Political Notebook

Kurt Bills to headline Rochester Tax Day Rally

Republican 2012 U.S. Senate candidate Kurt Bills will be a featured speaker at the Rochester Tea Party Patriots' Tax Day Rally on April 15.

Bills has kept a low profile since his overwhelming loss to DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar last fall. She beat the Ron Paul-backed Bills by more than 30 percentage points. The topic of his speech will be "The Road Ahead." Also slated to speak are Peter Vessenes, with American Citizens for Economic Freedom, who will discuss "A Plan of Attack to Restore Our Country and our Economy.

The rally kicks off at 6 p.m. with a meet and greet and the program starts at 7 p.m. It will be in the Grand Ballroom at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center, 1517 16th St. S.W. in Rochester.

Tea Party Patriots not happy with League of Women Voters

The Rochester Tea Party Patriots are accusing the League of Women Voters of being a clearly partisan group in the wake of a recent local forum on the issue of voter ID.

Here is how the group sums up the forum in an e-mailed newsletter:

"Those who attended the meeting let us know that it was a put up job. The scenario was well rehearsed. The bottom line was: "Problem? What Problem?" They are circulating a petition that will give cover to the Democrat legislators so they can remain in denial. This petition is not "scientific" but just plain biased.

It is now clear that the League of Women Voters is a partisan group. Understand that if you attend any of their meetings."

This stems from a forum earlier this month sponsored by the league on the issue of whether or not voters should have to show photo ID in order to vote. Local GOP Rep. Mike Benson, R-Rochester, is sponsoring a bill that would require voter ID. Speakers featured at the event were from two organizations: the state League of Women Voters and Citizens for Election Integrity. Both of those organizations testified against Benson's voter ID bill during a House committee hearing citing concerns it could prevent legitimate voters from casting their ballots. But the measure has strong support among Republicans who argue it is needed to prevent voter fraud.

I have reached out to the Rochester league chapter to get a reaction to this. I will post the reaction when I get it.

Update: Here is the response to the Tea Party Patriots' criticism from Kathy Maegerlein, president of the League of Women Voters Rochester.

"Although the LWV is non-partisan, we do study issues and take positions on issues. Our basic position on voting at the national level is that "Voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed", and, at the state level, 'Support improvements in election laws regulating election procedures, voting and school district elections.'

Our speakers presented the results of the report Facts About Ineligible Voting and Voter Fraud in Minnesota, which was done by the Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota, and the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance, which was based on input from over 80 County Attorneys. We also had a good discussion following the presentation with both sides of the issue being heard."

 

Walz opts out of Austin Tea Party forum

1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz will not be participating in a candidate forum tonight put on by the Austin Tea Party group. Walz's Campaign Manager Richard Carlbom issued the following statement regarding the forum.

"Tim Walz will participate in forums organized by independent, non-partisan organizations. Today's debate, organized by the Austin Tea Party, is nothing more than a partisan political stunt."

The three other candidate's for Walz's seat are all planning to participate. They are Republican-endorsed candidate Randy Demmer, Independence Party-endorsed candidate Steven Wilson and non-party candidate Lars Johnson. The forum runs from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center in Austin. Forum organizer Cindy Stevens said participants will have the chance to write down questions on note cards. Three individuals — each representing one of the three major parties — will be on hand to ask the questions.

In an interview, Carlbom said that this same group had once had an empty chair at the front of the room with Walz's name on it when he did not come to an event while he was in Washington, D.C. voting.

"They have a history of trying to take potshots and gimmicks and we don't expect anything less tonight," he said.

Stevens said she had not heard from the campaign about whether Walz would participate.

"I am very disappointed that he couldn't bother to call me back and let me know, she said.

Swanson, Bachmann to visit Rochester

Two state politicians that have been getting plenty of media attention will be making stops in Rochester. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson will be the keynote speaker at the Olmsted County Darn Fine Ladies spring luncheon event on Friday. The Democrat has been in the spotlight since Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and all 68 GOP state lawmakers recently called on her to take legal action to block federal health care reform saying it is unconstitutional. Swanson's office has said they are looking into the matter, but as yet Swanson has not made any comments -- at least that I am aware of. The deadline to register for the deadline has already passed. But for more information, call Diane at 398-6329.

On Monday, 6th District Rep. Michele Bachmann will be in Rochester for an event supporting Rochester Area Republican Women. Bachmann has been an outspoken critic of the Democrat's health care reform bill and has been active in the Tea Party movement. The event runs from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Kahler Grand Hotel and will feature coffee, tea and dessert. Limited seating will be available the day of the event. The cost is $25 at the door, $20 in advance. For more information, call 254-8322.

Tea Party attracts more voters than GOP, new poll finds

Here is an interesting new survey that finds candidates identified with the Tea Party movement draw more voters then the Republican Party.

A new Rasmussen Reports Poll found that in a three-way generic ballot test, a national survey found Democrats attracting 36 percent of voters. The Tea Party candidate drew 23 percent and Republicans finished third with 18 percent. Another 22 percent were undecided.

But perhaps even more significant is the Tea Party's popularity with the all important independent voters. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the Tea Party garners the most votes. Thirty-three percent of voters questions preferred the Tea Party candidate and 30 percent were undecided. Twenty-five percent said they would vote for a Democrat and 12 percent preferred the Republican.

Here is a link to the new poll.