. Roz Peterson (53.99 percent)

Both candidates supported Sunday sales MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

Bluestem assessment:  No change.

Net change: One seat gain.  

New legislators: open seats/incumbent defeated in endorsement

Thanks to Sunday sales supporter Kelly Eull, we're able to categorize the retiring members' positions using votes in 2010 and 2013.  Eull noted that some lawmakers in both parties are changing their positions on this issue, as evidenced by the past votes and MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.

House District 7A: Jennifer Schultz (DFL, replaces Thomas Huntley)

Supports Sunday sales. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Huntley did not support in 2010, did not vote in 2013

Bluestem assessment: Flips from No to Yes.

House District 19B: Jack Considine (DFL, replaces Kathy Brynaert)

No answer. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Brynaert did not support in 2010 and 2013.

Bluestem assessment: Moves from No to Unknown

House District 20A: Bob Vogel (R, replaces Kelby Woodard)

No answers.   Woodard was a co-author of Sunday sales bill. Woodard did not vote in 2013

Bluestem assessment: Moves from Yes to Unknown.

House District 26B: Nels Pierson (R, replaces Mike Benson)

No answer. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Benson did not support in 2010 or 2013.

Bluestem assessment: Moves from No to Unknown.

House District 30B: Eric Lucero (R, replaces David FitzSimmons)

Supports. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. FitizSimmons supported in 2013.

Bluestem assessment: No change

House District 34B: Dennis Smith (R, replaces Kurt Zellers)

Supports.  MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Zellers did not support in 2010 or 2013.

Bluestem assessment: Flips from No to Yes

House District 35A: Abigail Whelan (R, replaces Jim Abeler)

Supports. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Abeler did not support in 2010 or 2013

Bluestem assessment: Flips from No to Yes

House District 44B: Jon Applebaum (DFL, replaces John Benson)

Opposes Sunday sales. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Benson did not support in 2010 or 2013

Bluestem assessment: No change

House District 46B: Cheryl Youakim (DFL, replaces Steve Simon)

No answer. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Simon  did not support in 2010 or 2013

Bluestem assessment: Moves from No to Unknown

House District 47A: Jim Nash (R, replaces Ernie Leidiger)

Supports.  MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Leidiger did not support in 2013

Bluestem's assessment: Flips No to Yes

House District 53B: Kelly Fenton (R, replaces Andrea Kieffer)

Supports. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Kieffer  supported in 2013

Bluestem Assessment: No Change

House District 55A: Bob Loonan (R, replaces Michael Beard)

Supports. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.Beard did not support in 2010 or 2013

Bluestem Assessment: Flip No to Yes

House District 56A: Drew Christensen (R, replaces Pam Myhra)

No answer. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Myhra supported in 2013.

Bluestem Assessment: Flip Yes to Unknown.

House District 58A: Jon Koznick (R, replaces Mary Liz Holberg)

No answer. MN Beer Activists spreadsheet.Holberg did not support in 2010 or 2013.

Bluestem Assessment: Moves from No to Unknown

House District 64B: Dave Pinto (DFL, replaces Michael Paymar)

No answer to MN Beer Activists spreadsheet. Paymar did support in 2010 and 2013

Bluestem Assessment: Moves from Yes to Unknown

Net open seat/endorsement change: Gain of 2

We'll watch to see how advocates for change and the status quo adapt to the new landscape in the Minnesota House.

Photo: The Minnesota state capitol.

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Backer tells media voters brought up marriage equality; his campaign materials say otherwise

In today's MinnPost, newly-elected MN12A state representative Jeff Backer tells Briana Bierschbach in How the House GOP conquered rural Minnesota that he didn't bring up his opposition to Minnesota's 2013 marriage equality law "at the door." Rather, voters did.

If that's the case, doorknocking was the only place Jeff Backer failed to headline the issue--and his opponent's vote for marriage equality--in his campaign.

Newspaper ads, his website, fundraising appeals, an internal endorsement battle and media coverage all demonstrate that Backer brought this topic up. Moreover, now that Backer's elected, a local Republican leader is pushing him to make repealing the law a top priority.

Backer's newspaper ad brings it up

A friend clipped the Citizens for Jeff Backer, Jr. ad from a local newspaper in House District 12A. The only issue in the ad is "traditional marriage."   Backer was bringing the issue in the newspapers that arrived at residents' doors.

Backer's website brings it up

If Backer didn't use marriage equality as an issue when introducing himself "on the doors" in the district, he certainly brought up the issue in the "Meet Jeff" section of his campaign website:

I am a conservative both fiscally and socially. I support life, married between a man and woman and personal freedoms. And as we all know, on supporting traditional marriage, Metro Jay was away – far away – when he voted to legalize same-sex marriage. His vote was a slap in the face to over 64 percent of his constituents – Democratic, Republican and Independent – who voted in overwhelming numbers against same- sec marriage. In Mr. McNamar’s home town of Elbow lake, 64.19 percent of voters supported traditional marriage, a fact seemingly overlooked by McNamar.

McNamar received the endorsement of anti-choice group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, so abortion was not by and large a contrast between the candidates.  Instead, Backer stressed his opponent's marriage vote.

Backer's website also included a page devoted to "Traditional Marriage."

