Capitol View: January 26, 2010 Archive

Rybak rebukes lit piece

Posted at 7:18 AM on January 26, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's campaign for governor is criticizing a campaign lit piece (read below) sent to DFL activists (the Star Tribune reports that groups are trying to figure out how the unions got the lists).

The piece, signed by five widows of Minneapolis police and fire fighters, said Rybak has "seriously damaged the livelihoods of retired firefighters, police officers, their surviving spouses and families. They are referring to a long-running lawsuit between the city and pension fund. A court ruled that the closed pension fund should reduce their claims against the city. Rybak used the money the city saved from the ruling to keep police officers on the payroll.

Rybak's campaign manager, Tina Smith, issued a statement criticizing the lit piece:

Mayor Rybak and the City Council beat the high-priced lawyers and well-connected lobbyists that represent these funds that were overcharging Minneapolis taxpayers -- so now those lawyers and lobbyists are trying to fight back by misrepresenting the facts and spreading smears.

Here's the lit piece:

Here's the full statement from Rybak:

Over the past few days, a letter attacking Mayor R. T. Rybak for defending Minneapolis taxpayers has hit the mailboxes of likely DFL caucus attendees all over the state. Mayor Rybak is proud of his record of standing up for taxpayers, keeping costs down and keeping as many police and firefighters on the street as possible. This sets the facts straight.

Last fall, Mayor R.T. Rybak and the Minneapolis City Council went to bat for Minneapolis taxpayers and won $10 million in tax relief. For many years, city taxpayers were being overcharged millions of dollars to contribute to two pension funds that have been closed to new members for almost 30 years. No Minneapolis police officer or firefighter hired since 1980 draws any benefit from these funds -- but all Minneapolis taxpayers contribute to it.

Mayor Rybak and city leaders stepped up to put a stop to this overcharging after the State Auditor alerted them to it. They first tried working with the pension funds to find a solution. They also encouraged the Legislature to solve the problem by merging the old, closed funds into the funds that benefit current police and firefighters, but the Legislature did not take it up.

As a last result, the City Council unanimously backed Mayor Rybak in taking the pension funds to court -- and they won. A Hennepin County judge ruled that these pension funds had violated the law and overcharged Minneapolis taxpayers more than $50 million over several years. City taxpayers won back $10 million of the $50 million that they had overpaid.

Mayor Rybak and the City Council put every penny of the $10 million they won for taxpayers straight into property-tax relief.

Mayor Rybak takes seriously the City's obligation to make sure that people who worked hard for the City who are owed a pension, as well as their families, get the pension they deserve. But if Mayor Rybak hadn't taken on these closed pension funds, the funds would have continued to overcharge Minneapolis taxpayers. That would have meant more cuts to police, firefighters and other city services and higher property taxes for everyone.

Mayor Rybak and the City Council beat the high-priced lawyers and well-connected lobbyists that represent these funds that were overcharging Minneapolis taxpayers -- so now those lawyers and lobbyists are trying to fight back by misrepresenting the facts and spreading smears. But Mayor Rybak and City Council have always been prepared to take on waste and mismanagement in City government so that taxpayers save money and get better results. That's how they've balanced eight budgets in a row and kept spending down -- while investing in the future and making Minneapolis work better.

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Rukavina launches pre-caucus TV ad

Posted at 9:32 AM on January 26, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

State Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, is ramping up his campaign for governor in the week before Minnesota's precinct caucuses.

Rukavina announced today that his pre-caucus activities include a TV ad and a direct mail campaign. The ad, which uses a cereal theme to contrast Rukavina with Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, will have a limited run on metro cable channels. Rukavina's son Victor helped create and produce the ad.

"It's a little jab at the last eight years of the Pawlenty administration, and how his style of governance has left a bad taste in peoples mouths," Rukavina said.

Bakk raised $208k in 2009

Posted at 10:49 AM on January 26, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

DFLer Tom Bakk, who also serves as the Tax Chair of the Minnesota Senate, released his fundraising totals for 2009. The campaign reports raising $208,682 in 2009 and had $137,830 in the bank at the end of 2009. That's the most of any candidate who disclosed those figures before the February 1st deadline.

Bakk's spokesman said Bakk did not contribute to his campaign or loan his campaign any money.

Here's the release from Bakk's campaign:

With $137,830 cash on hand, Sen. Tom Bakk said he is in a solid financial position to win the DFL endorsement for governor in April. A legislator from Cook, who represents the Arrowhead Region of the state, Bakk is chair of the Senate Tax Committee.

"Between raising $153,245 in 2008, $208,682 in 2009, and meeting the fundraising goal for January 2010, I will have $400,000 to spend on the endorsement process," Bakk said. "Throughout my campaign I have focused on the economy and my determination to create jobs. I've had an honest conversation with Minnesotans about the serious financial challenges we face. I've stressed that by working together we can rebound the economy, create jobs, and make the tough choices necessary to build a stronger Minnesota.

"In these difficult times people are looking for a proven leader with the right experience to get the state back on track. Through their financial support, Minnesotans have indicated that I am that leader."

Bakk is very grateful to the 1,278 individuals who have donated to his gubernatorial campaign.

