Capitol View: September 9, 2009 Archive

Obama to visit Minnesota on Saturday. Time and location TBD

Posted at 7:12 AM on September 9, 2009 by Tom Scheck

An official with knowledge of the plans said the White House notified the source that President Obama will speak on health care. Details of the event are still being worked out. An official with St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center says a presidential visit has not been scheduled there.

Obama's visit comes at a time when he's making a strong push to pass a health care reform package that's receiving plenty of scrutiny in Congress. His Minnesota speech will likely focus on why the country needs to pass the legislation. The president has touted Minnesota's Mayo Clinic as a model for what is working in the health care system.

More town hall meetings on health care scheduled

Posted at 10:56 AM on September 9, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

Residents of Minnesota's 1st, 3rd and 6th congressional districts have opportunities to vent about health care reform this week.

U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., has announced plans to host a town hall meeting Friday in Maple Grove. Paulsen will talk about health care and then take questions and comments from constituents. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Maple Grove High School auditorium.

Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has also announced another health care forum. The session is scheduled Saturday, 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., at St. Cloud Tech High School.

Also Saturday, Democratic Congressman Tim Walz will hold another town hall meeting, this time in Rochester. The event begins at noon at John Marshall High School.

Democrats criticize Pawlenty's support of Virginia candidate

Posted at 3:18 PM on September 9, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)

Democrats in two states are blasting Governor Tim Pawlenty as he campaigns in Virginia today for that state's Republican gubernatorial candidate.

Pawlenty was scheduled to headline a fundraiser for Bob McDonnell and attend two other campaign events. McDonnell has been trying to distance himself from a 20-year-old college thesis, in which he wrote that working women and feminists were detrimental to traditional families. Despite McDonnell's renouncement of the paper, officials with the Democratic Party of Virginia and the Minnesota DFL held a conference call with reporters to question whether Pawlenty shares McDonnell's views. DFL Associate Chair Donna Cassutt said Pawlenty's support of McDonnell is concerning.

"He's out in Virginia today shelling for a closed-minded, misogynistic candidate, and really basically selling his soul to further his ambition, which is an affront to all of us who fought long and hard for women's equality," Cassutt said.

Pawlenty responded to the issue before he left for Virginia. He told reporters Tuesday in Eden Prairie that he was comfortable campaigning with McDonnell.

"He is saying that was a long time ago and that he's modified or evolved his thinking on those things," Pawlenty said.

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Obama speaks at Target Center on Saturday.

Posted at 4:05 PM on September 9, 2009 by Tom Scheck (23 Comments)

President Obama will speak at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday. He's scheduled to speak at 12:30. Rally is free and open to the public. First come, first served. Here are the details from the White House:

President Obama to Hold Health Insurance Reform Rally in Minneapolis, MN Saturday

WASHINGTON, DC - On Saturday, September 12, 2009, President Barack Obama will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to hold a rally on health insurance reform.

In Minneapolis on Saturday, President Obama will discuss what's at stake for the American people in this debate - why we need health insurance reform and why we need to act now.

President Obama's health insurance reform plan has two goals-to bring stability and security to Americans who have insurance today, and affordable coverage to those who don't. And his plan will bring reforms that will reduce the unsustainable growth in the cost of health care, which has doubled in the last decade and will again, unless we act.

The rally will be free and open to the public. Space is available on a first come, first serve basis. No ticket is required.

Rally on Health Insurance Reform with President Barack Obama

Target Center 600 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55403

Doors Open: 9:30 am CT

Program start time: 12:30 pm CT.

This event is free and open to the public. Space is available on a first come, first serve basis. No ticket is required. All attendees will go through airport-like security and should bring as few personal items as possible. No bags, no sharp objects, no umbrellas, no liquids, no strollers, and no signs will be allowed into the venue. Cameras are permitted.

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