Backer's fundraising brings it up

As Bluestem reported back in September in our post Jeff Backer hates liberal homosexual money, solicits socially conservative campaign cash:

Former Elbow Lake mayor, retired teacher and wrestling coach Jay McNamar (DFL, Elbow Lake) may have the endorsement of the Minnesota Farm Bureau and Farmers Union, as well as years in western Minnesota, but to Jeff Backer, he's "Metro Jay."

Not just Metro Jay, but--leaping lesbians!--apparently a metrosexual funded by gay money because he voted to make marriage equality the law of the land.

In a recent fundraising letter, the endorsed Republican candidate for Minnesota House District 12A lamented

. . . . the widespread national network of liberal homosexual activists who have rewarded  "metro" Jay McNamar with tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for his vote for gay "marriage." In fact, Metro Jay has received over $20,000 in contributions from similar homosexual activists across the country.

Here's a pdf of the fundraising appeal:

Backer Fundraising Mailing

Backer's convention speech brings it up

Although he later denied it, then sort of owned it, Backer brought up repealing marriage equality at the Senate District 12 endorsing convention last spring.

Later in the fall, his statement drew fire from College Republican activist Nathan Schmid (pictured right with Congresswoman Bachmann) as Bluestem documented in several posts, including October 19's Young conservative activist supports McNamar since Backer wants to repeal marriage equality, October 26's Jeff Backer & Nathan Schmid dispute Republican student's presence at endorsing convention, and November 2's MN12A: Backer and College Republican activist continue to exchange words in the Morris Sun.

Backer brings it up to the media

In Republicans Portray Democrats as the Metro Party, Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reported:

Backer calls McNamar "Metro Jay" because he claims the first-term Democrat is "voting with the metro crowd, Minneapolis and St. Paul, more than voting with his constituents and what's important to our area."

Backer also contends that McNamar's vote last year to legalize same-sex marriage is out of line with the district, where in 2012 a majority of voters supported a failed constitutional amendment that would have made marriage only between a man and a woman.

Other than all the time, Backer never brought up marriage equality as an issue, and we have no idea why voters mentioned it when he rang their bells.

Photos: A Backer newspaper ad (above); Nathan Schmid (below).

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MN01: Jim Hagedorn boasts about performance compared to Westrom and Mills

It's true that Jim Hagedorn, the 2014 Republican candidate in Minnesota's First Congressional District, received a hundred of a percent more of the total vote in the First than Torrey received in Minnesota's Seventh, but Hagedorn also fancies that he was on par with Stewart Mills III as well.

In a thank you email, Hagedorn wrote:

We performed at par or better than the higher profile races in the 7^th and 8^th Districts, which were the focus of DC and St. Paul operatives and outside money.  Rather incredibly, our campaign spent just $1.96 for every vote earned, as compared with $50 or more per vote in those other races, making this District a missed opportunity.

According to the unofficial results on the Minnesota Secretary of State's website, Hagedorn received 103,536 votes or 45.67 percent of the votes cast in the district. In the Seventh, Westrom received 45.66 percent or 109,952 of the votes cast in the Seventh.  

While Hagedorn did a hair better than Westrom, it's a stretch to say that he performed on par with Stewart Mills III in Minnesota's Eighth.  Mills received 47.11 percent of the vote in a three-way contest, garnering 125,357 votes.

Would have more spending have boosted Hagedorn's fortunes?  Perhaps, but investment in Hagedorn's bid would likely have triggered spending on behalf of incumbent Walz, as was the case in 2010, when moderate Republican Randy Demmer came the closest to unseating the Mankato Democrat.

As the spending per voter increased, attention would have been directed to Hagedorn's flaws. We doubt his bid would have been lifted by this--and so the boast rings a bit hollow.

Photo: Jim Hagedorn, Facebook via Mother Jones.

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MN07: Big Stone County GOP chair glad "situational ethicist" Torrey Westrom lost

 

If Minnesota House District 12A representative Jeff Backer has won the conditional love of the chair of the  Big Stone County Republican BPOU (Basic Party Operating Unit) Chair Jack Whitley, state senator Torrey Westrom earned little of the hard shell conservative's affection.

After posting a Bluestem blog entry, MN12A: Jeff Backer tells BPOU chair "to repair" damage from "perverse" laws on top of his list, and a long rambling headnote to Backer's personal page on Sunday, Whitley followed up with this comment:

JackandGwen Whitley Jeff Backer need not feel exclusive, I did the same thing to Westrom publcly because all he could talk about were economic issues. I'm glad Westrom lost.. Just one less situational ethicist we have to worry about betraying us.

Westrom represents Big Stone County in the Minnesota Senate.

Meanwhile, former US Senator Norm Coleman, whose Minnesota Action Network threw some of the money into the tidal wave of Independent Expenditures that helped elect Backer, has posted a Notes From Norm, Build On Success With A Vision, in which he urges working on a vision of limited government as "effective government," which doesn't include Whitley's social conservativism.  

Will adhering to that vision create Whitley's worst nightmare, a "Metro Jeff"?

Here's a screenshot of the post (images of Backer's friends have been redacted):

Images: State Senator Torrey Westrom, a "situational ethicist" who lost his bid for congress in MN07 to veteran Blue Dog Democrat Collin Peterson, via Huffington Post. (above); a screenshot of the post by Big Stone County Republican Chair Jack Whitley (below).

