Political Notebook

Senjem endorses Parry

Rochester Sen. Dave Senjem is endorsing fellow Republican Sen. Mike Parry for congress. The Parry campaign sent out a news release this morning touting the endorsement of Senjem and other southern Minnesota political figures.

In the news release, Senjem is quoted as saying, "During his visit to Rochester last week, Senator Parry said something that was very special and sets him apart from nearly everyone in Congress, or running for Congress: he knows what it's like to sign both sides of a pay check. He has been in the trenches. He understands what it takes to grow jobs and to make business work, something our country desperately needs in these terribly uncertain times. Senator Parry is the kind of leader the people of Southern Minnesota can rely on to jump start our economy and make job growth and a new prosperity our nation's number one priority moving forward."

Parry is running for the 1st Congressional District seat held by DFL Congressman Tim Walz. So far, he is the only Republican to officially announce he is running for the seat. Allen Quist has said it is very likely he will run again for the seat.

Also endorsing Parry was state Senate Agricultural Committee Chair Doug Magnus, R-Slayton, and several Republican county leaders. They included Mower County Republicans Chair Charles Mills, Steele County Republicans Co-Chair Norrine Jensen and Freeborn Republicans Co-Chair Al Arends.

It is interesting to see who is not included in the endorsements. Rochester's other Republican senator, Carla Nelson, is not listed. None of the leaders of the Republican Party of Olmsted County are on the list.

Olmsted Board: Don't blame us for tax increases

Just got sent a copy of a flyer that will be going out with all of the Truth-in-Taxation statements mailed to Olmsted County property taxpayers later this month. It focuses on the elimination of the Homestead Market Value Credit and blames lawmakers for local property tax increases.

At the top of flyer it reads "A message from the Olmsted County Commissioners" and goes on to say:

"You may see an increase in your 'County taxes' line on the enclosed proposed tax statement from 2011 to 2012. The County Board DID NOT increase the total amount of property taxes they will be collecting. We will be collecting the same amount in 2012 as we did in 2011. The increase is caused by the 2011 State Legislature's elimination of the Homestead Credit in order to balance the state budget."

According to the county's Director of Property Records and Licensing Mark Krupski, the tax notices will be mailed out on Nov. 23 — just in time for Turkey Day. Current estimates show that the average percent change from 2011 to the property 2012 tax levy will be a 3.51 percent increase for residential homesteads. Commercial/industrial property is expected to increase by 6.4 percent and agriculture homestead by 4.88 percent.

Yesterday, Republican Rep. Greg Davids of Preston released an $80 million property tax relief proposal aimed at businesses and homeowners whose taxes increase by more than 12 percent. Democrats blasted the proposal saying it does little to help homeowners who will face tax increases because of Republicans' support for scrapping the Market Value Homestead Credit. Expect this to be a huge issue in the upcoming legislative session.

Spring Valley council member to challenge Davids for House seat

In an interview today, Spring Valley City Council member Tony Archer said he has decided to run for the House District 31B seat because the legislature needs more statesman willing to put aside party politics for the greater good.

"We need to be crossing the aisles, working with each other and working for the common good of Minnesota," Archer said.

Archer registered his campaign committee with the state on Nov. 2. He is the first Democrat to announce he is running for the seat held by Republican House Taxes Committee Chair Greg Davids.

Archer, 49, is a registered nurse and has served two terms on the Spring Valley City Council. He said he has serious concerns about the deep cuts made to help balance the state's $5 billion budget saying he believes they "were not in the best interest of the people." He also supports DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's position that taxes should be raised to help balance the budget.

"We need to have the people of Minnesota pay their fair share in any type of tax bracket because that is how you get things paid," he said.

During his time on the city council, Archer said he has seen how repeated cuts in state aid are hurting small cities in greater Minnesota. In recent years, Spring Valley has had to cut 25 percent from each department in order to balance the city's budget.

He cited the recent state government shutdown as an example of lawmakers being unable to work together. Archer said he supported DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's position that taxes should be raised to help balance the state's $5 billion budget deficit. He said he also opposes the decision to defer payments to K-12 school districts in order to help solve the budget shortfall.

