Political Notebook

Tea Party questionnaire highlights differences between Demmer, Quist

UPDATE:

As noted in the comments below, a couple of candidates decided to post their answers to the Rochester Tea Party Patriots questionnaire on their own Web site. I'm not sure what the deadline was for answers to be submitted, but GOP candidate Jim Engstrand tole me he was still on active duty when it was due and could not turn it in by the deadline. To view Jim Engstrand's answers, go here. For Independence Party candidate Steve Wilson, go here.

The Rochester Tea Party Patriots have posted on their Web site questionnaires filled out by candidates running for the 1st Congressional District and for governor. It is interesting to note that when it comes to the congressional race, only two candidates responded — Rep. Randy Demmer of Hayfield and former state Rep. Allen Quist of St. Peter. You can view these questionnaires by clicking here. There are three other GOP candidates running: Jim Engstrand,  Jim Hagedorn and Frank McKinzie. Also running for Democratic Congressman Tim Walz's seat are Independence Party candidate Steve Wilson and an independent candidate with no party affiliation Lars Johnson.

It is interesting to look at where Quist and Demmer differ on the issues. For instance, Demmer said he supported the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 passed under President Bush whereas Quist opposed the measure. The $168 billion bill provided tax rebates of $600 to $1,200 to most taxpayers.

They also disagree on whether or not the U.S. should pull out of the United Nations. Demmer says "no" and Quist says "yes." Demmer does not agree with eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and Quist backs the idea. They both say they do not agree that global warming is man made.

When it comes to the gubernatorial candidate, no DFLers responded. The two GOP front runners Tom Emmer and Marty Seifert did fill out the form. Also filling it out was Republican candidate Phil Herwig, Independence Party candidate Joe Repya (who ended his campaign) and Constitution Party candidate Harley Swarm.

Marty, Walz, Hagedorn and more

It is proving to be a busy political day already. DFL gubernatorial candidate John Marty picked a fellow state senator as his running mate. Marty announced today that his pick is Sen. Patricia Torres Ray of Minneapolis. She is the first Latina to be elected to the Minnesota Senate. For more information about here, go the campaign Web site.

The only other gubernatorial candidate to announce a running mate so far has been Republican state Rep. Marty Seifert. He picked Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah. It will be interesting to see how many other candidates opt to make their picks before next month's state conventions.

MinnPost also has a story looking at congressional earmarks. It includes a list of the 25 largest earmark requests. Included on that list are several requests for area projects made by 1st District Rep. Tim Walz. Here is the story.

Also, some liberal bloggers are reporting that 1st District GOP candidate Jim Hagedorn has sent out an e-mail saying that fellow GOP candidate Allen Quist is too close to Bachmann. The Minnesota Independent and Bluestem Prairie. 

During Bachmann's visit on Monday to Rochester, I asked her if she planned to endorse anyone before the 1st District Republican Convention on April 17. She said she is not going to endorse anyone. But while addressing members of the Rochester Area Republican Women, she mentioned Quist's name several times in reference to issues he has raised with the Democrats' health reform bill. She did not mention any other GOP congressional candidates. Quist's wife, Julie Quist, serves as Bachmann's district director.

Liebling endorses R.T. Rybak

 Rochester DFL Rep. Tina Liebling has announced she is endorsing Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak for governor. I wrote about her decision as part of a bigger story this weekend about the DFL gubernatorial race.

The campaign officially announced the news today that Liebling and six fellow DFL lawmakers are backing Rybak. This comes less than a month before the state DFL Convention in Duluth. The other lawmakers supporting Rybak are: Sen. Jim Carlson of Eagan; Sen. Kevin Dahle of Northfield; Sen. John Doll of Burnsville; Sen. Mary Olson of Bemidji; Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon of Duluth;  and Sen. Kathy Sheran of Mankato.'

Here is the official campaign release. In it, Liebling is quoted as follows: 

"R.T. understands the crucial role that Rochester plays as a center for healing, and also as a magnet for talent and an incubator of ideas. I'm looking for a governor who has the leadership to bring all of Minnesota together, and that person is R.T. Rybak."