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Motion by greater MN's new BFF once prompted concern for care & feeding of rural lawmakers

If one listens now to suburban lawmaker Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers), the newly-minted Minnesota House Majority Leader-elect, you'd think that she's been Greater Minnesota's best friend forever.

In Forum Communications political reporter Don Davis's dispatch in the Fargo Forum, New GOP leaders put priority on greater Minnesota,  we catch Peppin saying:

“Our goal is to represent all of the people of Minnesota,” state Rep. Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers, said Friday shortly after being elected House majority leader. “We’re not going to leave greater Minnesota behind as has been done the last couple of years.”

But in 2009, Peppin wasn't so sensitive to those representing rural Minnesota.

The Uptake reported in Late Night Standup Comedy In MN House, Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) amended one of Peppin's amendments on the floor:

It all began with a proposal to not pay lawmakers expenses (per diem) during any special session.  The idea being that would be an incentive to finish all the work during the regular session which is scheduled to finish next month.

Instead of voting down the proposal, Rep Rod Hamilton (R) Mountain Lake moved to amend it to require Twin Cities metro areas legislators to provide housing, food, laundry and entertainment for non-metro area legislators.

The amendment touched off a round of comedy and eventually led to original proposal being withdrawn.  In other words, the proposal to eliminate special session per diem pay made by  Rep. Joyce Peppin (R) of Rogers was literally laughed off the House floor.

While the ribbing is good natured, Hamilton was pointing out the metro-centric bias of Peppin's proposal, which would have cost rural legislators far more than those living in the Cities and its suburban.

Here's the clip:

Photo: Joyce Peppin, via ECM Publishers.

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Corridors of commerce? Bees? Joyce Peppin promises she'll do right by Greater MN

As the new Republican majority settles into its custody of the Minnesota House of Representative, we've spotted coverage that reminds us that with this crowd, it's important to watch what they do, rather than what they say.

Exhibit A: Veteran Forum Communications political reporter Don Davis's dispatch in the Fargo Forum, New GOP leaders put priority on greater Minnesota, in which we read Majority Leader-elect Joyce Peppin saying:

“Our goal is to represent all of the people of Minnesota,” state Rep. Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers, said Friday shortly after being elected House majority leader. “We’re not going to leave greater Minnesota behind as has been done the last couple of years.”

Perhaps Peppin is thinking of her own three "no" votes on HF1444, which funded transportation projects, included the Corridor of Commerce projects which have accelerated funding on upgrades for Highway 23 near Willmar, Highway 14 near Owatonna, and eleven other projects.

Let's hope she'll begin voting for those projects.

Exhibit B: Minnesotans are united in our concern for pollinators--and for many Greater Minnesotans involved in raising food, bees aren't a luxury, but necessary allies in pollinating apple trees and other plants. Honey production itself is an industry.

As Bluestem noted in Kurt Daudt and the Neonicotinoid Nine: pollinator-friendly plant labeling bill passes 118 to 10, Peppin was one of those legislators who voted against this common sense bill. Later in the session, she opposed another pollinator-friendly bill, a vote noted in Buzzkill Seventeen: handful of MN state reps take pollinator unfriendly votes on bipartisan bill.

We've asked friends who are keen House watchers for other examples of Peppin votes that are hostile to  Greater Minnesota interests.

Photo: Joyce Peppin, via ECM Publishers.

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MN12A: Jeff Backer tells BPOU chair "to repair" damage from "perverse" laws on top of his list

 

Just before the election, endorsed Republican House District 12A candidate Jeff Backer denied that repealing same sex marriage in Minnesota was his top priority.

Backer wrote the statement in a letter to the Morris Sun Tribune, in which he stated that "my top priorities of reinvigorating entrepreneurship, funding for senior care, transportation (excluding light rail), and education."

But on his personal Facebook page, he's being asked more pointed questions by "JackandGwen Whitley." According the Republican Party of Minnesota's website, Jack Whitley is chair of the Big Stone County Republicans.

Backer's responses suggest that the young College Republican was right to be worried.

JackandGwen Whitley has posted, "Do you want to see liberalism destroyed?, which suggests that the local county chair is so not into urging him to work with Governor Mark Dayton, but to "destroy" him.

According to news accounts published on Friday, Dayton is seeking cooperation:

"If we work together, we can continue to build a better Minnesota," Dayton said.

Putting "moral fiber" in Minnesota House?

Whitley asks for more specific action that the mere destruction of liberalism. He's also trolling Backer about how whether social issues will go the top of his list.

Here's the exchange:

JackandGwen Whitley posted a status update to Jeff Backer's timeline.

November 6 at 5:14pm ·

JackandGwen Whitley

So do you think a bunch of moderate republicans is all we got tonight or will they put their money where their mouth is or will they just use true conservatve, moral issues, as bargaining chips with POTUS for the next two years?

Share

• 

  Jeff Backer The Freshman classes is a good social conservative classes. We will be supporting moral issues.

