Political Party

Business professor, former postmaster to take on Welti

Mike Benson, a business professor at Crossroads College, has announced he plans to challenge three-term DFL incumbent Andy Welti for the District 30B House Seat in 2010. Benson has registered a campaign committee with the state.

The Rochester Republican said he decided to run because he is concerned by the growth of state government.

“I am a true fiscal conservative. I certainly believe in supply-side economics,” he said. “I think we need to take a look at the size of government. It needs to be reduced."

If elected, he said he would focus on overhauling the state's tax system. In particular, he would push to lower the corporate tax rate to make the state more competitive when it comes to keeping and attracting businesses.

This is Benson's first foray into politics. He spent 31 years working for the U.S. Postal Service, which prevented him as a federal employee from running for office. He served as Rochester's Postmaster from 1988 to 1995. After leaving the state for several years, he returned in 2004 to work at Crossroads College. In addition to being a professor, he also serves as the college's director of human resources. He also served as the Christian institution's interim president from 2006 to 2008.

Food on a stick and politics

Once again it is time for the Great Minnesota Get-Together. And while the latest new foods on a stick usually grab the limelight, it is worth noting that the fair is also a key political event. Gubernatorial candidates are swarming to the event for the chance to schmooze fair goers and build key support.

The Minnesota DFL has posted a list showing when gubernatorial candidates will be at the party's booth. You can check that out here. In the case of the Republican Party of Minnesota, it looks like it will be more of a hit-and-miss scenario for people looking to chat with a particular gubernatorial candidate. The party's spokesman Mark Drake said GOP gubernatorial candidates will be at the booth but there is not a set schedule as to when they will be there.

However, former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert has already tweeted that he is the only gubernatorial candidate with his own booth.

In addition, state lawmakers can be found at both the House and Senate booths. Click here to Download Memsched09 and here to 

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Not many southeast Minnesota lawmakers appear to be making the trek. House Assistant Majority Leader Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview, was at the fair today. House Assistant Minority Leader Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield, will be there from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 2 and Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, is scheduled to be there from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 6.

Taxpayers League scorecard not kind to Roch Democrats

The Taxpayers League of Minnesota has released its annual legislative scorecard. The scores are based on whether or not lawmakers voted for legislation deemed by the organization to be unfriendly to the taxpayer. In many cases, that involves whether or not a lawmaker supported bills with tax increases.

The report card did not have a favorable view of most DFLers — especially in Rochester. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 considered a perfect score, no Rochester Democrats received a rating above 13. In southeast Minnesota, the lawmaker with the lowest score was Sen Steve Murphy of Red Wing who netted a 0. 

Rep. Gene Pelowski of Winona was the highest ranking Democrat with a score of 47. That is in large part due to his voting against the DFL tax increase proposals. 

The report heralds Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former House Minority Leader and potential gubernatorial candidate Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, as the "2009 Heroes of the Taxpayers" for standing up against tax increases.

Here is a look at ratings for Southeast Minnesota lawmakers. To look at the Taxpayers League's full list, go here.

Senate

Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona — 21

Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester — 7

Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing — 0

David Senjem, R-Rochester — 57

Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin — 14

House

Robin Brown, DFL-rural Austin — 7

Greg Davids, R-Preston — 80

Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield — 80

Steve Drazkowski, R-Wabasha — 87

Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing — 87

Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester — 13

Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester — 13

Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona — 47

Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin — 27

Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview — 13

Green pipes in, volleyball center out of bonding bill

The House and Senate today approved a $299 million capital works bill. Including in the bill is $5 million for Olmsted County's Green Pipes project. The project includes a 1.25 mile steam pipe that would run from the Olmsted County Waste-to-Energy Facility to the Rochester Community and Technical College.

But the National Volleyball Center in Rochester failed to make the cut yet again. Assistant House Majority Leader Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview, said lawmakers knew it would likely be an uphill battle this year to get the money for the project. He said it has been vetoed three times — once by former Gov. Jesse Ventura and twice by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The Senate version of the bonding bill did include $4 million for the center's expansion.

The bill now heads to the governor, who had been seeking a bill with a smaller price tag. Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said he expects the governor will likely use his line item veto on the bill.

A path for total meltdown?

Ask local lawmakers the prospect of a special session and the answer seems to depend on the party.

Preston Republican Rep. Greg Davids said he has no doubt the Legislature is headed in to overtime.

"We are on a path for total meltdown," Davids said.

Meanwhile, Assistant House Majority Leader Andy Welti said last night he is "cautiously optimistic" lawmakers will get their jobs done on time.

But clearly the gap between DFL lawmakers and Gov. Tim Pawlenty remains wide. The Democrats suggested solution for the $4.6 billion budget deficit centers on a new tax increase plan of $1 billion. Provisions of the plan include the following: an income tax hike on married joint filers making more than $250,000 a year, raising the alcohol tax and a charge on credit card companies' interest income.

That revenue would be dedicated to education and health care. Welti said if the governor does not go along with the Democrat's plan, that will require deep cuts to these areas.

"If he is not willing to put revenue on the table, he is going to own these cuts," Welti said.

During a news conference, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said the governor's proposed budget would result in 16,000 health care jobs lost and 600 layoffs in education.

The governor has already sent a letter to lawmakers asking them to hurry up the passage of this tax bill today so that he can veto it. So with the governor standing firm that he will not support any tax increases and DFL lawmakers commit ed to tax increases to avoid major cuts, the question remains — how will this budget mess be solved?