Political Notebook

Local Republicans reject state employee contract

Two local lawmakers joined fellow Republicans on Thursday in rejected a state employee contract proposal negotiated by DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's administration and labor unions.

Rep. Mike Benson, of Rochester, and Rep. Steve Drazkowski, of Mazeppa, serve on the Subcommittee on Employee Relations and voted against the contract. The committee rejected the contract 6 to 4 on a straight party-line vote. That means the full Legislature will have to vote on the proposal when it reconvenes in January.

The contract covers more than 27,000 employees represented by two unions — the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees.

Republicans spoke out against the plan, which included a 2 percent across-the-board pay increase and tenure-based pay increases known as "steps."

“Wage increases based on seniority are a poor proxy for rewarding performance,” Drazkowsi said in a written statement “Minnesota can no longer afford to reward people based on how long they have been in state service. A 7 to 9 percent increase in salary is simply unsustainable, particularly looking into the next biennium.”

Under that agreement, individual state employees would not have to contribute anything toward their health insurance coverage. Republicans argue it's time these employees start chipping in.

Democrats on the committee said this is the latest example of union bashing at the hands of Republicans. State Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, issued the following statement after the vote:

"Today anti-union extremists chose to attack a fair and modest contract for our hard-working employees. Unlike the legislators who constantly attack them, state employes have sacrificed. State employees lost $65 million in wages — nearly 6 percent pay cut — during the Republican government shtudown last year."

State employees will continue to work under the terms of an existing contract that expired in June 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

The proposal included a 2 percent across-the-board pay raise for employees beginning next year. It also allowed for tenure-based pay increases known as "steps."

Garrison Keillor headlines fundraiser for local DFL candidates

A Prairie Home Companion Host Garrison Keillor will headline a fundraiser for DFL candidates in Lanesboro next month.

According to a press release from the Fillmore County DFL, the event will feature plenty of live music. Also sharing the stage with Keillor will be two local DFL candidates — former state Rep. Ken Tschumper of La Crescent and Jack Krage of Winona. Tschumper is challenging Republican Rep. Greg Davids of Preston. Krage is running against 1st-term GOP Sen. Jeremy Miller of Winona.

The event will be at the Lanesboro Community Center on Wednesday, Sept. 19. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and there will be pre-show entertainment provided by several groups including the Rutabaga Brothers and the Rhubarb Sisters. At 7:30 p.m., Keillor is expected to take the stage. The press release adds that "the evening will begin and end with spirited patriotic sing-alongs." Keillor has long been a supporter of the DFL and wrote the book "Homegrown Democrat: A Few Plain Thoughts from the Heart of America."

A group opposed to the marriage amendment and another one opposed to the voter ID amendment will also be on hand to pass out information to voters.

The cost is $20 per person at the door — cash or check. There will be no advance ticket sales. All proceeds raised will support Democratic candidates in the 2012 election.

Nelson declines Moen's request for additional debates

Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, has declined her DFL opponents request for a series of additional debates. In a written statement, the Rochester Republican said there are already plenty of debates scheduled. Here is the entire statement:

"This senate district has a rich history of providing many opportunities to debate the issues.

We have already had a candidate forum which has since been broadcast on cable TV.  The Rochester Area Builders will be holding our Candidate Forum on Sept. 25, 2012.  The League of Women Voters, Chamber or Commerce and the Rochester Post Bulletin have scheduled debates for Senate District 26 on October 22, 2012.   Many more debates or forums are in the process of being scheduled.  I recall forums for seniors, townships, NAMI, the Tea Party and the LTC initiative just to name a few.  The Post Bulletin will be publishing candidate profiles following our interviews with the PB editorial staff.  In addition KSMQ traditionally provides a televised 30 minute forum that is rebroadcast multiple times for each legislative race in our area.  I will be participating in each of these in addition to the “Candidates and Issues” campaign sponsored by KTTC.   I do not see any reason for addition debates beyond the many opportunities already provided in this district. 

I look forward to being on the dais with Mr. Moen to discuss our views about the challenges and opportunities for Minnesota citizens and their government.   I am confident that the public will have ample opportunity to distinguish the differences between the views held by Mr. Moen and me.  In addition to the debates, my record of driving government effectiveness and efficiency and  balancing the budget to live within our means speaks for itself."

Moen challenges Nelson to more debates

Senate District 26 DFL candidate Ken Moen is challenging his GOP rival to a series of debates.

Moen sent out a news release calling on Sen. Carla Nelson to agree to several additional debates. The two are set to square-off at an evening debate on Oct. 22in Rochester sponsored by the Minnesota League of Women Voters. But the Moen campaign argues that one 45-minute debate is not enough time to address the concerns of voters.

The Democrat's campaign said it has sent a letter to Nelson's home and Senate email address about the debate request and wants a response within 10 days. Moen's campaign suggests that the debates be facilitated by a neutral party and cover a range of  topics. Both of the candidates would have the chance to suggest topics for the debate. The Moen campaign also wants the debates to be free and open to the public.