  November 6 at 11:18pm
• 

  JackandGwen Whitley Please define what you mean by support. Is it to agree with and just mentally assent to, but never really have at the top of your list or is it to bear the burden of, not only to protect but to reverse and repair damage done to our collective moral fiber foisted collectively upon us all by perverse legislation?

  Yesterday at 5:08am
• 

  Jeff Backer To repair.

  Yesterday at 5:13am

 

Backer's answer suggests that he will indeed put the budren of moral "repair" at the top of his list.

On his own Facebook page, Whitley's no slouch about sharing his positions and priorities. His cover photo, for instance, is a quote by Cary Gorton, the pastor who was the Sioux City Journal's "Newsmaker of the Year" for his 2010 efforts to vote out the three Iowa Supreme Court justices who joined the court;s unanimous decision legalizing gay marriage in the state.

Here are the screenshots of the exchanges on Backer's personal page:

Photo: Minnesota District 12A state representative elect Jeff Backer.

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Cornish generally interested in running for MN01

Less than 24 hours after the Mankato Free Press reported in Rep. Tony Cornish plans to challenge Walz in 2016, the Vernon Center lawmaker and former lawman claims Josh Moniz's story overstated the case.

Moniz reported:

Barely two days after cruising to an easy re-election victory after his second consecutive year without an opponent, state Rep. Tony Cornish confirmed Thursday he plans to challenge recently re-elected Congressman Tim Walz in the 2016 election.

Cornish, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Vernon Center, spoke to The Free Press by phone Thursday while helping friends with skinning a deer. He said he was approached by a few prominent 1st Congressional District activists to run in 2014 against the Mankato Democrat but declined because the field of potential candidates had become crowded.

Cornish said he is announcing this far ahead of the next election — before Walz has even begun his next term —because he wants to get feedback from the public and the Republican Party, which might help prevent another primary battle in the 1st District. . .

Bluestem suspects that the dandy but dead doe posted on Cornish's Facebook page (above) is the deer in question.

 

While the whitetail remains dead, today Cornish modified the story of his congressional bid via Facebook:

 

Minnesota Public Radio staff writer Tom Scheck tracked down Cornish for additional clarification in Cornish ponders Walz challenge in 2016:

Cornish was also quick to point out that his comments about a possible run are by no means a full-fledged kick off to a 2016 campaign. “If Tony Cornish is going to make an announcement it’s going to be with much more fanfare,” he said.

Should a Walz and Cornish contest indeed emerge, we'll have no shortage of colorful metaphors and a target-rich environment.

Photo: That's one fine doe, bagged by Cornish's son. Can his father aim as well at the seat in congress?

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>

Now trending in Mpls: KSTP flashes mayor "gang sign" story nincompoopery in #pointergate

Mpls. mayor flashes gang sign with convicted felon; law enforcement outraged http://t.co/kyFc1PjaXi pic.twitter.com/2NA2gJJe4d

— KSTP (@KSTP) November 7, 2014

UPDATE 2: David Brauer suggests a motive for the police "outrage":

Turns out Mpls cops have beef w/NOC organizer in #pointergate video; accused of excessive force in arrest. #payback http://t.co/QBNIUI7MDf

— David Brauer (@dbrauer) November 7, 2014

UPDATE: If the KSTP story annoys you, donate to Neighborhoods Organizing for Change via Nation Builder (see more below) [end update]

On KSTP-TV at 10:00 p.m., Jay Kolls reported in Mpls. Mayor Flashes Gang Sign with Convicted Felon; Law Enforcement Outraged:

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has obtained a photo of Minneapolis Mayor, Betsy Hodges, posing with a convicted felon while flashing a known gang sign.

The man in the photo is a twice-convicted felon for drug selling and possession and illegal possession of a firearm. He is currently sentenced to five-years at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility, with the prison term stayed for three years while he is under supervised probation until 2016. If he violates terms of his probation during that time, he will serve the five years behind bars. 

The photo was taken a week before the November election while the mayor canvassed neighborhoods with a nonprofit group in a get-out-the-vote event. Hodges declined repeated requests for interviews. But, her spokesperson told us the mayor enjoys meeting with many people who are organizing on the North side. . . .

The group, Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC) had arranged the photo shoot and created a video of the GOTV canvassing.  The photographer tweeted that she'd taken the photo and and shared the video:

Hey @KSTP, I took that photo. Want to see more context? Here's the video. #Pointergate https://t.co/0P6UVCELpT

— Becky Zosia Dernbach (@bzosiad) November 7, 2014

And Minneapolis's healthy twitterverse responded--and the hilarity made it all the way out to Bluestem's world headquarters on the wind-swept prairie of Chippewa County, Minnesota, as people sought and found other leaders and celebrities flashing "gang signs," in a counterpoint to what many took as racial stereotyping.

