Political Notebook

Norton, Welti launch "listening tour"

 
Two DFL incumbent lawmakers are kicking off listening tours in their districts to hear from voters. Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester and Rep. Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview, are both launching their tours today.

Welti was scheduled to start his listening tour at 9 a.m. at Century High School. He plans to make several spots in House District 30B to talk with residents. His district includes a portion of southeast Rochester and surrounding small towns including Stewartville, Eyota and Plainview.

Norton's listening tour kicks off at 12:15 p.m. at Goose Egg Park in Rochester. She also plans to travel around her district, House District 29B. That district covers northwest Rochester. The media has been invited to tag along with both of the candidates on their tours.

Both Welti and Norton are running against endorsed Republican candidates in November. Former Rochester Postmaster Mike Benson is challenging Welti, and former professional baseball player Mike Rolih is running against Norton.

Gay marriage opponents to rally in Rochester

The National Organization for Marriage will sponsor a rally tomorrow in Rochester as part of its "Summer for Marriage, One Man — One Woman Tour." This is one stop on a 23 city, 19 state tour to show support for banning gay marriage.

The rally will be from noon to 1 p.m. at New Life Worship Center, 6301 34th Ave. N.W. in Rochester. The event is open to the public.

Remembering Mary Rieder

Former DFL congressional candidate Mary Rieder died Tuesday after a battle with cancer. Area Democrats credit the Eyota woman with helping plant the seeds that enabled the party to grow and succeed in Rochester.

Among political circles she is perhaps best remembered for almost defeating 1st District GOP Rep. Gil Gutknecht in 1996. Blois Olson, who manager her 1996 campaign, recalled that no one initially thought the Winona State University economics professor posed a serious challenge.

"People did not look at that as a competitive race both within Minnesota and nationally. She worked very hard to raise the money and pull together the team and convince them she had a shot," Olson said.

Olmsted County DFL Chair Lynn Wilson recalls volunteering on Rieder's campaign and how a week before the election polls had the Democrat beating Gutknecht — much to the surprise of political analysts. That is when the national Republican party got involved helping Gutknecht prevail. But Wilson said that experience helped energize Olmsted County Democrats and paved the way for the party's success beginning in 2004.

"She taught us of the possibility here and she gave us purpose, direction and faith to go forward and build the party," Wilson said.

Demmer moves up in "Young Guns" program

 

1st Congressional District candidate Randy Demmer is moving up in the National Republican Congressional Committee's Young Guns program. Demmer is now ranked as a "contender," the second in a three-step process to be named a "Young Gun." The program provides party support and fundraising for top-tier Republican candidates.

In a news release, the committee's Chairman Pete Sessions praises Demmer's campaigning.

“Randy Demmer has met a series of rigorous fundraising and campaign goals that will go a long way in helping to put this seat back in the Republican column,”he said. “Randy is part of a strong and growing pool of candidates who are frustrated with the Democrat majority’s big-government ways and aren’t willing to stand by any longer. The success of his campaign has put congressional Democrats on notice that Americans are ready to turn the page on the failed experiment known as the Obama-Pelosi agenda.” 

Demmer, of Hayfield, is running against DFL-incumbent Congressman Tim Walz.

Ethanol subsidies? These DFL candidates are not fans

DFL state senate candidates Joe Fricke and Bruce Montplaisir told an audience at a candidate forum in Lewiston today they are not in favor of subsidies for corn-based ethanol.

Fricke, the DFL-endorsed candidate, said there are too many problems with corn-based ethanol.

"Corn ethanol is probably not the way for us to go. It's probably not the best idea to have energy needs competing with food needs," he said.

He did say that he could perhaps back ethanol if it came from a different crop — like switchgrass.

If you could find a crop that you could rotate in instead of a food crop that you could make ethanol from efficiently, I think that would be a great program to support," Fricke said.

Montplaisir said he also have concerns about subsidies for ethanol.

"I really need to look at how much oil is actually going into that because you use oil for the fertilizer plus tractor operation and all that. If it is cost effective, they shouldn't need subsidies to tell you the truth," he said.

Fricke and Montplaisir are running in the DFL primary for the retiring DFL Sen. Steve Murphy's seat. The candidate who wins will take on Republican-endorsed candidate John Howe in November. Howe is the current mayor of Red Wing.

Barden points to Mayo Clinic as reason to sue over health care bill

Republican Attorney General candidate Chris Barden paid a visit to the Post-Bulletin office today as part of a statewide tour where he is vowing to fight "Obamacare" if he is elected. During the interview, Barden cited the Mayo Clinic as a prime example of why the state should fight against the new federal health care law.

He said the Mayo Clinic "is such a classic example of what individuals can do out here in rural Minnesota without government intervention and control," he said.

When asked whether he had talked with Mayo Clinic about the issue, Barden said he has not done that yet but plans to in the future. While Mayo Clinic has not taken a formal position on the health care bill, the clinic has said overall it favors many of the reforms in the bill. 

