Political Notebook

Franken talks farm policy in Zumbro Falls

DFL Sen. Al Franken plans to meet with local farmers this afternoon in Zumbro falls to talk about agriculture policy and the upcoming farm bill. The meeting is sponsored by the Minnesota Farmers Union and will be at the Zumbro Falls Golf Club.

After the meeting, Franken will tour Ed and Lynn Jostock's dairy farm in Rochester. Reporter Janet Kubat will cover Franken's visit.

The state's junior senator will then sit down with the Post-Bulletin editorial board. I plan to sit in and see what he has to say about legislation he is working on and current political events.

Last Friday, Franken toured businesses in Lake City and Red Wing — including Red Wing Shoes Co. He also paid his respects to slain Lake City police officer Shawn Schneider, attending his visitation.

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.

Sen. Franken in Claremont, Rochester today

Sen. Al Franken is spending the day touring southern Minnesota including stops in Claremont and Rochester. The Democratic senator will be visiting Al-Corn Clean Fuel in Claremont this afternoon where he will meet with company officials and tour the ethanol plant. His visit comes after a 270,000 gallon corn mash fermentation tank collapsed earlier this month.

Franken will then stop by the Post-Bulletin office to meet with the editorial board. I plan to sit in and see what he has to say. Then he will head over to Mayo Clinic where he will tour the clinic's Gene and Viral Therapy facility. A press conference is scheduled afterwards in the lobby of the Guggenheim Building.

 

Boehner pledges to put Demmer on Ag committee if elected

House Minority Leader John Boehner has pledged that if Republican Randy Demmer is elected to Congress he will support putting Demmer on the House Agriculture Committee. In a news release, Boehner said the following:

"Randy Demmer has my full support for a seat on the House Agriculture Committee. As a retired farmer, Randy understands the challenges facing farmers, ranchers and rural communities. He would be a strong advocate for solutions that address the issues facing agriculture communities, and I look forward to work with him, the Republican leadership, and the members of the Steering Committee to place him on the House Agriculture Committee."

Demmer is challenging two-term DFL 1st District Rep. Tim Walz. Also running are IP candidate Steven Wilson and independent candidate Lars Johnson.

Walz currently serves on the House Agriculture Committee.

In the news release, Demmer said he would take a different approach than Walz.

“In stark contrast to Tim Walz’s record, I promise to work against the enactment and implementation of foolish policies like the cap and trade tax that would weaken our agricultural sector and take our entire economy down a dangerous and unsustainable path," Demmer said.

Boehner recently traveled to Minnesota to host a fundraiser for Demmer.