Some of the best of the #pointergate hashtag:

Jay Kolls throwin' gang signs #pointergate pic.twitter.com/PlIPuZ50up

— Abe Sauer (@abesauer) November 7, 2014

BREAKING NEWS: via @KSTP and @JayKollsKSTP POPE FLASHES GANG SIGN. #pointergate pic.twitter.com/yPAIuHwTla

— atom robinson (@atomrobinson) November 7, 2014

@KSTP Other "gang signs" according to KSTP's top-notch journalists. #pointergate pic.twitter.com/V9yr8N9m6R

— atom robinson (@atomrobinson) November 7, 2014

Have we been living a lie all this time? #pointergate pic.twitter.com/Qytz6nl19z

— Matthew Lewis (@LewisMinn) November 7, 2014

Oh noes! Apparently I am in a gang with Jeff Johnson! Yes, that Jeff Johnson! #pointergate pic.twitter.com/deJJP2tVvS

— Javier Morillo (@javimorillo) November 7, 2014

Does Mayor Hodges stand with ET or Mpls kids? MT @sallyjos: CC: @kstp #pointergate pic.twitter.com/GYK8Pu8stk

— Patrick Ness (@patrickmness) November 7, 2014

winner RT @chris_steller: ¯\_(ツ)_/°¯ ¯°\_(ツ)_/¯ #pointergate

— Lisa Needham (@snipy) November 7, 2014

Uh-oh, Jamie Dimon is POINTING!!! Can we send him to jail now or is he too white and rich? @KSTP #Pointergate pic.twitter.com/I4GQ5EDoZP

— Becky Zosia Dernbach (@bzosiad) November 7, 2014

Look @KSTP the Vice-President is in a GANG!!! #pointergate pic.twitter.com/S3vtvENkVs

— Javier Morillo (@javimorillo) November 7, 2014

Garfield is a gang member. #pointergate pic.twitter.com/MdetdkdwgP

— Zack Farley (@zackfarley) November 7, 2014

Damn, It feels good to be a gangster. #PointerGate pic.twitter.com/KEC80lc2vH

— Ryan Smith (@smithboyrd) November 7, 2014

Oh no, @MayorHodges must have gotten to Tony Blair; he's throwing gang signs at himself. Help us @KSTP! #pointergate pic.twitter.com/gnHYAox3Zw

— Sara (@saralovesyou) November 7, 2014

My city councilmember @CMDaiThao should clearly be anticipating a full media inquiry #pointergate pic.twitter.com/NnXNDGDdyE

— DJ Draper (@DJDanielson) November 7, 2014

Even though his own report noted that the African-American man in the photo was not a gang member, Kolls was not shamed by the hilarity:

@bzosiad Gang signs have meaning. People have died over them and you joke about it.

— Jay Kolls (@JayKollsKSTP) November 7, 2014

And judging by the tweet by labor leader Javier Morillo-Alicea, the twitterverse had a word for that:

Wow. Everyone really should follow @JayKollsKSTP. Twitter meltdown post INSANE #pointergate story on @kstp. How'd that get by lawyers?

— Javier Morillo (@javimorillo) November 7, 2014

We'll stay tuned to see why this story was manufactured by the Minneapolis Police Department to pitch to KSTP. It's probably not like this is going to be a repeat of KSTP's million-dollar mistake.

In meantime, follow the fray on twitter via #pointergate.

UPDATE: One of the best pivots is the suggestion to make a one-time contribution to NOC. Use this link.

 

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Where are new MN House members on extending state's medical cannabis law to more patients?

Last session, Minnesota passed one of the most restrictive restrictive medical cannabis laws in the country, with medical marijuana advocates and some lawmakers vowing to revisit the issue.

Moreover, gubernatorial candidates seeking to unseat Governor Dayton (a reluctant supporter who only agreed to sign a bill law enforcement could live with) all promised Minnesotans for Compassionate Care that they'd work to expand the bill to include new patients if elected.

Dayton coasted to a decisive victory on Tuesday, becoming the first Minnesota governor to win office by a majority in this century. (Arne Carlson, elected with 63% of the vote in 1994, was the last to win by a majority).

We're curious where the new legislators might stand on expanding the law to cover more people. Are the new lawmakers more or less inclined to consider changes than those they replaced?  Bluestem examined published articles, voter guides and candidate forums for indications of where the effort might stand now in the House. (If readers know of differing answers than those we list below, please send us that information).

From our preliminary review of information, it appears as if six seats have switched to new lawmakers who oppose legal medical cannabis. With this switch, it's unlikely that enough House members would challenge Governor Dayton's veto if a more inclusive bill were passed by both houses. According to the legislature's website, 90 votes in the House are necessary to override a veto.

Governor Dayton does not support changing the new law.

We've also embedded pages below, taken from the Minnesota Family Institute's 2014 Voter's Guide, Outstate Edition and Metro Editions (online here) The Minnesota Family Institute is the educational subsidiary of Minnesota Family Council, according to the guide. The Minnesota Family Council opposed passage of the new law.

The candidate survey asked for a yes or no answer to the question: ""Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?".

The Minnesota Senate, which was not up for re-election in 2014, approved a more expansive medical cannabis bill introduced by Senator Scott Dibble, before voting for the more restriction conference committee report.

Should the process of selecting two manufacturers to grow, process and distribute medical cannabis proceed without a hitch, about 5000 sick Minnesotans will have access to the medicine by July 1, 2015.  According to the Minnesota Department of Health, two firms will be selected by December 1 from a list of twelve applicants.

New legislators: flipped seats

(All election data via With big assist from rural voters, GOP retakes Minnesota House at MinnPost).