"I've been touched by the donations I've received," Bakk said. "From the out-of-work carpenter who contributed $5 to small business owners looking for a leader to strengthen Minnesota's economy to resort owners in my district impacted by the recession, every dollar donated has a story behind it. I cannot thank people enough for believing in me."

Leading up to the April DFL convention in Duluth, Bakk said he will continue to talk about why the election is about jobs and why he is the candidate who will win in November.

"On January 9 a record number of Minnesotans received an unemployment check," Bakk said. "As a carpenter who has been on unemployment, I understand the stress those 240,398 people and their families are experiencing. Minnesota needs a leader who will make job creation the top priority.

"Until Minnesotans are back to work, we cannot end the devastating budget cuts that have led to fewer opportunities for our children, higher property taxes for home and business owners, and denied care to our most vulnerable citizens. We must get the economy going so we can invest in the areas, such as education, that will provide individuals and the state long-term prosperity."
Bakk said too many Minnesotans are struggling and he will not rest until they are back to work.

"As governor, I will work tirelessly to create jobs and improve Minnesota's economy," he said. "I will get Minnesotans back to work with a significant investment in public works, which will jumpstart our construction economy and create long-term jobs; incentives to banks to loan again; and I will use my tax policy experience to create programs to aid small start-up businesses, help existing businesses with sales tax exemptions on capital equipment, and give communities assistance to attract and retain businesses.

"From personal and family security to having the resources necessary to maintain our state's cherished quality of life, everything flows from people having a job."

Clark releases campaign fundraising numbers

Posted at 11:03 AM on January 26, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

State Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, announced today that she raised $293,953 in the fourth quarter of 2009 for her 6th district congressional campaign.

A campaign news release said the number of donors for the quarter were 2,906. Clark's total for the the year topped $600,000. She ended 2009 with just under $389,000 cash on hand.

Clark is one of two DFL candidates trying to unseat Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Bachmann has not yet released her campaign report. The other DFLer, Maureen Reed, released her numbers last week.

State of the State announced

Posted at 1:17 PM on January 26, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Pawlenty will deliver his final State of the State address on Thursday, February 11th at 11am. He'll make his comments from the chamber of the Minnesota House.

Duluth, Duluth, Duluth is on fire (for Rybak).

Posted at 5:48 PM on January 26, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Duluth Mayor Don Ness and Duluth city council members Jeff Anderson, Dan Hartman and Patrick Boyle announced they're backing Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's bid for governor. Ness said he decided to back Rybak over two northeastern state lawmakers, Tom Bakk and Tom Rukavina, because he felt like Rybak would be the best person to lead the state in difficult times.

"These are times when we have to look beyond parochial interests. We need leadership in Minnesota," Ness said.

Here's the news conference: Listen

Side note: I've been itching to use that headline for a long, long time. Bonus points to the first person who can name the rapper who coined a song title that is somewhat similar to that headline.

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Thissen campaign accuses Kelliher of lifting their message

Posted at 9:33 PM on January 26, 2010 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Can you tell that precinct caucuses are getting close? The campaigns are ramping up their communication with potential delegates. It also appears that campaign folks are sharpening their elbows.

Democrat Paul Thissen's campaign manager, Gia Vitali, issued a statement tonight alleging that Margaret Anderson Kelliher is lifting their campaign message. Thissen and Kelliher are two of the 13 Democrats (yes it's up to 13) currently running for governor this year.

In a written statement, Vitali said "she did a double take" when she read a Kelliher e-mail blast to supporters. Vitali alleges that Kelliher's campaign lifted one of Thissen's key messages. Here's part of Thissen's speech when he officially kicked off his campaign in July:

And the answer that our current governor and his allies have given to Minnesota families is simply to say 'No'. 'No' to education. 'No' to affordable health care for everybody. 'No' to the kind of investment we need to make in innovation and technology and science, to compete in this global economy. 'No' to hardworking families who are losing their homes and losing their jobs.

I am running for governor because we need a leader who is going to be willing to stand up and say 'Yes' to Minnesota and its extraordinary promise. 'Yes' to all the solutions that we know will work. 'Yes' to the long-term investments that will stand the test of time. 'Yes' to rebuilding the Minnesota that we've always known and loved and making it even better. More just, more fair, more prosperous for everybody.

And here's part of Kelliher's e-mail blast from today:

For too long, Republican leaders in our state have been the party of no. No jobs, no recovery, no solutions. I'm running for governor to lead Minnesota on the road to economic recovery. I've been traveling to every corner of the state as I build a people-powered campaign for governor. Together, we can say yes. Yes to opportunity, yes to ideas, and the future.

Vitali, with Thissen's campaign, was none too pleased with the e-mail. She said with so many candidates in the race, similarities are bound to pop up. She said, however, that her boss doesn't say "Jobs, jobs, jobs" (a Tom Bakk line) when talking about the economy.

"While we are glad that Speaker Kelliher agrees with Representative Thissen," Vitali said in the statement. "It's sad that she hasn't defined her own message and vision for Minnesota's future."

Kelliher campaign spokeswoman Allison Myhre said she's "bewildered" by Vitali's criticism. "I don't think 'yes' is a copyrighted statement or term," Myrhre said. "We're not coopting their message."

What do you think? Is Vitali's criticism fair or not?

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