Rybak has made a point while campaigning in Rochester to emphasize that he backs the Med City's efforts to get a stop on a high-speed rail line from Chicago to the Twin Cities. I wrote about that in an earlier post.

Mayo-UM genomics partnership takes a hit

The budget bill that passed out of the House and Senate today includes sizeable cuts to the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Genomics. The partnership, which is a joint venture between Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota, will lose $427,000 in this budget cycle. It includes a permanent $427,000 cut per year into the future.

I talked with Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, shortly after the House vote. She decided to vote "no" on the budget bill in part due to this provision. She said that the House version of the bill included language that the genomics partnership could not be cut beyond those levels. But that language got stripped out of the bill, opening the door to possibility of more cuts in the future made by the university.

"They keep going in and balancing their budget on the genomics partnership and I am just tired of it," Norton said.

The partnership generally expects to receive $8 million per year. That money is used to fund research projects that can lead to commercialized projects and/or significantly improve human health. Dr. Eric Wieben, Mayo Clinic project leader for the partnership, said the funding cut will likely mean one less funded project per year.

"That is an opportunity lost, but on the other hand this is a difficult budget year and we understand that the legislature is doing their best to balance all the state's priorities," he said.

The bill passed solves one-third of the state's nearly $1 billion budget deifict. It now heads to Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty who has said he is open to signing it.

Swanson, Dayton and Thissen pay a visit

Rochester is proving to be a popular spot today for DFL candidates.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson spoke at an Olmsted County Darn Fine Luncheon today. After the presentation, she took questions from the audience. Some of those questions centered on letters received by Swanson calling on her to join in a federal lawsuit to block the health care reform bill. Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and all 68 GOP members of the state legislature are asking her to consider joining in a lawsuit filed by attorneys general in 13 other states that argues the bill violates the Constitution.

Swanson emphasized that the lawsuit centers on a provision in the bill that would  require people to buy insurance, which does not take effect until 2014. She said she wants to take time to review the bill before making a decision.

"I believe in reviewing things before I comment on them," she said.

Swanson said she is slowly beginning to review the bill.

"I have printed it off, it is 2,400 pages long and it's about this high and I am reviewing the bill. I am on page 5 or so," she said.

This afternoon, the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council is organizing a march and rally that starts at 4 p.m. at the Labor Temple in Rochester and will stop at Wells Fargo at 21 1st St. S.W. The march is part nationwide protests by labor groups focused on banks that took bailout money. They want these banks to loosen tightened lending restrictions to help average citizens. The march will end at the Kahler Grand Hotel at 20 2nd Ave. S.W.

DFL gubernatorial candidates Mark Dayton and Paul Thissen are expected to attend and address the crowd. Thissen is also having a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dos Amigos Restaurant, 20 4th St. S.E.

Swanson, Dayton and Thissen pay a visit

Rochester is proving to be a popular spot today for DFL candidates.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson spoke at an Olmsted County Darn Fine Luncheon today. After the presentation, she took questions from the audience. Some of those questions centered on letters received by Swanson calling on her to join in a federal lawsuit to block the health care reform bill. Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and all 68 GOP members of the state legislature are asking her to consider joining in a lawsuit filed by attorneys general in 13 other states that argues the bill violates the Constitution.

Swanson emphasized that the lawsuit centers on a provision in the bill that would  require people to buy insurance, which does not take effect until 2014. She said she wants to take time to review the bill before making a decision.

"I believe in reviewing things before I comment on them," she said.

Swanson said she is slowly beginning to review the bill.

"I have printed it off, it is 2,400 pages long and it's about this high and I am reviewing the bill. I am on page 5 or so," she said.

This afternoon, the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council is organizing a march and rally that starts at 4 p.m. at the Labor Temple in Rochester and will stop at Wells Fargo at 21 1st St. S.W. The march is part nationwide protests by labor groups focused on banks that took bailout money. They want these banks to loosen tightened lending restrictions to help average citizens. The march will end at the Kahler Grand Hotel at 20 2nd Ave. S.W.