House District 2A: Dave Hancock (52.36 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Roger Erickson (47.49 percent)

In May, the Bemidji Pioneer reported (via AIM Coalition reprint):

Erickson's Republican opponent in this year's election, Dave Hancock, said the decision to legalize medical cannabis should be left up to the federal Food and Drug Administration, not the state legislature.

Hancock also completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that he answered "yes" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?" (embedded PDF below)

Erickson had voted for the 2014 law.

Bluestem assessment: Hancock is likely to oppose expanding Minnesota's medical cannabis law.

House District 10A: Joshua Heintzeman (53.37 percent) defeated DFL Rep. John Ward (46.54 percent)

Heintzeman completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that he answered "no" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?" (embedded PDF below)

According to NORML-MN's voter guide, Ward "supported the 2014 medical bill, reversing earlier opposition."

Bluestem assessment: No change.

House District 10B: Dale Lueck (51.97 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Joe Radinovich (47.89 percent)

Lueck completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that he answered "yes" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?" (embedded PDF below)

Radinovich had voted for the new law.

Bluestem assessment: Lueck is to likely to oppose expanding Minnesota's medical cannabis law.

House District 11B: Jason Rarick (53.68 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Tim Faust (46.15 percent)

Rarick completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that he answered "no" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?" (embedded PDF below)

Faust had voted for the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem assessment: No change

House District 12A: Jeff Backer (51.87 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Jay McNamar (47.94 percent)

Backer completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionnaire, with a "qualified answer" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?" (embedded PDF below). A source in the district tells us that Backer wants to make sure that medical cannabis isn't used recreationally.

McNamar had voted for the 2014 bill.

Bluestem assessment: No change.

House District 14B: Jim Knoblach (50.15 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Zachary Dorholt (49.54 percent)

Knoblach did not answer the question on the Minnesota Family Institute's survey.

Dorholt "voted in favor of the Garofalo amendment supporting wider access to cannabis for sick and dying Minnesotans than was afforded by the final bill signed into law," according to NORML-MN's voter guide.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown.

House District 17A: Tim Miller (55.37 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Andrew Falk (44.46 percent)

In several debates (example: KWLM radio), Miller claimed support for the current law, but each time added his misgivings about the availability of any drug not approved by the FDA; given that cannabis is a Schedule I drug, federal approval is unlikely. He also stated that since family members have experienced substance abuse issues, he's reluctant to support measures that might allow easier access to cannabis.

Miller also completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that he opposed "Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes." This answer contradicts his answers in public debates during the campaign.

Falk supported the Garfalo amendment, as well as authoring an "overflow" bill that mirrored HF1818 (Dibble bill).

Bluestem assessment: Miller opposes expanding the law, and has provided conflicting answers about support for any legal medical cannabis.

House District 17B: DFL Rep. Mary Sawatzky (49.27 percent) v. Dave Baker (50.66 percent)

Baker did not answer the Minnesota Family Institute survey.

Sawatzky supported the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown.

House District 24B: Brian Daniels (50.87 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Patti Fritz (49 percent)   

Daniels completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that he answered "yes" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?" (embedded PDF below)

Fritz supported the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem assessment: Daniels is likely to oppose expansion of Minnesota's cannabis law.

House District 27A: Peggy Bennett (53.04 percent) defeated DFL Rep. Shannon Savick (39.93 percent) 

Bennett did not answer the Minnesota Family Institute's survey.

Savick supported the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown.

House District 56B: DFL Rep. Will Morgan (45.83 percent) v. Roz Peterson (53.99 percent)

Peterson  did not answer the Minnesota Family Institute's survey.

Morgan voted for the 2014 medical cannabis bill.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown

Net change: Four legislators who cast pro-medical cannabis votes were defeated by candidates opposed to medical marijuana being legal

New legislators: open seats/incumbent defeated in endorsement

House District 7A: Jennifer Schultz (DFL, replaces Thomas Huntley)

Schultz appears to support the 2014 law.

Huntley voted for the 2014 law.

Bluestem assessment: No change

House District 19B: Jack Considine (DFL, replaces Kathy Brynaert)

Considine supports the current law.

Brynaert voted for the 2014 law.

Bluestem assessment: No change.

House District 20A: Bob Vogel (R, replaces Kelby Woodard)

Vogel did not return the Minnesota Family Institute survey.

Woodard voted against the 2014 law.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown.

House District 26B: Nels Pierson (R, replaces Mike Benson)

Pierson did not return the Minnesota Family Institute survey.

Mike Benson voted against the 2014 law.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown.

House District 30B: Eric Lucero (R, replaces David FitzSimmons)

Lucero provided a qualified answer to the Minnesota Family Institute survey.

FitzSimmons had supported the senate version of the bill and voted for the medical cannabis law.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown.

House District 34B: Dennis Smith (R, replaces Kurt Zellers)

Smith did not return the Minnesota Family Institute survey.

Zellers voted against the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown

House District 35A: Abigail Whelan (R, replaces Jim Abeler)

Whelan completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that she answered "yes" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?"

Abeler did not vote on the final 2014 bill or the earlier House version of the bill.

Bluestem assessment: Whelan will oppose expansion of the 2014 law.

House District 44B: Jon Applebaum (DFL, replaces John Benson)

Applebaum's position is unknown.