"We are robbing Peter to pay St. Paul. That's how I feel about it," he said.

With a son in his first year of college, Archer said he is concerned about the recent cuts to higher education, which has led to tuition increases.

"College is eventually going to get to the point wehre only the rich kids are going to be able to go to college," he said.

It remains to be seen whether former DFL state Rep. Ken Tschumper of La Crescent will also jump into the race. It's also unknown where the legislative district boundaries will be after redistricting is completed.

Davids, who is serving his tenth term in the legislature, said he is planning to run again. He said he believes he has a strong record to run on.

"I ran on funding the schools, nursing homes and rural economic development, and we delivered huge on all those counts," he said.

 

Walz visits Mayo Clinic, state lawmakers talk ag

Plenty of politicos will be paying a visit to the region today. 

DFL Congressman Tim Walz will be visiting the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center this morning. He plans to meet with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and leaders in the cancer research community to learn about the economic and scientific benefits of cancer research. They expect to urge the congressman to protect funding the National Insitutes of Health as the congressional "super committee" looks for places to cut spending.

According to a press release, Minnesota received more than $475 million from the National Institutes of Health in 2010. Mayo Clinic received $180 million, which translates into 4,000 jobs locally. Health reporter Jeff Hansel is covering this event.

Walz will then head to Winona where he will host a "Congress on Your Corner" event at 1 p.m. at Midtown Foods in Winona.

Minnesota Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies Chair Doug Maguns will join Winona GOP Sen. Jeremy Miller for a round-table discussion today on agriculture. The two lawmakers will be at The Creamery Restaurant in Rushford at noon, where they expect to meet with farmers and representatives of the Minnesota Farmers Union and the Minnesota Farm Bureau. The event is open to the public. Reporter Janet Kubat plans to cover the event.

Magnus and Miller will then head to Winona to tour Cenex Harvest States.

It's election day!

It's election day and while there is nothing on the ballot in Rochester, there is plenty at stake for a number of area school districts. A total of 15 school districts have school levies on the ballot. There are also school board elections in Austin, Blooming Prairie, Goodhue and Pine Island. In Rushford, voters will decide once and for all whether to keep close the city's municipal liquor store by the end of the year. They will also vote for mayor and two city council seats.

Here are the districts conducting referendums in southeastern Minnesota, the amount each seeks, and the effect on a $150,000 home. Renewals of existing levies do not cause tax increases.

• Austin seeks permission to sell $28.9 million in bonds to build an intermediate school and add on to Woodson Kindergarten Center. The tax increase for a $150,000 house would be $188. However, because of the retirement of another debt costing $114 a year, the actual increase would be $74 a year.

• Byron seeks a $290 per-student levy override, raising $540,000 per year. Its current levy of $126.10 expires this year. The total tax effect for a $150,000 house would be $95 per year, reflecting an increase of $53 per year. Vote at Byron Middle School, 601 Fourth St. N.W., from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. More information online at tinyurl.com/63aqydk.

• Caledonia seeks a renewal of a $725.96 per-pupil levy override, which raises $620,000 per year. More information online at tinyurl.com/3vc9pdz.

• Cannon Falls seeks a $950 per-pupil levy override, revoking and replacing a current $500 per-pupil override. That would raise a total of $625,000 per year. The tax effect for a $150,000 house would be $278 per year total, reflecting an increase of $131 per year.

• Chatfield seeks a $350.77 per-pupil levy override renewal that raises $343,000 per year, and a $250 levy increase that would raise $243,000. For a $150,000 house, the renewal reflects a tax effect of $109 per year, and the increase would cost an additional $77 per year. Vote at the elementary school media center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. More information online at tinyurl.com/3dfo78d.

• Dover-Eyota seeks a $127 per-pupil renewal, raising $132,000 a year. The tax effect on a $150,000 home is $40 per year, reflecting no change. Vote at the high school auditorium from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. More information online at tinyurl.com/3jkafqz.

