Capitol View: December 4, 2007 Archive

Ciresi gets some AFSCME backing too

Posted at 1:12 PM on December 4, 2007 by Tom Scheck

Mike Ciresi, a DFLer running for the U.S. Senate, got the backing of AFSCME Council 65. AFSCME Council 5 is backing Democrat Al Franken. Here's an AP story on the endorsements:

ST. PAUL (AP) - Both attorney Mike Ciresi and comedian Al Franken can claim the backing of a well-known union as they vie for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Last month, the political arm of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5 endorsed Franken. On Tuesday, AFSCME Council 65 announced it was supporting Ciresi. Council 65 represents county government employees and counts 13,000 members. Council 5 represents 43,000 public and nonprofit employees in the state. Ciresi and Franken are competing for the chance to take on Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in November. Other Democrats after the nomination are professor Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, environmental activist Jim Cohen and frequent candidate Dick Franson. (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-12-04-07 1139EST

UPDATE: Here's the response from the AFSCME Council 5 spokeswoman regardings AFSCME Council 65's endorsement:

AFSCME Council 5 is one of the largest and most politically active unions with 43,000 members in Minnesota. We have a war chest and an army of 1000 volunteers dedicated to electing Al Franken and restoring the middle class.

Because of our track record, the media calls us “politically potent.”

With our support, Al Franken is in the strongest position to win the DFL endorsement and general election.

Vikings don't take hint. Will press on with stadium push.

Posted at 4:29 PM on December 4, 2007 by Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty and DFL legislative leaders slammed the door on the possibility of a viking stadium plan passing the Legislature next year. They all say there are too many other priorities to address.

The Vikings aren't backing down. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf released this statement in response (read the last line):

"We appreciate the willingness of Minnesota's state leaders to meet with the National Football League this week and address the state's stadium situation. The seriousness of the stadium issue has risen to a priority at a league level. The Vikings and the NFL understand and respect the priorities and pressing issues facing the state,, but at the same time, the stadium issue needs to be resolved in the near future. Construction costs are rising significantly each year that we delay and there is an urgency to reach a solution.

We are confident that state leaders and the Vikings will work together to reach a solution, just as many other NFL cities have done in recent years. We look forward to advancing the stadium issue during the 2008 legislative session."

Our long national nightmare is over! Capital for a Day winners announced Wednesday.

Posted at 5:12 PM on December 4, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Gov. Pawlenty will join with Minnesota's Sesquicentennial Commission to announce the winners of the Minnesota Capital for a Day contest. Officials representing the five winning communities will also attend the announcement.

No word if there will be any fist fights in light of the vote rigging and allegations that "Minnesota is not Chicago."

Why would that occur, you ask?

The Sesquicentennial Commission had to shut down the voting and restart it after Winona, Wabasha and Rushford got into an arms race last month.

No word if Joe Rolette's ghost will rise up and steal the press releases.

Don't know Joe Rolette? Check it, don't wreck it:

In becoming a state, certain institutions were established and the Territorial Legislature had to decide where they would be located. Stillwater was chosen for the state prison, and Minneapolis was selected as the location for the University of Minnesota. The location of the state capital was a hotly debated issue. Many sites were proposed, but the rural legislators who made up the majority wanted a site convenient to them. A site near Kandiyohi was suggested because it was the exact center of the state; other proposed sites were the cities of St. Paul, and St. Peter in the south central part of the state on the Minnesota River.

St. Peter was chosen, and the bill the Territorial Legislature approved was sent to Joe Rolette, a legislator from Pembina. Rolette, a man of robust humor, was the son of a French Canadian fur trader and dressed like an Indian or voyageur. As chairman of the enrollment committee, he was supposed to give the bill his imprimatur and pass it on to the governor. However, Rolette temporarily disappeared; when he dramatically returned to the legislative session, it was too late to get any more bills passed and the capital ended up in St. Paul.

This entry is not exactly true according to Minnesota Monthly (who gets all fact-checky on us).

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