Benson voted for the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown

House District 46B: Cheryl Youakim (DFL, replaces Steve Simon)

Youakim's position is unknown.

Simon voted for the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem assessment: Unknown

House District 47A: Jim Nash (R, replaces Ernie Leidiger)

Nash completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that he answered "yes" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?"

Leidiger voted against the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem's assessment: No change.

Bluestem Assessment: Nash will oppose expansion of the medical cannabis law.

House District 53B: Kelly Fenton (R, replaces Andrea Kieffer)

Fenton completed the Minnesota Family Institute's questionaire, stating that she answered "yes" to "Oppose Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Purposes?"

Kieffer voted for the Garofalo amendment and the final bill.

Bluestem Assessment: Fenton will oppose expansion of the medical cannabis law.

House District 55A: Bob Loonan (R, replaces Micharl Beard)

Loonan did not return the Minnesota Family Institute survey.

Beard supported the 2014 medical cannabis bill.

Bluestem Assessment: Unknown.

House District 56A: Drew Christensen (R, replaces Pam Myhra)

Christensen did not return the Minnesota Family Institute survey.

Myhra opposed the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem Assessment: Unknown.

House District 58A: Jon Koznick (R, replaces Mary Liz Holberg)

Koznick did not return the Minnesota Family Institute survey.

Holberg did not vote on the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem Assessment: Unknown.

House District 64B: Dave Pinto (DFL, replaces Michael Paymar)

Pinto's position is unknown.

Paymar supported the 2014 medical cannabis law.

Bluestem Assessment: Unknown.

Open seat/endorsement battle change total: 2 opposed to legal medical cannabis

Total change: six new opponents to medical cannabis, although many new legislators' positions are unclear.

Here are the pdfs of the Minnesota Family Institute Voter Guide pages for Minnesota House candidates. First the Greater Minnesota guide:

Minnesota Family Institute 2014 Voter Guide: MN House Candidates

Now the Metro version:

Minnesota Family Institute Metro 2014 Online Voters Guide

Photo: Medical marijuana advocates who support expanding the number of patients eligible to use legal medical marijuana. Via MPR.

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Dodge Co Sheriff Jim Jensen, Chair of Violent Crimes Coordinating Council, defeated at polls

A player in one of the oddest twists in last spring's medical marijuana debate has been defeated in his bid for re-election as sheriff of Dodge County.

Dodge County Sheriff Jim Jensen also serves as chair of the Violent Crimes Coordinating Council, according to a pdf of its . 2014 Membership List.

Last February, City Pages' Jesse Marx reported in Does a police advisory council have any business in the medical marijuana debate? [UPDATE]:

Last month, the Violent Crimes Coordinating Council did something odd.

Members decided to make their "strong opposition" to medical marijuana known by sending a letter to the bill's chief legislative proponents, including State Rep. Carly Melin (DFL-6A). It asserted that the chronic pain of individuals did not outweigh the interests of public safety.

In response, Melin solicited the nonpartisan House Research Department for background information on the VCCC. She asked specifically about whether the council had the authority to issue opinions on pending legislation. . . .

Marx followed up that report with Police group that opposed medical cannabis still struggling to find its place in politics:

The state's Violent Crimes Coordinating Council is having a hard time obeying the rules.

You may remember that these were the guys who, in January, jumped unexpectedly into the medical cannabis debate by sending a letter of "strong opposition" to key legislators. The problem was that no one asked for the council's opinion, and by providing one, its members overstepped their boundaries. . . .

So in response to the letter, State Rep. Michael Paymar (D-St. Paul) the chairman of the public safety finance and policy committee who oversaw the creation of the council, expressed frustration, as did State Rep. Carly Melin (D-Hibbing). In April, Paymar countered by attaching an amendment to a public safety bill that would have made it clear: the VCCC could not lobby any government figures except the commissioner of public safety.

Paymar's amendment did not make it into the final public safety bill. However, at a June 11 meeting, the VCCC acknowledged the complaint and agreed that it would be best to limit its own power, so that members could approach the legislature only when asked for an opinion.

Hardly had the air cleared, though, before Dodge County Sheriff Jim Jensen dropped this curious line: "It seems like the legislature wants to take the freedom of speech away from the committee, but we still have our own freedom of speech." Instead of taking out a group policy position, he suggested, "we can formulate and send individual letters" from "inside our (law enforcement) associations." . . .

Jensen lost his bid for re-election to Dodge County Investigator Scott Rose. Rose announced his candidacy back in February, KTTC-TV reported:

Rose tells KTTC if he becomes the new sheriff, he can bring the department together in a positive way.

 

He also talks about what he can do for the staff saying, "the first thing we want to do is pull the guys together as a team. I think it's important for the sheriff to not only have a good relationship with his staff and with his department. But we also need to build better relationships with some of the other people that we serve."

 

Rose's announcement to run for sheriff comes after Jim Jensen fired his chief deputy last month. Rose did not talk about that situation Monday night, but he did say that certain circumstances over the last year have pushed him to run for sheriff earlier in his career than he had anticipated.

The Rochester Post Bulletin reported that Rose finished the race with a large cash advantage and the endorsement of many county employees.

 

A long strange campaign

The campaign not only was heated, but marked by one of the stranger episodes Bluestem recalls in local politics in Minnesota.

