Capitol View: July 27, 2010 Archive

Barden to forego public subsidy

Posted at 12:26 AM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010

Chris Barden, the Republican Party's endorsed candidate for Attorney General, says he will forego the state spending limits and won't accept the public subsidy. The move means Attorney General Lori Swanson, a Democrat, is also relieved from the spending cap and will get more of the public subsidy.

Here's Barden's reason for his decision (via news release):

Rejecting the limits relies upon the citizens of the state of Minnesota and their unlimited First Amendment right to support the candidate who stands for them, rather than a government-controlled election funding system.

Under our First Amendment Right to Free Speech, voters should decide the limits of political campaigns. Yet under Minnesota's current laws, our campaign faces donation limits on the free speech of individual citizens. In sharp contrast, citizen Mark Dayton is free to spend millions to finance his own personal free speech.

Rejecting the Limits is Our Path to Victory in November

I believe that accepting the insufficient subsidy funding for the Attorney General race in MN would provide a huge advantage for the incumbent, Lori Swanson, and her entrenched 40 year political machine. Given that the integrity of the Minnesota legal and election system is at stake in this campaign, I will go forward making the significant, serious and unlimited effort required to win this essential race and restore the trust of voters in the Office of Attorney General.

With regard to financing our campaign, we will rely upon the judgment of the people of Minnesota and will not be limited by the government subsidy system.

Dayton gives campaign $3.3 million of his own money to campaign

Posted at 7:48 AM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Democrat Mark Dayton has spent more than $3 million of his own money on his campaign for governor. His 2010 campaign finance report shows that he loaned the campaign $2.7 million. In 2009, Dayton also loaned his campaign $570,000.

Dayton's campaign reports that he raised nearly $200k from outside contributors in 2010.

Dayton, heir to the founders of the Dayton's Department store, reports having $335,000 in the bank.

House Democrats outraise House GOP

Posted at 8:07 AM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010

Democrats in the Minnesota House reports raising $812k in 2010 and reports having $773k in the bank. House Republicans have raised $542k in 2010 and have $702k in the bank.

Democrats have raised the bulk of their money from labor unions (AFSCME, Education Minnesota, IBEW) and Native American tribes (Shakopee, Prairie Island, etc.)

Republicans have raised the bulk of their money from Robert Cummins ($100k), former Target CEO Robert Ulrich, the JOBS political fund and the Minnesota Chamber.

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Senate Democrats outraise Senate GOP

Posted at 8:08 AM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010

Democrats in the Minnesota Senate reports raising $942k in 2010 and report having $640k in the bank.

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate reports raising $205k in 2010 and have $227k in the bank.

Democrats got most of their funds from labor unions, the Minnesota DFL ($125k) and Native American tribes.

Republicans received funds from Stanley Hubbard and other individual donors like Kwik Trip owner Donal Zietlow.

Tidbits from the reports...

Posted at 8:45 AM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Republican Tom Emmer's campaign reports spending $3,000 on a fireworks display at the Republican Party Convention.

Democrat Mark Dayton reports giving a social media consultant $28,000 in 2010.

Democrat Margaret Anderson Kelliher spent $600 on makeup for the DFL convention and an Almanac appearance. She also spent money for economic development consulting.

Democrat Matt Entenza spent $38,000 on telemarketing and $330,000 on direct mail.

DFL Sen. Tom Bakk gave $200 to Dayton's campaign.

DFL Sen. Patricia Torres Ray Yvonne Prettner Solon transferred $15k from her now defunct state senate campaign fund.

Independence Party candidate Tom Horner received a contribution from Hubbard Broadcasting's Stanley Hubbard. Hubbard mostly contributes to GOP candidates.

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Target CEO does damage control on MN Forward contribution

Posted at 11:13 AM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck (48 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Target's CEO is doing damage control over a contribution the company gave to MN Forward, a group that is supporting Republican Tom Emmer's bid for governor. MN Forward starting running TV ads last week supporting Emmer which prompted a backlash from GLBT groups.