It says that a letter was being sent to Nelson's home and her Senate email address asking her to respond to his request within 10 days.

Quist and Walz will face-off in Roch debate next month

Mark your calendars! The 1st District congressional candidates will square-off in a debate next month in Rochester.

Republican Allen Quist and DFL incumbent Tim Walz are set to attend the debate, which will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 at the Somberby Golf Community in Byron. The debate is sponsored by Rochester Public Utilities and partners include the Post-Bulletin, KTTC-TV, Minnesota Public Radio and the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. KTTC-TV anchor Tom Overlie will serve as the debate moderator.

The cost to attend is $25 for chamber members and $35 for non-members and includes lunch. To register, call 507-288-1122 or go here.

Walz has challenged Quist to a series of three debates — one in Rochester on jobs and the economy, one in Mankato on veterans and energy and one televised debate at a location to be determined. Quist has said he would like to see the number of topics covered expanded to include the deficit and health care.

Parry & Quist make final campaign push

With time running out to campaign, 1st District Republican candidates Mike Parry and Allen Quist are taking starkly different approaches.

Parry, a state senator from Waseca, has launched a last-minute tour of 1st District with plans to stop in all 21 counties. He is scheduled to be in Rochester at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Beetles Bar & Grill. His campaign also released a radio ad that starting running on Friday. The upbeat ad highlights Parry's background as a businessman, veteran and state senator. The narrator says "It's time to cut government waste. We need fresh ideas and a firm commitment to live within our means and prosper." The candidate's name is sung three times during the ad. Parry's campaign also sent out two mailers last wing: one positive and one attacking Quist.

While Parry is busy crisscrossing the district, his competitor was planning to spend today responding to media calls. Quist attended several parades over the weekend but didn't have any events scheduled for today. The campaign has sent out two mailers to 12,000 likely primary voters. Quist's TV ad also continues to run on local stations.

Parry campaign goes after Quist in mailer

The fighting continues in the 1st District Republican primary.

Candidate Mike Parry's campaign sent out a mailer this week in advance of the Aug. 14 primary ripping his opponent Allen Quist. It states that Minnesota Families CAN'T trust Allen Quist." The mailer says Quist "can't be trusted on taxes" because he voted for a gas tax increase while in the Legislature in 1986. It goes after Quist for supporting a gas tax increase while in the legislature in 1986. The mailer also includes controversial statements Quist made in the past — including that men are "genetically predisposed to be the head of the household — and for failing to take responsibility for them. It says Quist's "controversial statements and out-of-the-mainstream views" make him unelectable. Click here to Download Parry campaign mailer

This mailer comes out at the same time Parry is underfire for a controversial remark he made earlier this week at a Brown County Republican fundraiser when he said he saw DFL Gov. Mark Dayton pop 15 or 16 pills during a meeting with him. Dayton has called that a lie and the act of a desperate candidate who is going to lose.

Nowhere in the mailer does it urge people to vote for Parry. Rather, it urges voters to "vote no on Allen Quist." It states in small print on the back of the mailer that it was paid for by Parry for Congress.

Quist blasted the mailer saying this is just another example of the Parry campaign going negative. He said his campaign is only sending out positive campaign pieces in advance of Tuesday's primary election.

"It's as negative as it can be — especially when it asks people to vote against somebody rather than for somebody," Quist said.

He added that the mailer takes his gas tax vote out of context, failing to note that it was part of an overall package that cut taxes by $950 million.

Parry campaign adviser Ben Golnik said the campaign piece is simply trying to point out the differences between Parry and Quist.

"Parry's position is he's not going to raise taxes even if he cuts taxes. He is going to hold the line on taxes," Golnik said.

He added the Parry campaign did send out a positive campaign mailer earlier in the week.

The winner of the primary will take on DFL 1st District Rep. Tim Walz in November.

 

 

Walz bucks party, votes to extend Bush-era tax cuts

1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz was one of 19 Democrats that bucked their party on Wednesday and supported a Republican proposal to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for another year. Fellow Minnesota Democrat Collin Peterson joined Walz in voting to extend the tax cuts. The measure passed 256-171.

Democratic leaders have argued against extending the tax cut for the top 2 percent of taxpayers saying the country cannot afford it and the wealthy don't need it. Republicans counter that during a time of economic crisis, it's a bad idea to raise taxes on anyone.

Walz issued the following statement about his vote:

"Extending tax cuts for hardworking middle class Americans is something we can all agree on. Middle class families simply can't afford a tax hike or the uncertainty that goes with waiting until after November for Congress to act. While I support ending tax breaks for the wealthiest among us, the Democratic plan that would have accomplished this failed to add fairness to the estate tax to protect family farmers. With the current high price of farm land, I cannot in good conscious support legislation that could hurt our hard working farmers who are the backbone of the rural economy in southern Minnesota.

"Tax cuts for middle class families are too important to play politics with. Moving forward, we must work together and take a balanced approach that includes both smart, targeted spending cuts and increased revenues."