The West Concord News Enterprise reported in Magazine's distribution remains a mystery:

More than a month after a magazine was sent to all Dodge County residents containing an article critical of current and former Dodge County legal officials, it is still not known who paid for the magazine's countywide distribution. Outer Boundary is a small outdoors magazine published by Moose Track Publishing in Menasha, Wis. The summer 2014 issue contained an article by publisher Steve Krueger alleging misconduct by several past and current Dodge County officials, including former Dodge County Sheriff Jim Trihey, Deputy Jerremy Gunderson and Assistant County Attorney Gary ReMine and Sheriff's Department Investigator Scott Rose.

The issue was mailed to all postal addresses in Dodge County in August, after someone in Dodge County purchased more than 8,000 copies of the magazine for mailing. Krueger has said he did not know the two individuals who came to his office to buy the magazine but that it was not the individual who first told him about the issues discussed in the article. The magazine had been working on the story since 2012, he said.

Although distribution of the article has political overtones, as Rose is running for sheriff against incumbent Sheriff Jim Jensen, neither candidate has been using the article as a campaign issue.

Jensen said he would make no comment on the article other than to say he had nothing to do with the magazine's mass distribution. He also said that without more information, he did not know if the information is accurate.

Rose also has made no comments on the article and said his campaign is focusing on the issues of the election.

The only official comment came from county officials, who released a statement at a county board meeting. There was no discussion of the article at the meeting. The statement said:

"Dodge County is aware of a publication that was mailed to all residents detailing a number of complaints against the county. When an allegation of misconduct is made involving the county, the county acts to promptly review the complaint and thoroughly investigate if necessary. This law prevents the county from commenting or releasing information to the public. As for the referenced complaint against a member of the county attorney's office, the Minnesota Lawyers' Professional Responsibility Board, in cooperation with the county attorney, reviewed the author's complaint and determined it did not warrant an investigation."

The Post Bulletin reported in Dodge County sheriff says he didn't distribute article attacking opponent:

A Wisconsin outdoors magazine that features a story critical of current and former Dodge County officials -- including a candidate for Dodge County sheriff -- has been sent to more than 8,000 homes in the county, but apparently no one knows who sent it. . . .

Krueger also said he's "100 percent sure" that Sheriff Jensen did not play a role in the magazine's free distribution. Jensen asserted the same thing in an interview with the Post-Bulletin.

"No, I did not have anything to do with (the article's free distribution)," he said. "I knew there was an article coming out because they said they were going to do one, but what it was about and I had no part in distributing to anybody, other than handing the magazine to my wife from the mailbox."

Regarding the article's content and allegations against Rose, Jensen would only say, "I don't say whether things are accurate or not without evidence. That's how law enforcement works with things. ... I'm not commenting on whether it was accurate or not."

Rose, who has been involved with the Dodge County Sheriff's Department since 1996, said he has never been the subject of a disciplinary action or been accused of corruption.

"The magazine article is both a political attack and an attempt by the author to help his friends in Dodge County," Rose said. "We’re talking about a nearly two-year old Dodge County, Minn., closed criminal case being featured in a small quarterly Wisconsin hunting and fishing magazine.

"While it would be very interesting to find out who financed the countywide distribution of this magazine and what their connection is to this election, I refuse to focus any attention on smear politics," Rose said. "From day one, my campaign’s primary focus has been on the issues and that will continue to be the case until Nov. 4."

Whoever purchased and mailed over 8,000 copies of the magazine to residents of Dodge County certainly valued free speech enough to finance that project.

Larry Dobson, publisher of the Community News Corporation's Byron Review and Star Herald, noted in his August 1 Publisher's Column Dodge County ponders a mystery:

Moose Track Publishing of Menasha, Wisconsin announced on Facebook last week that a secret benefactor has graciously come forward to provide funds to purchase copies of the summer issue of Outer Boundary Magazine for every postal patron of Dodge County. While Publisher Steve Krueger declined to identify the benefactor, he did say the mysterious benefactor was planning to deliver copies of the magazine to every post office in Dodge County Monday morning, July 28. . . .

Facebook notices were sent to news media in the area, including Rochester, Owatonna and Austin, with links to the online release of the article, "The Keystone Cops of Dodge County Minnesota." The Facebook messages were attributed to David Roberts, who is listed as an administrator on the Jim Jensen for Sheriff Campaign Facebook page, which would seem to indicate that the sheriff's campaign is interested in seeing that the article gets read.

Several of us in Dodge Center have been trying to figure out the identity and motivation of the generous benefactor. The majority of opinion is on two possibilities, either Snyder or Jensen, but it is hard to see what either would gain from promoting readership of the article.

While still a deputy sheriff, Jensen ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2008, challenging Randy Demmer, who later challenged Tim Walz for Congress in 2010. David Roberts, Jensen's page adminstrator in the sheriff's race, also served as an IT consultant for Brian Davis, a Mayo Clinic physician who challenged Tim Walz in 2008. 

Bluestem was tweeted at by about the article by a sock puppet account, but declined to explore the "scandal" promised in the article when we learned media in the area had it covered.

Photo: A defaced Scott Rose sign, via Facebook.  Voters saw through the spray paint and "Jim" was not elected.

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