Today, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel sent a letter to Target employees explaining the contribution and their position on GLBT rights. Here's the letter:

Dear Target Team,

In the past week I've heard from some of you, including our GLBT team members, regarding your concerns with Target's recent contributions to MN Forward, an independent expenditure committee that is supported by a broad coalition of large and small businesses throughout the state, including the Minnesota Business Partnership and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

As you know, Target has a history of supporting organizations and candidates, on both sides of the aisle, who seek to advance policies aligned with our business objectives, such as job creation and economic growth. MN Forward is focused specifically on those issues and is committed to supporting candidates from any party who will work to improve the state's job climate. However, it is also important to note that we rarely endorse all advocated positions of the organizations or candidates we support, and we do not have a political or social agenda.

In the context of this contribution, some of you have raised questions regarding our commitment to diversity, and more specifically, the GLBT community. Let me be very clear, Target's support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company. Some current examples of that support include:

• Domestic Partner Benefits

• Sponsorship of Twin Cities Pride

• Sponsorship of Out & Equal Workplace Summit

In addition, Target's rating of 100% on the 2009 and 2010 Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index further demonstrates the reputation our company has earned.

As CEO, I consider it my responsibility to create conditions in which Target can thrive, and I promise to do so with the best interests of our guests, team, shareholders and communities in mind. I appreciate your input and understanding.

Sincerely,

Gregg Steinhafel
Chairman, President and CEO
Target

Update: Gregg Steinhafel and his wife gave $2,000 each to Emmer. That's the maximum amount allowed by law.

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ABM keeps up pressure on Emmer

Posted at 3:48 PM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

This week, the DFL leaning group is running an ad criticizing Republican Tom Emmer for authoring legislation to weaken DWI laws.

This isn't the first time this surfaced. Marty Seifert raised the issue during the run up to the GOP endorsing convention.

ABM spokeswoman Denise Cardinal says the group will spend nearly $600,000 to run the ad over the next two weeks.

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Emmer, Barden and MNGOP schedule Friday tax rally

Posted at 10:15 PM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Republican guberntorial hopeful Tom Emmer, GOP Attorney General candidate Chris Barden and MNGOP Chair Tony Sutton have scheduled a 6pm "Freedom and Prosperity tour" Tax Rally at O'Gara's Bar in St. Paul on Friday.

The event will conclude a statewide flyaround by Emmer and Barden that will make stops in St. Paul, Mankato, Detroit Lakes and Duluth.

Delegation splits vote on supplemental war funding

Posted at 10:19 PM on July 27, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House, U.S. House

The U.S. House has passed a supplemental war funding bill tonight.

Minnesota's Congressional delegation split their support for the bill.

Democrats Tim Walz and Collin Peterson joined Republicans John Kline, Erik Paulsen and Michele Bachmann in support of the measure.

Democrats Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Jim Oberstar voted against it.

McCollum issues a statement on why she voted against the measure:

"Congress has a responsibility to ensure the economic security of the American people, as well as defend the national security of the nation. This appropriations bill does not adequately meet the needs of the American people, and I will not vote to pass it.

"To my great dismay the funds previously passed by the House to address urgent domestic needs such as securing our borders, preventing 100,000 teachers from layoffs, creating youth summer jobs, and financing Pell grants for higher education have been stripped from this bill by the U.S. Senate.

"After nine years of war and more than $300 billion of war funds added to our national debt, it is clear that an open ended U.S. military presence in Afghanistan is not acceptable to Afghans or Americans. I believe now is the time for a movement away from an expanded military presence in Afghanistan towards a strategic drawdown of U.S. troops and a refocus on a counter-terrorism strategy to prevent al-Qaeda from again taking root.

"U.S. troops deserve a mission that is clear and achievable so they can return safely home with the knowledge that they have helped to keep America secure and allowed the Afghan people to make their own future. It is now time for the Afghan people to make that future."