• Goodhue seeks a $500 per-pupil levy override, to replace the $126 override that expires after this year, raising a total of $310,000. The effect on a $150,000 house would be $160 total, reflecting a $119 increase. More information online at tinyurl.com/3j6ywc6.

• Hayfield seeks a $900 per-pupil levy override, revoking and replacing the present $600 one, which would raise an additional $285,000. The tax increase on a $150,000 house would be $138. Vote from noon to 8 p.m. at the Brownsdale Elementary School, the Sargeant Community Center, and the Hayfield Elementary School. More information online at www.hayfield.k12.mn.us/.

• Kenyon-Wanamingo seeks a $126 per-pupil renewal, and a $173 per-pupil increase. More information online at tinyurl.com/3t55l88.

• Lewiston-Altura seeks a $501.65 per-pupil renewal, which raises $425,000. The tax effect on a $150,000 house is $177 per year, but reflects no change. More information online at tinyurl.com/3oet7gz.

• Lyle seeks a $840 per-pupil renewal, which raises $104,000. The tax effect on a $150,000 house is $298 per year, but reflects no change. More information online at tinyurl.com/3ks6d63.

• Mabel-Canton seeks a $1,207.96 per-pupil renewal, which raises $375,000. More information online at tinyurl.com/687ft95.

• Pine Island seeks a $500 per-pupil renewal, which raises $600,000, and a $200 increase, which would raise an additional $250,000. The tax effect on a $150,000 house would be $157 for the renewal and a $63 increase for the new levy. More information online at tinyurl.com/6yyq8do.

• Plainview-Elgin-Millville seeks a $293 per-pupil renewal, which raises $500,000. Vote from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. in the high school gym. More information online at tinyurl.com/3eebg7e.

• St. Charles seeks a $300 per-pupil increase, which raises $300,000. The property tax increase on a $150,000 house would be $96. Vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the St. Charles Elementary School gymnasium. More information online at tinyurl.com/3bgdcg8.

Mayo Clinic not part of GOP health care task force

The Republican Party of Minnesota announced this week it was establishing a health care task force charged with developing and recommending legislation aimed at improving access to affordable high quality health care. Notably absent is a representative from Mayo Clinic.

The clinic has established a Health Policy Center focused on the issue of reforming health care. In particular, the clinic has pushed for the need to reform the payment system to make sure that providers are paid based on quality — not quantity — of care.

John Tyler, of Boys and Tyler Financial Group, Inc., is chairing the Republican task force. Other members include party chairman Tony Sutton and Dr. Ken Heithoff. No Rochester area lawmakers are on the task force, although party spokeswoman Heather Rubash said any Republican legislator is welcome to attend a meeting. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton recently announced he had established the Minnesota Health Care Reform Task Force. Dr. Doug Wood, a professor at Mayo Clinic, is on the task force.

Below is a list of the individuals participating in the task force meetings.

Annette Meeks, President Minnesota Freedom foundation
Bob Geist, MD Retired Physician, Minnesota Physicians and Patient Association (MPPA)
Chris Schneeman, Owner Seven Hills Benefit Partners
Craig J. Westover, Communications Director MNGOP, MPPA
Sen. David Hann
Greg Dattilo, CEO Dattilo Consulting, Inc., and ClientServ, LLC
Rep. Jenifer Loon;
Joe Thomas, bswift
Lee Beecher, MD, President MPPA
Lorrie Fehling, Freedom Services Inc. Benefits Administration
Margaret LeClair, Margaret LeClair, Ph.D., President LeClair Insurance
Peter Nelson, Center for the American Experiment, MPPA
Ray Haugland, President and CEO Freedom Services Inc
Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen,
Senator Chris Gerlach,
Rep. Steve Gottwalt,
Tim Wilkin, Capitol Strategies Inc.
Tom Aslesen, Owner Accord Benefit Resources Inc.
Rep. Kathy Lohmer

Quist: Mike Parry should stay in the Senate

Republican Allen Quist said in an interview today that he will "very likely" run again for the 1st Congressional District seat. I asked Quist why he would want to jump into the race when another conservative lawmakers who shares a lot of Quist's views is already running — state Sen. Mike Parry of Waseca.