Barden said if elected, he would join several other states in a federal lawsuit to block the new health care bill from taking effect in Minnesota.

He argues the bill gives the federal government unprecedented powers by requiring citizens to buy health insurance. He said the bill also violates the 10th Amendment by intruding on the state's sovereign rights.

"This is more damaging to Minnesota than to most states because our health care system is one of the best in the world. Already you see doctors bailing out. You are going to see longer waiting lines. You are going to see rationing," he said.

Barden is challenging incumbent DFL Attorney General Lori Swanson. She declined to join the federal lawsuit to block the health care bill.

GOP primary debate canceled

  

GOP candidates for the House District 29A seat Kerry Stoick and Duane Quam had been set to square off tomorrow night in a candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters Rochester. But that event has been canceled. Quam said he told organizers he had a scheduling conflict and would be unable to participate. The forum organizer Kathy Maegerlein said she became aware of the scheduling problem last week and there are no plans to reschedule a debate before the Aug. 10 primary.

Quam, a longtime party activist, defeated Stoick to win the GOP-endorsement. Stoick, a political newcomer, decided to challenge Quam in the primary. They are vying for the seat held by Rep. Randy Demmer of Hayfield, who is stepping down to run for Congress.

Demmer taps former congressman to chair his campaign

1st Congressional District Republican candidate Randy Demmer announced that former GOP Congressman Vin Weber is serving as chairman of his campaign. In a news release, Demmer, of Hayfield, said he picked Weber because of his knowledge of southern Minnesota.

"Nobody understands Southern Minnesota better than Vin Weber. I am proud to have him serve as my campaign chair and help guide us through to victory in this fall’s election," Demmer said.

Weber is currently a managing partner of Washington D.C. lobbying firm Clark & Weinstock. In the news release, Weber is quoted as saying:

“Randy Demmer is going to win, because he knows what Southern Minnesota needs – he has lived and worked here his whole life. I know he’s got what it takes to stand up to Washington, and truly serve and represent the people in his District. Voters are rightfully concerned with the direction that this Congress and Administration are taking our country.  Whether it’s the cap and trade tax, the government takeover of health care, or the accumulation of trillions of dollars of new debt, the people of Southern Minnesota will vote this fall for new leadership and a new direction.”

Other individuals on Demmer's campaign team include Scott Cottington of the Cottington Group, who is serving as general consultant to the campaign. Pollster Brian Tringali and the Tarrance Group will handle Demmer for Congress’ polling. Rounding out the campaign team are Campaign Manager Jason Flohrs, Political Director Ben Zierke and fundraisers Tom McGill and Zandra Walcott of Bush Lake Partners and Amber Burton of Capitol Strategies DC.  

Demmer is running against DFL incumbent Congressman Tim Walz. Also running in the race are Independence Party candidate Steven Wilson and no-party candidate Lars Johnson.
 

Fricke, Montplaisir to square off in Lewiston forum

DFL candidates for Senate District 28 will square off in a candidate forum on Wednesday at the Lewiston Country Club.

Recent law school graduate Joe Fricke of Red Wing and retiring Lewiston-Altura Superintendent Bruce Montplaisir of Altura are running against each other in the DFL primary on Aug. 10  for the state senate seat held by retiring DFL Sen. Steve Murphy of Red Wing. The event is sponsored by the Lewiston Area Chamber of Commerce and all Senate District 28 constituents are invited to attend. Fricke received the DFL endorsement last month.

The event begins at 11:30 a.m. with networking and the forum starts at noon. The forum will be focused on what is driving the candidate to run for state office and how they would represent the Lewiston business community and area in general in St. Paul. 

Red Wing Mayor John Howe, the Republican-endorsed candidate, is also running for the seat. He does not have a primary challenge.

Emmer proposes tax-free tips for servers

In advance of a town hall meeting tomorrow with restaurant servers, GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer has proposed making some tips tax free.

Emmer's plan would call for the first $20,000 in tips made by a server to be taxed free. That would affect an estimated 45,000 tipped employees and would translate into a $17 million tax cut, according to a news release. Servers making more than $20,000 in tips would get a $500 tax cut and those making $30,000 in tip would get an $800 tax cut.

"Tips should be between the customer and the server, and state government has no business reaching in and taking a portion of that income,” said Emmer. “Employers also need some common sense tax reforms so they can stay competitive and keep providing the jobs we need in this economy.”

This proposal comes after statements Emmer made last week at a St. Paul restaurant in support of a tip credit generated harsh criticism from some restaurant servers. A tip credit allows employers to pay tipped employees less than the minimum wage. Emmer has said that the media misreported what he meant. He said he would support freezing pay for tipped employees at the current minimum wage level. Any increases in minimum wage would only apply to non-tipped employees.

In 2005, the state representative from Delano did support getting rid of the minimum wage calling it "socialism." But his campaign has said that just because he took that position in the legislature does not mean he would support it as governor. Here is a WCCO story about the issue.