DFL gubernatorial candidates Mark Dayton and Paul Thissen are expected to attend and address the crowd. Thissen is also having a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dos Amigos Restaurant, 20 4th St. S.E.

Swanson, Bachmann to visit Rochester

Two state politicians that have been getting plenty of media attention will be making stops in Rochester. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson will be the keynote speaker at the Olmsted County Darn Fine Ladies spring luncheon event on Friday. The Democrat has been in the spotlight since Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and all 68 GOP state lawmakers recently called on her to take legal action to block federal health care reform saying it is unconstitutional. Swanson's office has said they are looking into the matter, but as yet Swanson has not made any comments -- at least that I am aware of. The deadline to register for the deadline has already passed. But for more information, call Diane at 398-6329.

On Monday, 6th District Rep. Michele Bachmann will be in Rochester for an event supporting Rochester Area Republican Women. Bachmann has been an outspoken critic of the Democrat's health care reform bill and has been active in the Tea Party movement. The event runs from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Kahler Grand Hotel and will feature coffee, tea and dessert. Limited seating will be available the day of the event. The cost is $25 at the door, $20 in advance. For more information, call 254-8322.

Area lawmakers conflicted on GAMC vote

The Minnesota House is expected to vote this afternoon on the GAMC agreement negotiated between lawmakers and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. But some area lawmakers are conflicted on how to vote. The big concern is that proposal disproportionately hurts hospitals in greater Minnesota, including the Mayo Clinic.

The clinic's lobbyist Frank Iossi said under the plan, reimbursement rates would fall from two-thirds of actual costs to one-sixth of actual costs. The bill also encourages the largest hospitals to set up coordinated care systems to manage the care for these low-income patients. But Iossi said the administrative costs to do that will likely outweigh the financial benefits.

As a result, Iossi said the clinic would continue to treat these payments and take a big financial hit. Estimates are that Mayo Clinic and Mayo Health Systems could lose $15 million to $20 million. But Pawlenty has called on lawmakers to pass the deal to make sure that these patients do not lose coverage. The GAMC program is set to end April 1. The Senate has already passed the bill and if it wins approval in the House today, it will go to the governor. For more on this, check out today's story. In it, I also write about how area Republicans have joined in calling for the state attorney general to sue the federal government challenging the constitutionality of the recently passed health care reform bill.

I just talked to Rep. Kim Norton and Rep. Tina Liebling, both Democrats from Rochester. They said they are conflicted and have not yet decided how they will vote on the GAMC bill because of concerns about the impact on Mayo Clinic. Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, told me yesterday that she would likely vote "no" on the bill because of the impact on outstate hospitals like Austin Medical Center. It will be interesting to see how southeast Minnesota lawmakers decide to vote.

Union members to thank Walz for vote today

Members of the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council are gathering at 1st District Rep. Tim Walz's office in Rochester at 4 p.m. to thank the Democrat for voting for the health care reform bill.

Just talked with Liz McCloone with the council. She said they are planning to present his office with an oversized thank-you card. Members will also share why they are thankful this legislation has passed.

This support for Walz comes as Republicans are ramping up their attacks on the congressman. Shortly after Walz cast a "yes" vote, the Republican Party of Minnesota and the National Republican Congressional Committee sent out news releases blasting Walz for his vote.

Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Tony Sutton issued the following statement attacking Walz's vote.

"Tim Walz betrayed Southern Minnesota by voting for a reckless nearly trillion dollar spending bill that increases premiums, raises taxes by $500 billion and cuts Medicare by over $470 billion. In November, Walz will lose his seat for his decision to ram this deeply unpopular and partisan bill down the throats of the American people."

Pawlenty urges AG to consider lawsuit over health care bill

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty wrote a letter today to Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson asking her to consider joining other states in a lawsuit to block implementation of the federal health care bill.

"It appears Congress may be overstepping its bounds by forcing individuals or businesses to buy insurance. I respectfully request that you review the legal issues being raised by this unprecedented federal mandate and join other attorneys general to protect the constitutional rights of our citizens," he wrote.

Click here to Download Pawlenty letter