Political Notebook

Walz backs repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

In an interview this afternoon, 1st District Rep. Tim Walz said he supports a compromise proposal to lift the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military contingent on the completion of a U.S. Department of Defense review due Dec. 1.

Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years and said he has long supported getting rid of the 1993 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

"I've always thought this was a bad policy. The idea of a young American citizen wanting to serve and being willing to lay down their life in defense of this country and not allowing them to serve over personal and private reasons made no sense to me whatsoever," Walz said.

Under a White House-backed compromise, the U.S. Department of Defense would determine how quickly to implement the repeal once the review is completed. It would also require certification from the president, defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the new policy won't hurt the military's ability to fight. The U.S. House is expected to vote on the measure today.

The Mankato Democrat said he supports giving the military time to implement the repeal. He said the military requires reviews of any changes — including a six month review when switching from hats to berets.

On a personal level, he said while serving he dealt with a case of a soldier having to leave the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

"We lost a very talented soldier," he said.

As a commander, Walz said sexual orientation did not matter to him.

"My biggest concern was that the soldier knew their job, could shoot their weapon and was physically fit and mentally ready to serve. It was never an issue of whether they were at in their personal lives. That is none of my business," he said.

Bradford vows to stay in House race this time

Two years ago, Republican Chuck Bradford voluntarily dropped his bid for the Minnesota House 29A seat to support fellow Republican Rep. Randy Demmer.

Bradford has jumped into the race after Demmer announced he was running for the 1st Congressional District seat held by Democratic Rep. Tim Walz. But when he lost the GOP endorsement to Rochester Dr. Brian Davis, Demmer decided to run for re-election to his House seat. And Bradford, a Demmer supporter, stepped aside.

Once again, Demmer has announced he is running for Congress. The Hayfield Republican has said this time he has no intention of seeking re-election to his seat. But even if Demmer changes his mind, Bradford vowed he is staying in this time.

"I am focused on this race, and I am going to see it through," he said.

He said he plans to stick in the race until the Republican endorsement made and that he will honor that process.

Bradford, 44, currently serves on the Mantorville City Council. He has been an active member of the Republican Party for 20 years and is a member of the Rochester Tea Party Patriots.

If elected, Bradford said he would focus on slicing state spending to address projected budget shortfalls.

“We need to step back and say, ‘Why are we going to continue to expand the growth of government by 20 percent over the biennium over the last 20 years when our citizens income has not grown in that same fashion?’”

So far, no Democrats have announced plans to run for the seat.

"Mr. Conservative" to run for Walz's seat?

Just got a media advisory about another Republican candidate scheduled to announce plans to run for the 1st District Congressional seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Tim Walz. The advisory does not include the name of the candidate. Instead it offers this description: "A fresh face with a familiar name."

Based on that description, my guess is that Jim Hagedorn will be the one announcing tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Rochester. I previously wrote that he was considering running for the seat previously held by his father, Tom Hagedorn.

Hagedorn spent 25 years working on Capitol Hill, including seven years as the senior legislative assistant to former Minnesota Republican Rep. Arlan Stangeland. He also had his own blog "Mr. Conservative." But he posted that after the 2008 election he was suspending all posts "in order to explore the opportunity to return to his southern Minnesota roots, accept a position in the private sector and run for Congress." Here is a link to his blog.

Hagedorn's announcement comes one day after Hayfield Republican state Rep. Randy Demmer announced he was running for a second time for the seat. Former state Rep. Allen Quist has also announced he is seeking the GOP endorsement.

Quist to make announcement tomorrow

Republican Allen Quist will make an announcement "regarding 1st Congressional District" tomorrow at 1p.m. in the Rochester City Council Chambers.

Quist has been considering running for the 1st District Congressional seat currently held by DFL Rep. Tim Walz. Quist, of St. Peter, served three terms in the Minnesota House from 1983 to 1988. He received the GOP gubernatorial endorsement for governor in 1994 but lost to Gov. Arne Carlson.

It certainly seems as though Quist is poised to jump in the race. He already has a "Quist for Congress" Web page and Facebook page.

Walz's campaign has already started mobilizing against Quist. In a fundraising letters to supporters, Walz links Quist to Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann writing that they "are two peas in a pod." He said they have a long history of working together adding that "It's clear from their extreme right-wing ideology that they are kindred political spirits."

Quist's wife Julie Quist currently serves as Bachmann's district director. 

Walz to have teletownhall with Sebelius

1st District Rep. Tim Walz will hold a teletownhall meeting tomorrow with special guest U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. The townhall can accommodate up to 1,000 callers..

To event will start at 5:30 p.m. Constituents are invited to call 1-888-356-3090 and enter the passcode 13244 to participate.