Quist said a "significant" number of senate Republicans told him they want Parry to stay in the Minnesota Senate.

"I mean, c'mon. This is the first time the Republicans have had the majority in the Senate since party designation came, and anything that is going to make it harder for the Republicans to keep control of the Senate I am going to oppose," he said.

Parry announced last month he would challenge 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz. So far, he is the only Republican to officially jump into the race.

Quist ran for the congressional seat in 2010 but dropped out after losing the Republican endorsement to Randy Demmer. Quist has a long history in the Republican Party. He challenged incumbent Republican Gov. Arne Carlson in 1994 and won the party's endorsement. But Quist went on to lose the primary to Carlson in a landslide.

Quist emphasized that he would run a grassroots campaign.

"My approach is never to go to party leaders and ask for their support, blessing or whatever because my approach is I am a grassroots guy. I listen to the people in the coffee shop, the people out working for a living, the people out doing the grunt wor,k and I don't much care what the leaders say," Quist said.

When asked if he would abide by the Republican endorsement if he does run, Quist said he has historically done that but would not specifically say if he would in this case.

If he does run, Quist said he will emphasize his opposition to the federal health care overhaul. He argues "Obamacare" ends up penalizing married couples and leads to an "extraordinary income redistribution."

Parry officially kicks off congressional campaign

 

Republican state Sen. Mike Parry is officially kicking off his congressional campaign with a two-day tour of southern Minnesota. Parry, of Waseca, announced last month he would run challenge 1st District DFL Congressman Tim Walz. So far, he is the only Republican in the race.

Parry's tour starts tomorrow with a stop at 8 a.m. in Winona in the dining area at Hy-Vee, 1475 W. Service Dr. He then travels to Rochester for a 10:30 a.m. stop at the Canadian Honker, 1203 2nd St. S.W. Next up is a stop in Austin at 1:30 p.m. at Coffee House on Main, 329 N. Main.  He will continue on to Albert Lea and Owatonna.

On Friday, Parry will visit New Ulm, Mankato, Fairmont and Worthington. I'm planning to cover Parry's stop in Rochester.

In a press release, Parry is quoted as saying, ""I'm running for Congress because Congressman Tim Walz and the Washington crowd have sold us out. They have mortgaged the futures of our children and grandchildren with their wasteful spending. I look forward to speaking with families across southern Minnesota about how we can bring fiscal responsibility to Washington."

Senjem urges support for a special session on Vikes stadium

Rochester GOP Sen. Dave Senjem sent out an email this afternoon responding to news that Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers had sent an email to his caucus saying he does not support a special session. Here is Senjem's response:

"To Speaker Zellar's comment about not calling a special session to deal up or down with the Vikings. I respectfully disagree. I support the Governor's intent to call a special session. Let's find out if a viable proposal can emerge through the legislative process. Let's give the Vikings some sense as to where the people of Minnesota are with respect to their desired new stadium."

Local Republicans back bill requiring school levy referendums at general elections

Minnesota House Education Finance Committee Chairman Pat Garofalo announced at the Capitol this morning he is backing a proposal that would require school levy referendums be held during general elections in even-numbered years.

"Next Tuesday, over $900 million in tax-revenue increases will be on the ballot in Minnesota and the vast majority of Minnesotans in these districts will not be voting in these elections. This is not good for democracy. It is not good government for Minnesota," Garofalo said.

Byron Republican Rep. Duane Quam has agreed to carry the bill in the House. He was unable to attend the press conference, so I am trying to get a hold of him for comment. Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, did show up for the event. He said he has heard from constituents who argue it does not make sense for taxpayers to have to foot the bill for these elections in off years when they could just be included on the general election ballot.

Representatives with the Minnesota School Boards Association and the Association of Metropolitan School Districts quickly came out against the proposal arguing that it should be left up to local school board members to decide when and if to hold a levy referendum. Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers also made clear Garofalo's proposal is not backed by the Republican caucus as a whole. He wrote, "The caucus dones not take any formal positions on local referendums, and will continue to support the rights of local citizens to make these important decisions."