Capitol View: November 18, 2009 Archive

Franken raising money for Clark in 6th district

Posted at 11:18 AM on November 18, 2009 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., is backing Tarryl Clark in her 6th district congressional campaign. He's also helping the DFL state senator raise some money. Here's the letter Franken sent out on behalf of Clark:

Dear ____ ,

As I traveled across Minnesota over the last few years, I found nothing was better than campaigning with a local state legislator. They were always deeply rooted in their community - knew the owner of every shop we walked in, the family inside every house door we knocked on, and the ins and outs of every neighborhood we visited.

Senator Tarryl Clark was one of those exceptional legislators. Her ability to listen and her common sense, get-it-done attitude have allowed her to not only understand, but stand for the needs of her district. From ensuring Saint Cloud State University has the resources it needs to provide a first class education, to expanding access to early childhood education; from repairing the district's failing roads and bridges, to investing in our transportation future, especially Northstar. Tarryl has always worked with the community to stand up for the residents of her district.

And now I'm standing up for Tarryl. I hope you'll join me in supporting Tarryl's campaign for Congress against Michele Bachmann today.

She's delivered for her district as a State Senator, and she'll do the same for the residents of the 6th District as their representative in Congress.

I can tell you from experience, Tarryl is a tireless campaigner. She wins campaigns by reaching out to people of all parties, from all points of view. She engages them in a discussion about the issues, and wins them over with her ability to turn those conversations into action. Tarryl knows how to get the job done.

That's why Tarryl is the partner we need in Washington to really get things done for the 6th District.

But she needs our help to give her campaign the resources it needs to get her message out. Please join me in supporting Tarryl Clark's campaign today. Your contribution of $250, $100, $50, or whatever you can afford will ensure Tarryl can run an aggressive and winning campaign.

Sincerely,

Senator Al Franken

P.S. The eyes of the nation - and Michele Bachmann's right-wing allies - will be on this race. You can make sure Tarryl gets off to a strong start by joining Franni and me in supporting her today.

Coleman's Harvard speech

Posted at 1:47 PM on November 18, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2008: U.S. Senate, Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, Recount

Former GOP Sen. Norm Coleman gave a speech last night to John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard University. You can listen to his speech here:

Listen

The speech originally aired on MPR's Midday.

Senate health bill cuts medical device tax

Posted at 9:35 PM on November 18, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

The Senate health care overhaul bill released today reduces the size of the medical device fee in the bill. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar's office says the size of the bill has been reduced from $38 billion to $20 billion.

"Right now we must be doing everything we can to promote job growth," said Klobuchar in a news release. "I fought to reduce the fee on medical device companies and am pleased to see that the Senate bill reduces this fee by $18 billion."

Republicans are certain to say that the medical device fee remaining in the bill is still too high. Several, including Gov. Pawlenty and GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen, want the fee completely eliminated. That being said, they don't want the health care bill passed into law either.

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Quist gets in

Posted at 10:45 PM on November 18, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

Republican Allen Quist has made his run for Congress official and will challenge DFL Rep. Tim Walz in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. Quist will be making stops in Mankato, Austin and Rochester on Thursday to announce his campaign. Here's Quist's news release:

(St. Peter, MN) - Former State Representative Allen Quist has announced that he will run against U.S. Representative Tim Walz for the First District Congressional Seat. Quist served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1982 to 1988, runs a family farm of 1200 acres with his son Andrew in rural St. Peter, and recently retired as a teacher at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato

Quist, a Republican, said his message will be simple and straightforward: "If people like what Congress is doing, they should vote for the incumbent," Quist said. "But if they believe, as I do, that Congress is headed in the wrong direction, then I will be the alternative."

According to Quist there have been three unusually important bills under consideration during this session of Congress: the $787 billion Stimulus bill, Cap and Trade, and the Health Care bill. "Representative Walz has been on the wrong side of all three," said Quist.

Quist emphasizes that government spending is totally out of control. "Just the Stimulus bill by itself added over $10,000 of new government debt for every family of four in our nation," he explained. Quist also said that present Congressional spending trends will almost double our national debt-from 40% of GDP today to 87% of D+GDP by 2020. Quist says this means, "continued high unemployment and burdening the next generation with a level of debt that will substantially reduce their quality of life."

"The Cap and Trade bill will add $6,800 per year of higher energy costs for every family of four and the Health Care bill, which is supposed to reduce medical costs, will actually increase total costs by over $100 billion each year," said Quist.

Quist added that the Health Care bill contains a huge hidden tax on the middle class and will substatnitally reduce the access senior citizens have to needed health care. "In terms of costs," Quist said, "big business is the big winner and the middle class is the big loser. American citizens of the middle class will be forced to pay the bills."

"Southern Minnesota voters have been holding Tea Party rallies and contacting Congressman Walz's office asking him not to support these wasteful government spending bills that force more government control of our lives," said Quist. "Congressman Walz continually shows by his votes that he is out of step with the voters of the First District.

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