Walz also has a town hall event scheduled for Thursday in Mankato. An editorial by the Post-Bulletin that ran today is pushing for Walz to hold a public town hall in Rochester.

Franken tours Mayo Clinic today

Minnesota's newest senator will be in town today to tour the Mayo Clinic.

DFL Sen. Al Franken will be meeting with Mayo Clinic officials as he prepares to return to Washington D.C. to work on health care reform. Franken is a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, a key committee in the crafting of health care reform.

With raucous town hall events dominating the headlines, Franken has opted not to have a town hall. He is planning to hold a brief media availability today to discuss his views on health care reform. I'll plan to cover that and have the latest.

In a press release, Franken is quoted as saying "Washington could learn a lot from the way we run things right here in Rochester. We know that quality, not quantity, deserves reward and that the best health care system is patient-centered, not-profit-centered. When I get back to Washington, I'm bringing the common-sense values of Mayo Clinic with me."

MN GOP chair to unveil TV ad against Walz

Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Tony Sutton will be in Rochester on Tuesday afternoon to unveil a television ad campaign targeting DFL First District Congressman Tim Walz and his stance on health care reform.

The party is hosting a press conference at the Rochester Public Library at 1:30 p.m. The visit is part of a statewide media blitz by the Republicans. Sutton will also be holding a press event in Mankato on the ads. Meanwhile, Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorp will travel to Alexandria, Fargo/Moorhead and Fergus Falls to announce an ad targeted DFL Congressman Collin Peterson.

Health care debate gets heated

U.S. DFL Rep. Tim Walz is getting a taste of just how volatile the debate surrounding health care reform can be.

Janet Kubat Willette, a reporter from the Post-Bulletin-owned Agri-News paper, was in Redwood Falls yesterday when an audience member got the First District Congressman fired up. Walz and  Rep. Collin Peterson were answering questions during a farm policy forum when a woman stood up in the audience and said the proposed health care reform legislation was a "step toward communism."

The comment drew applause and a quick response from Walz. 

"I didn't spend 24 years in the military to be called a Communist, I can tell you that," Walz said.

The questioner would not let the congressmen explain their positions on health care requiring moderator Ken Thiesse to ask ther to let them answer.

She left and Walz and Peterson explained their stances on health care reform with Walz saying there needs to be market reform in health care because there is no price transparency and doctors are given incentives to do more tests.

"No market can function without referees," he said.

Walz is getting a boost of support courtesy of the Democratic National Committee. Starting today, radio ads will begin running in the districts of 23 House members — including Walz. The ad blitz funded by the committee applauds lawmakers for their support of health care reform. While the ad thanks Walz for his efforts, it takes aim at insurance companies.

"Health insurance companies have made record profits by doubling premiums and denying people coverage. And now, they and their lobbyists are fighting tooth and nail to stop reform and protect the status quo -—  and their profits — at the expense of affordable health care for families, small businesses and millions of Americans."

As I wrote about earlier, the Republican National Committee has already announced it has purchased ads in southern Minnesota criticizing Democrats and the health care reform proposals.

Walz targeted in Republican radio ads

The Hill reports today that DFL Congressman Tim Walz is among 60 centrist Democrats being targeted by a new radio ad campaign sponsored by the Republican National Committee.

The RNC is spending $1 million on the radio ad blitz that criticizes the health care reform plan being put forward by President Obama and Democrats. The ad is running in 33 states including Minnesota. The ad states that, "If Barack Obama and the Democrats get their way, the federal government will make the decisions about your health care."

The Hill quotes RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho as saying, "The Democrats targeted by the RNC radio ad have campaigned on fiscal responsibility, and now these Democrats are being held accountable to their campaign promises as they prepare to vote on a government-run health care bill that will cost American taxpayers $1.6 trillion, add to the record budget deficit and burden American families and small businesses with higher taxes,"

The ads come as the debate over health care reform intensifies on Capitol Hill in the lead up to Congress' August recess.

Congressional delegation urges changes to Medicare system

The entire Minnesota Congressional delegation sent a letter to President Obama today urging him to address inequities in Medicare payments and reward states like Minnesota that provide quality care at a lower cost than other states.

According to a press release from DFL Congresswoman Betty McCollum, of St. Paul, she helped get all members of the delegation from both sides of the aisle to sign on to the letter. The letter also voices opposition to a public plan that would be based on the current Medicare reimbursement system. The letter states that "any public insurance option that is based on Medicare's current reimbursement formula would only further penalize Minnesota and undermine the very success our state has attained in delivering efficient, quality care."

Mayo Clinic has long voiced concern about the current Medicare system arguing it fails to take quality into account. Here is a link to the letter.